Prep Dig MN Prospect Draft: Round 7

These latter stages of the draft shift focus to include some different approaches to selecting prospects for our virtual summer league competition. The state of Minnesota continues to showcase great depth of talent, which makes this exciting to see how we can incorporate prospects that represent a broader range in profile. For Rounds 7 & 8 selections will be made from the class of 2023. These rising sophomores have a lot to offer and, as a class, have made some big strides over the past several months. "The pick is in." ROUND 7 [player_tooltip player_id="73495" first="Kate" last="Thibault"] - 5'2 | L | Watertown-Mayer Thibault is a dynamo in the back row. Smaller in stature and physical presence at 5'2, she makes up for it by the impact of her play. She has terrific court sense and vision in all that she does. As a primary passer she has skills to be able to control half the court with good movement and precision in her angle creation. On the defensive side, her preparation and reaction are among the best in the state, and any class. She reads very well and pursues with first step quickness that allows her touch a lot through the first contact. She is a great addition to this Team Red roster. <ul> <li>Team Red roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="10105" first="Kennedi" last="Orr"], [player_tooltip player_id="71942" first="Lauren" last="Crowl"], [player_tooltip player_id="10088" first="Kira" last="Fallert"], [player_tooltip player_id="58018" first="Skylar" last="Gray"], [player_tooltip player_id="58104" first="Claire" last="Vekich"], [player_tooltip player_id="71967" first="Raegan" last="Alexander"], [player_tooltip player_id="73495" first="Kate" last="Thibault"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="73491" first="Sydney" last="Schnichels"] - 6'4 | RS | Willmar Schnichels may be at the top of this class currently given her impact at the opposite position. The only reason she was not picked first in this round is because of the dynamite opposite options already rostered for that team. This means a big gain for Team Orange as Schnichels can impact the game in a variety of ways and will balance the heavy left side arms well from the right pin. She has great length, quickness, and athleticism to be highly effective on both sides of the ball. She can terminate from both pins and in crossing patterns around the setter. She also puts up a huge block. As she will continue to become more fluid and stronger, one of the best attributes of her game at this point is her work ethic. She is elite is this regard given her connection to each contact and the value she places on each opportunity she works to create for herself and her team. The scary thing for opponents is that her ceiling is extremely high and we should see her continue to solidify herself as one of the best in this class. <ul> <li>Team Orange roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="86657" first="Emily" last="Lamb"], [player_tooltip player_id="71945" first="Abby" last="Stark"], [player_tooltip player_id="72776" first="Elle" last="Cotton"], [player_tooltip player_id="58020" first="Elizabeth" last="Dille"], [player_tooltip player_id="58061" first="Abbey" last="Milner"], [player_tooltip player_id="72075" first="Nicole" last="Post"], [player_tooltip player_id="73491" first="Sydney" last="Schnichels"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="84949" first="Kate" last="Simington"] - 6'4 | MB | Minnetonka Simington has some of the best size and range of anyone in this class. She is long and can fill up space well above the net. Her progress over the past several months has been significant as her movement patterns are becoming more efficient. This has elevated her offensive impact as she has shown more aggressiveness with her approach and arm swing to create more power and range. All of this in return is growing her confidence with even more room to grow with potential to be an elite prospect. She is next in line for Minnetonka to help carry the workload in the middle and she shows signs of being highly capable on both sides of the ball. <ul> <li>Team Yellow roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31583" first="Sienna" last="Ifill"], [player_tooltip player_id="57498" first="Megan" last="Reilly"], [player_tooltip player_id="72060" first="Emma" last="VanHeel"], [player_tooltip player_id="58022" first="Ryley" last="Frye"], [player_tooltip player_id="84487" first="Ella" last="Wheatcraft"], [player_tooltip player_id="58039" first="Delaney" last="Foerster"], [player_tooltip player_id="84949" first="Kate" last="Simington"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="73493" first="Kaitlyn" last="Sellner"] - 6'1 | MB | [program_tooltip program_id='432165' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432082' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430384' first='Eagan' last='']' last='']' last=''] With increased experience Sellner continues to show improvement in her overall skill foundation and impact from the middle position. She is the type of player that just does her job when given the opportunity by filling her role well on both sides of the ball. She has a good range of offensive skill to approach on a quick option in front of the setter or overhead off of one foot. She also has a good blocking foundation defensively as she prepares with good balance, good vision to watch the play develop, and closing on hitters with quick movement and her elbows well above the net. Cleaning up some of the unnecessary movement will make her that much more efficient and effective. <ul> <li>Team Green roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="10110" first="Emma" last="Torstenson"], [player_tooltip player_id="58014" first="Sophie" last="Jesewitz"], [player_tooltip player_id="71946" first="Lauren" last="Galvin"], [player_tooltip