Weekday Matches You Can’t Miss In Minnesota
The flexibility in the schedule of Minnesota’s high school volleyball schedule allows for more weekday matchups where all the bleachers are pulled out, starting lineups, national anthems, student sections, and a legit three out of five set match can be…
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Continue ReadingThe flexibility in the schedule of Minnesota’s high school volleyball schedule allows for more weekday matchups where all the bleachers are pulled out, starting lineups, national anthems, student sections, and a legit three out of five set match can be played. In other states, those matches are typically saved for conference matches only (which is the same for Minnesota as well), but there are more non-conference matchups that are three out of five compared to other states. Playing against top competition is great when it comes to tournaments, but there is just a little bit of a different feel when it comes to those weekday matchups that give the end of October/early November tournament feel.
Thursday, August 22
Marshall @ Willmar
Abby Stark of Willmar High School.Two of the top programs in Western Minnesota, Marshall and Willmar will both be state tournament contenders with Marshall in Class AA and Willmar in Class AAA. Marshall has plenty of experience returning from their state runner-up finish in 2018. This matchup will also feature two of the top liberos in the state in Mia Schiable for Marshall and NDSU commit Abby Stark from Willmar.
Thursday, August 29
Watertown-Mayer @ Mayer Lutheran
These two high schools are six miles apart and will be very familiar with each other. Mayer Lutheran returns an experienced and frontline with the likes of Northern Iowa commit Olivia Tjernagel and Claudia Stahlke. There will also be quite the family feel to this match with Anna and Lilly Wachholz from Mayer Lutheran and Kate and Paige Thibault from Watertown-Mayer who were extremely key in their state tournament run in 2018.
Monday, September 9
Champlin Park @ East Ridge
Do not count out Champlin Park, this squad did lose major parts of their state championship team, but there is plenty of power coming back. Omaha commit Jordan Stalpes, Augustana commit Hannah Prasky, and Sami Hilley will provide quite the front line. East Ridge is a program on the rise and will continue to be a force in the East Metro.
Thursday, September 12
Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] @ Prior Lake
Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] will have a major target on its back being a major favorite in Class AAA with the return of Nebraska recruit Kennedi Orr and the addition of one of the top 2022 middle blockers, Kendal Kemp. Prior Lake has the top player in the Class of 2022 in outside hitter Julia Hansen who has committed to play for the Gophers. PL is going to be much improved after taking their lumps as a young team this year and will have plenty of offensive firepower to compete.
What a pumped up Student Section we have! #GoBananas @KM_KPD #guysitshoco2018letsgo pic.twitter.com/DdnStNLpYK
— Amory Olson (@OlsonSciKMHS) September 28, 2018
Friday, September 27 – 1:00 PM
Lakeville South @ Kasson-Mantorville
This potentially could be the best atmosphere athletes and spectators will find in high school volleyball. Kasson-Mantorville always has a great crowd for volleyball, however this scenario is a little different as South will be playing in a hostile environment. This is KM’s homecoming game where they hold it on the Friday of homecoming in the afternoon. The student section is in full force, the pep band is blasting away, and its a game that is anything but routine. Both of these teams finished third in their respective classes at the state tournament and will definitely put on quite a show in one of the best environments to be found in high school volleyball.
Tuesday, October 1
Concordia Academy @ New Life Academy – Woodbury
Two state tournament teams with still a lot of young talent. Concordia Academy will return outside hitter, Kira Fallert who had over 400 kills last season and middle Shaina Zinter. Rising Juniors setter Brooke Weichbrodt will be back as well. New Life Academy will bring back a terminal middle blocker in Mackenzie Roettger.
Tuesday, October 8
Kasson-Mantorville @ Stewartville
These two teams have been battling it out for years to get out Section 1AA. Some of the top programs in the state that are extremely well coached and really great backing from their communities. This year, it will be KM heading to the homecourt of Stewartville. Stewartville will have one of the top Juniors in the state in Erin Lamb who can do a little bit of everything as an extremely athletic and dynamic middle.
Tuesday, October 8
North Branch vs. River Falls (WI)
This is an interesting matchup with River Falls being one of the top programs in Wisconsin and North Branch, who is just across the border in Minnesota being the defending Class AA state champions. North Branch has one of the top outsides in the state in Cianna Selbitschka who will join River Falls setter, Maddi Kealy at Minnesota-Duluth. Many of these athletes play club for Kokoro or MN Select.