5 Matches We’d Love To See At The Southwest Minnesota Challenge
32 teams all coming to Southwest Minnesota to compete in Marshall at the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University and Marshall High School. Ranked teams in all classes competing as well as some competitive teams from outside of Minnesota. Prep…
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Continue Reading32 teams all coming to Southwest Minnesota to compete in Marshall at the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University and Marshall High School. Ranked teams in all classes competing as well as some competitive teams from outside of Minnesota. Prep Dig will be providing updates via Twitter throughout the whole weekend as well as comprehensive content following the tournament. Here are some potential matchups that will be extremely intriguing if the stars were to align for the weekend.
Prior Lake vs River Falls (WI)
Emily Banitt of River FallsRiver Falls will be coming over Wisconsin where they are one of the top teams in the state in Wisconsin’s largest class. Their athletes will be familiar with some of the ones competing for Minnesota high schools, with many of their own playing for Kokoro and MN Select during the club season. The Wildcats will have the task of slowing down Julia Hansen, the top recruit out of the Class of 2022 and Minnesota commit for Prior Lake. River Falls will have their own pin hitters to fire away with Seniors Emily Banitt (Loyola-Chicago) and Halle Olson (Florida Atlantic). Two other commits on their team in Anna Wolf (Minnesota) and Maddi Kealy (UMD) are out with an injury.
Champlin Park vs. Kasson-Mantorville
Champlin Park has already had some really tight matches with the likes of Wayzata (which they could potentially see Saturday) and Moorhead. Kasson-Mantorville could be waiting for them in the second round. Both teams took a big hit to graduation but still have strong returners. Jordan Stalpes (Omaha) leads the way for the Rebels as a six rotation outside while the KoMets return Emilee Terry (MSU-Mankato) who can score from any spot in the front row. This could be quite the battle Friday night with both squads vying to get into the final eight.
Minneota vs. Northfield
If both teams are able to win both matches on Friday night they would meet in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning. They had quite the matchup last year at this same tournament where Northfield was able to give Minneota their only loss of 2018 going extra points in the third set. Northfield brings a really physical frontline that will have to take on outside hitter Natalee Rolbiecki, a key returner as a Sophomore for the Vikings. Junior, Emma Torstenson will be the one to face Rolbiecki as the libero in left-back for Northfield. Torstenson is one of the top liberos in the Class of 2021 and has committed to Colorado.
Lakeville South vs. Lakeville North
These two squads are on opposite ends of the bracket. The only way they would see each other is in an afternoon Saturday match, but that definitely is not out of the question. With Lakeville North feeling the sting of last years sectional final loss in five sets to South, this would definitely amp up the energy for a Saturday tournament. South as big time returners from last year’s team, led by Ava Moes, but North has some younger athletes ready to step up in big moments.
Wayzata vs. Champlin Park
If these two are able to win both their matches on Friday night they will get a chance to meet Saturday morning. Wayzata took round one with a five-set win at the Side-Out Classic to start the year. With plenty of these athletes playing club together at MN Select, they are all too familiar with what to expect. There is also a chance they will see each other at the end of the season being in the same section. Champlin Park defeated Wayzata to go to state in 2018.