player_id="71950" first="Brooke" last="Weichbrodt"], [player_tooltip player_id="58083" first="Bryn" last="Hoekman"], [player_tooltip player_id="72804" first="Katy" last="Riviere"], [player_tooltip player_id="73493" first="Kaitlyn" last="Sellner"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="86273" first="Peyton" last="Howie"] - 6'0 | S/MB | Irondale Howie, a Suburban East all-conference selection as a freshman in 2019, has a unique skill set given her experience in the middle and as a setter. She has some of the best versatility to be able to score points with her arm anywhere on the net while also providing offensive leadership distributing the ball off her hands. She also brings good size and athleticism to match the volleyball knowledge she continues to gain through these varied perspectives on the game. She has good court awareness, transitions effectively in the middle, and can swing for power or off speed placement. As a setter she can distribute the full range of offense with good extension and location. She is an intriguing pick given her depth of skills and experience she brings as a 2023 prospect. <ul> <li>Team Blue roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="71941" first="Ava" last="Moes"], [player_tooltip player_id="10109" first="Paige" last="Thibault"], [player_tooltip player_id="71948" first="Madelyn" last="Hornyak"], [player_tooltip player_id="72761" first="Keya" last="Luta Win Hunt"], [player_tooltip player_id="31579" first="Sierra" last="Moore"], [player_tooltip player_id="72839" first="Hannah" last="Pharr"], [player_tooltip player_id="86273" first="Peyton" last="Howie"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="86410" first="Katherine" last="Arnason"] - 6'0 | RS | Mahtomedi Arnason has a good skill foundation for the opposite side of the court. She has good length and range, is left-handed, and has developed some good competitive experience. Her footwork in transition is quick and allows her to prepare for her first step and the momentum build that helps her create her high contact point. With improvements in her double-arm lift she will be more balanced, increase her torque, and develop more range and power. She is on her way. Her length increases her potential to be a formidable block on the right side as well. <ul> <li>Team Indigo roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31577" first="Julia" last="Hanson"], [player_tooltip player_id="58029" first="Kali" last="Engeman"], [player_tooltip player_id="71943" first="Jasmine" last="Weidemann"], [player_tooltip player_id="71959" first="Jadyn" last="Garrison"], [player_tooltip player_id="71964" first="Kelly" last="McArthur"], [player_tooltip player_id="71963" first="Emma" last="Grimm"], [player_tooltip player_id="86410" first="Katherine" last="Arnason"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="73468" first="Arianna" last="Blohm"] - 5'11 | MH/OH | Stewartville Blohm is the next athlete in line at Stewartville to carry the torch for the Tigers in the coming years. As they have some terrific offense returning in 2020 to defend their class 2A state title, Blohm will certainly continue to grow her experience and impact around them without much pressure to have to be the primary option at this point. However, she has a skill set that can contribute now as she is the prototype Stewartville prospect with her ability to do a lot offensively, from anywhere along the net, and with the competitive mindset they are known for. She has good size, is athletic, and is developing great court awareness to make the most of her offensive opportunities. Look for her stock to continue to rise. <ul> <li>Team Violet roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31585" first="Kendal" last="Kemp"], [player_tooltip player_id="58032" first="T[program_tooltip program_id='432165' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432082' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430384' first='Eagan' last='']' last='']' last='']" last="Starkey"], [player_tooltip player_id="31616" first="Lilly" last="Wachholz"], [player_tooltip player_id="72760" first="Simara" last="Amador"], [player_tooltip player_id="71970" first="Aleah" last="Zieske"], [player_tooltip player_id="72089" first="Elise" last="Rossing"], [player_tooltip player_id="73468" first="Arianna" last="Blohm"]</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="73485" first="Emily" last="Moes"] - 6'0 | OH | [program_tooltip program_id='430430' first='Lakeville' last='South'] With a solid foundation of training and competitive experience with [program_tooltip program_id='430430' first='Lakeville' last='South'] and Northern Lights, Moes is among the most impactful 2023 athletes at this point in her career. As a left side primary attacker she plays with great confidence, is assertive in her role, and savvy with her arm swing. She has some of the best footwork in transition with great awareness of the play development throughout the movement pattern to create the most aggressive outcome whether in-system and on tempo or not. She provided a lot of offense for [program_tooltip program_id='430430' first='Lakeville' last='South'] in 2019 and will return next fall that much better and even more skilled to make an even bigger impact. She has a well-rounded skill set as a six-rotation primary attacker and should help the Cougars improve upon their 2019 postseason performance this next fall. <ul> <li>Team Pink roster after seven rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="58017" first="Payton" last="Evenstad"], [player_tooltip player_id="72767" first="Britt" last="Carlson"], [player_tooltip player_id="84909" first="Sylvia" last="Koenig"], [player_tooltip player_id="71951" first="Kiya" last="Durant"], [player_tooltip player_id="71956" first="Toryn" last="Richards"], [player_tooltip player_id="72048" first="Morgan" last="Chmielewski"], [player_tooltip player_id="73485" first="Emily" last="Moes"]</li> </ul>