Who Could Be New Names Advancing To The Minnesota State Tournament?
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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…
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Continue ReadingThere 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?
Wayzata
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. Elizabeth Helmich 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 Olivia Johnson, Kate Long, and Lily Emlong (Elon) will be leading the way as well. Sophie Jesewitz will be one of the top Juniors in the state. Oh, and there will also be 6’6 Sophomore Emma Georger 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?
North St. Paul
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, Maddie Whittington 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 Lauren Stenman, a Lewis (IL) commit who can set and hit and newly committed Yaiza Franco 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.
Erin Lamb of Stewartville.Stewartville
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 Erin Lamb in the middle who is entering her Junior season along with Kaitlyn Prondzinski, a Senior outside hitter who is committed to Illinois State. Jolie Stecher will be another force in the middle as a Junior.
Southwest Christian
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 Jayna Bredenberg, Callie Coughlin, and Shayne Dockter. However the go to athlete on this squad will be Senior, Mackenzie Close. 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.
Willmar
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 Abby Stark along with Callie Slagter. They will also have athletic outsides in Madelyn Gregory and Bailey Olson. Keep tabs on Freshman, Sydney Schnichels, a 6’1 athletic front line player who could be a big time gamechanger.
Robbinsdale Armstrong
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, Ryley Frye, but will be extremely strong in the middle with Sofie Vogel and Class of 2021 commit to MSU-Mankato Kiya Durant. If they can pass and get the middles going they can be a dangerous team.
Mabel-Canton
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 Kenidi McCabe will be back along with some young talent to get Mabel-Canton to that next level and break through to the state tournament.