Who Could Be New Names Advancing To The Minnesota State Tournament?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">There may be a little bit of a changing of the guard this year at the Minnesota State Tournament.  New teams, big graduations, upcoming top players will be leading their teams to a postseason run and hopefully a chance to compete at the X come November.  Who could be some teams that will be new to take the court this November at the Minnesota State Tournament? </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Wayzata</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">In 2018, this squad was just a year away, and plus they were in a section with Champlin Park who went on to win the state title.  Champlin Park is still going to be good, despite the losses of four Division 1 athletes, the cupboard is far from bare. However, Wayzata is returning virtually their whole squad from 2018 with plenty of top talent in the state.  <strong>Elizabeth Helmich</strong> is one of the top players in the Class of 2020 and one of the top left handed right sides as well, she has committed to James Madison. Fellow Seniors <strong>Olivia Johnson, Kate Long, and Lily Emlong (Elon)</strong> will be leading the way as well.  <strong>Sophie Jesewitz</strong> will be one of the top Juniors in the state. Oh, and there will also be 6'6 Sophomore <strong>Emma Georger</strong> who could see some playing time as well. The question marks that will need to be answered are can they ball control enough to make the deep postseason run? </span></p> <p><strong>North St. Paul </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">North dropped a five set match to Stillwater who went on to advance to the state semifinals in 2018.  Stillwater will still be returning Illinois commit, <strong>Maddie Whittington</strong> in the middle, but will need to have a strong supporting cast around her to return to the state tournament.  North St. Paul will have <strong>Lauren Stenman</strong>, a Lewis (IL) commit who can set and hit and newly committed <strong>Yaiza Franco</strong> who had a breakout club season at MN Select and will be playing at LaSalle, a Division 1 program in Philadelphia.  If these two teams were to meet in the postseason it will be a matchup of some of the top senior middles in the state. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_54654" align="alignright" width="342"] Erin Lamb of Stewartville.[/caption] <p><strong>Stewartville </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">In Section 1AA, Kasson-Mantorville was just a little bit better than Stewartville to take the conference and section crowns enroute to a third place finish at state in 2018.  The KoMets graduate Peyton Suess (Wake Forest) and Bailey Berge (MSU-Mankato) while Stewartville may just be picking up the right momentum this upcoming season. Stewartville may be one of the most athletic lineups in Class AA with <strong>Erin Lamb</strong> in the middle who is entering her Junior season along with <strong>Kaitlyn Prondzinski,</strong> a Senior outside hitter who is committed to Illinois State.  <strong>Jolie Stecher</strong> will be another force in the middle as a Junior. </span></p> <p><strong>Southwest Christian </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Southwest Christian was very young last year, but those key Freshman who have a year of varsity playing experience and another year of club will be coming in with something to prove with <strong>Jayna Bredenberg</strong>, <strong>Callie Coughlin, and Shayne Dockter.</strong>  However the go to athlete on this squad will be Senior, <strong>Mackenzie Close</strong>. Close can do a little bit of everything and will be a lethal attacker out of any front row position. With a loaded schedule, this squad will be primed come tourney time, but will have to face the likes of Belle Plaine and Kenyon-Wanamingo. </span></p> <p><strong>Willmar </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">They've been so close...and this past year they took a big hit to graduation, but they will definitely be able to reload with solid ball control and efficient attackers.  The Cardinals will have quite defense starting with NDSU commit in <strong>Abby Stark </strong>along with<strong> Callie Slagter</strong>. They will also have athletic outsides in <strong>Madelyn Gregory and Bailey Olson</strong>.  Keep tabs on Freshman, <strong>Sydney Schnichels</strong>, a 6'1 athletic front line player who could be a big time gamechanger. </span></p> <p><strong>Robbinsdale Armstrong </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">This may come as a surprise to some, but this squad has a ton of athletes who were Sophomores and Juniors last year and are in a section that will be wide open.  Edina came out of this group last year, but took a big hit to graduation. Robbinsdale Armstrong will have setter,<strong> Ryley Frye,</strong> but will be extremely strong in the middle with <strong>Sofie Vogel</strong> and Class of 2021 commit to MSU-Mankato <strong>Kiya Durant</strong>.  If they can pass and get the middles going they can be a dangerous team. </span></p> <p><strong>Mabel-Canton </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Mabel-Canton was 30-5 in 2018 and was stunned by Medford who was the Cinderella tournament of the whole tournament, finishing second to Minneota in the championship.  Standout setter <strong>Kenidi McCabe</strong> will be back along with some young talent to get Mabel-Canton to that next level and break through to the state tournament. </span></p>