Under The Radar – But Huge Impacts With 4A & 5A Regional Finals

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At this point in the season, teams know who are going to get a bulk of the swings, setters are going to do their thing, and the top players will have the other side of the net scheming how to stop them.  But, it’s the role players or the next in line who can make a huge difference when it comes down to winning in the clutch.  Who will that be in Class 4A and Class 5A with regional finals tonight and a chance to punch a ticket to Cedar Rapids? </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Annika Behrends - Waverly-Shell Rock </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WSR has had quite a season loaded with plenty of wins against top tier teams.  A team who made it to the tournament last year and lost some key pieces have rebuilt just like any great program does.  They will be looking to advance by hosting Gilbert tonight.  Behrends provides a solid first contact for one of the top leaders in assists in Sophie Sedgwick and top outside [player_tooltip player_id="79237" first="Avery" last="Beckett"].  </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="79274" first="Anisia" last="Smith"] - Cedar Falls</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smith might not be just a simple role player for Cedar Falls, but she has had an absolute breakout season for the Tigers.  Playing minimally her Sophomore year to being one of the top attackers on the team.  This team may look a little different with their style this year running a 6-2 with the Mahi sisters, Emmy Wedgbury scoring plenty of points on the pin, but they are gearing up to make an another appearance at the state tournament. </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Grace Boles - Glenwood</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Glenwood has a really high powered offense led by St. Cloud State commit [player_tooltip player_id="41305" first="Elle" last="Scarborough"] as well as a dominant presence in the middle and right side in [player_tooltip player_id="79240" first="Brynlee" last="Arnold"], but setter Grace Boles is the distributor.  She will surpass 800 assist most likely tonight and can even take things into her own hands offensively.  Glenwood has the experience and a group of athletes who have succeeded in multiple spots.  </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lineya Wells - Sioux City East</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most electric player you haven’t seen play yet.  Just watch her approach and jump and its as if she is flying through the air.  Wells is also a top track athlete for East as well.  They will have a tall task going up against Dowling Catholic tonight, but Wells and Company will be looking to compete among the best squads in the Midwest.  Wells is uncommitted and could be a dual sport star at the next level. </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Erin Bathie - Gilbert </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilbert has had the trifecta of [player_tooltip player_id="17250" first="Thea" last="Rotto"], [player_tooltip player_id="41254" first="Taylor" last="Grinley"], and [player_tooltip player_id="79015" first="Nessa" last="Johnson"], but don’t forget about Erin Bathie.  Bathie was out with a knee injury last year and is back and a major contributor in so many ways for the Tigers. She can defend and score points, not to mention just an overall scrappiness to her game that provides that extra spark.  </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41250" first="Emily" last="Wood"] - Pleasant Valley </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pure gamer and athlete.  Wood is an Iowa State softball commit and is just the type of athlete you want on your side - doesn’t matter what sport it is, she has the “X-Factor”.  Wood is one of the top attackers and defenders for the Spartans who will take on Muscatine to make a return trip to the state tournament. </span></p>