Team ‘Swiss Army Knife’: Eight of MN’s Best Multi-Tool Athletes
To develop elite skills in one are of the game is impressive. The ability to contribute with an arm, an accurate set of hands, defensively at the net, or in the back row, many Minnesota athletes have proven to be…
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Continue ReadingTo develop elite skills in one are of the game is impressive. The ability to contribute with an arm, an accurate set of hands, defensively at the net, or in the back row, many Minnesota athletes have proven to be fundamentally sound and effective at one area or another, with several identified among the best in the state when considering those specific skills. And then there is another group, the ones that wear multiple hats. Those relied upon to excel in multiple phases of the game. They are the MacGyvers of volleyball as they are skilled, resourceful, fearless, and confident enough to perform and excel in many ways.
Members of the Prep Dig staff shared some thoughts about athletes around the state that are key cogs to their respective teams in multiple facets of the game. Here is a list of eight of those athletes:
Karsee Kampsen
Karsee
Kampsen
5'5" | S
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | S | Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | Prep Dig #26
A 2018 Central Minnesota all-conference and all-area selection as a sophomore, Kampsen has been a steady force for BBE as the primary setter for a couple of years, including dictating their offense to a 27-6 record in 2018. She has amassed over 2,000 assists in her career and contributes in so many other ways as well. She adds a lot defensively and from the service line as well as displayed in her team’s recent 3-0 win in which she had 27 assists, 10 digs, and four service aces.
Kathleen Bishop
Kathleen
Bishop
6'3" | MB
St. Paul Academy | 2020
State
MN
– 2020 | OH/RS/S | St. Paul Academy | Prep Dig #9
Bishop is a rangy athlete at 6’3 and can terminate from any position on the floor. She competed with a very good Northern Lights 17-1 as a pin hitter primarily and got development at the setter position as well. She is extremely effective from both pins and can run quicker tempo options in the middle with the same effectiveness and success.
Erin Lamb
Erin
Lamb
6'3" | MB
Stewartville | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | MH | Stewartville | Prep Dig #5
Athletically gifted, Lamb excels in multiple sports for Stewartville. On the volleyball court she can score at will and from anywhere across the net with her elevation and heavy arm and is a big reason why Stewartville opens the season as the top-ranked team in class AA. She has spent ample time for Stewartville in a very uncommon role as a six-rotation middle hitter and primary passer and has excelled in every facet, landing her among the elite in the class of 2021. Look for Lamb and her Stewartville team to be competing deep into the postseason.
Tori Moe
Tori
Moe
5'10" | S
New Prague | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | S/RS | New Prague | Prep Dig #37
A big reason why New Prague is off to a blazing start in 2019, Moe contributes with her arm and her hands. She has great experience setting the offense and can terminate from the opposite position, both big reasons why the #9 ranked AAA Trojans’ offense has been so effective early on against some very good opponents.
Kennedi Orr
Kennedi
Orr
6'0" | S
Eagan | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | S/RS | Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] | Prep Dig #1 | Nebraska commit
On pace to become a future Ms. Baden Volleyball for the state of Minnesota, Orr has impressed opponents, fans, and recruiters for a while now with her athleticism, physicality, and well-rounded skills. Committing to Nebraska early in her high school career, Orr continues to do a lot of high-level things for some high-level teams at Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] High School and for one of the nation’s best club teams in Northern Lights 18-1. Whether hammering a ball or dishing to a teammate, this setter/hitter impressed so much in 2018 that she was name the Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year for the state of Minnesota. Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] opens the season as the #1 ranked class AAA team and is coming off a runner-up finish at the 2018 state tournament.
Molly Schultz
Molly
Schultz
5'5" | S
Rockford | 2020
State
MN
– 2020 | S/DS | Rockford | Prep Dig #7 | Kansas commit
At just 5’6, Schultz has the ability to make a huge impact on the floor in multiple ways. Her quickness alone elevates her skills. Fundamentally, she is very good in many facets of the game, whether setting, ripping jump serves, digging balls, or elevating and scoring off an impressively quick and well-controlled arm. The Virginia commit and 2018 Wright County all-conference and class AA all-state honorable mention selection is the epitome of an athlete that has many tools in her toolbox, which allows her to effectively contribute in many different ways.
Paige Thibault
Paige
Thibault
5'7" | DS/L
Watertown-Mayer | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | L/OH | Watertown-Mayer | Prep Dig #32 | Virginia commit
A 2018 Wright County all-conference selection as a sophomore, Thibault is a primary attacker for Watertown-Mayer, Minnesota’s #10 ranked class AA team. With her club team at MN Select she played outside and libero, which has led to her committing to the University of Virginia. At 5’7, she can terminate the ball with heat as well as range and covers the floor well with her ball control and defense. She has great court awareness, vision, and pursuit of the ball that make her very effective in a variety of ways.
Rachel Wieber
Rachel
Wieber
6'0" | OH
Northfield | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | OH/DS | Northfield | Prep Dig #66
Having spent more time as a defensive specialist in 2018 as a sophomore, Wieber fulfilled that role extremely well for a team that displayed good depth at the pins. Her ball control skills are among the best and at 6’0 tall any role she fulfills on defense is a bonus when you have the combination of skill and range and she displays. In 2019, following a great club season where she competed for Northern Lights as an outside and libero, she becomes a primary attacker for a good and well-rounded 2019 Northfield squad. Look for Wieber’s stock to rise significantly as she progresses through this next cycle of high school and club volleyball.