East Ridge Gets The Win In a Border Battle of Ranked Teams

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two top ten teams from two different states were able to battle it out Monday night between East Ridge (MN) and River Falls (WI).  With East Ridge ranked 7th in the Minnesota Coaches Poll for Class AAA (Largest Class) and River Falls ranked 10th in D1 in Prep Dig Wisconsin’s ranking, this was a border battle between two teams eyeing a post-season run and some bragging rights among the border.  After splitting the first two sets, East Ridge would go on to take the next two to claim the match 3-1 (25-14, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20). </span></p> <p><strong>For East Ridge</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Raptors have a ton of power on the pin.  <strong>Britt Carlson</strong>, the Class of 2022 outside hitter showed why she will be on the radar this upcoming club season in 2020.  A member of Northern Lights 16-2, Carlson is able to go sharp cross, down the line or can blast it through a split in the block.  Incredibly dynamic, the ceiling is high for Carlson who has a sister, Brynn, playing volleyball at Kansas State.  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Lauren Galvin</strong> was another scoring threat for the Raptors, playing opposite of Carlson.  Galvin is another member of Northern Lights 16-1 squad who qualified for USAV 16 Open last summer.  A big time point scorer, Galvin is one who can be a threat in any rotation. The Raptors also have J<strong>adyn Garrison</strong> who recently committed to Marquette and <strong>Camryn Greenwald,</strong> another top Class of 2022 prospect. </span></p> <p><strong>For River Falls</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the Wildcats, there was also a heavy dose from the outside.  <strong>Emily Banitt</strong> and <strong>Halle Olson</strong> are two of the top Seniors out of Wisconsin with Banitt committed to Loyola-Chicago and Olson to Florida Atlantic.  Big arms and the feel to score points in a variety of ways, the two have been having to take a bulk of the swings for a slightly depleted River Falls team. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Maddi Kealy</strong> and <strong>Anna Wolf</strong> are two big time players for the Wildcats that have been nursing injuries since the beginning of the season.  Kealy is a Senior setter committed to UMD, and is coming back from a stress fracture in her foot. Good news for the Cats is that she is out of the boot and is progressing to getting back on the court.  Wolf is a 2021 recruit who has committed to play at Minnesota. 6’4 and touching 10’5, Wolf is a gamechanger out of the middle where she can really change the tone at the net with her ability to alter shots as well as score points oer the block.  She has been nursing a back injury, but could get back on the court in October. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This won’t be the final time River Falls will take on some of the top talent in Minnesota.  The Wildcats will play at the STMA tournament on October 12 as well as a home match vs. defending Class AA champions in North Branch.  Many of the River Falls athletes have been playing club volleyball in Minnesota at Kokoro and MN Select. </span></p>