<p>Last weekend in Minnesota four state tournament champions were crowned, and high school volleyball was back at the Xcel Energy Center. The end of the season means something different to everyone. Some feel accomplished, while others feel as though they still have unfinished business. For volleyball nerds like us, the end of the high school season is just the start of the transition into the club season. </p>
<p>There is just something about the combining of forces from different schools that is fun to watch. The entire process is entertaining to anticipate and, as scouts, we are curious to see how athletes continue to develop. Before we jump into the club season, I wanted to reflect back on the recent state tournament. This was a celebration after not having a state tournament at all last year, and the energy was brought by teams, fans, and pep bands. This final weekend of the high school season was a great preview of what we may see from these athletes in the next few months against competition across the Midwest. Here are some of the Class A state tournament’s best pin hitters. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="72793" first="Ellie" last="Cohen"] – 2022 – Outside Hitter – Bethlehem Academy</strong><br />
Cohen started the tournament off with 16 kills and 15 digs in their 3-0 quarterfinal win over Breckenridge and then followed that up with 6 kills in their semifinal loss to Mayer Lutheran. The 3<sup>rd</sup> place match versus Walker-Hackensack-Akeley went to a 4<sup>th</sup> set, and Cohen collected 7 kills but exploded on the defensive side with 26 digs. She hits a really nice line shot that was tough to defend, and defensively she was solid throughout. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bethlehem Academy stays alive one more point with the big swing by senior, [player_tooltip player_id="72793" first="Ellie" last="Cohen"]. <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigMN</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://t.co/aLeKI43g9f">pic.x.com/aLeKI43g9f</a></p>
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1459250479439958016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="73497" first="Gabby" last="Wachholz"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Mayer Lutheran</strong><br />
Over three matches and only 9 total sets of play, Wachholz tallied 30 kills and 21 digs. She put on full display her abilities and efficiency on both offense and defense. In their 3-0 semifinal win over Bethlehem Academy, Wachholz pounded 13 kills on a .440 attack percentage. She is super springy and athletic with a lightning-fast arm and gritty defense. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="73494" first="Ireland" last="Stassen"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Setter/Outside Hitter - Minneota</strong><br />
Stassen led Minneota’s offense through a solid tournament and to a 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish. She recorded a .345 in their 0-3 Championship loss to Mayer Lutheran while adding 13 assists and 7 digs. As a setter, Stassen does a really nice job moving the ball around and getting one on none situations for her hitters and, then as an attacker, she just pounds the ball. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">5’8 Junior Setter/OH, <a href="https://x.com/IrelandStassen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IrelandStassen</a> goes to pound-town for the point. The <a href="https://x.com/vballvikings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vballvikings</a> have done a great job so far making plenty of favorable match-ups for their hitters.<br />
Vikings still have the edge 16-15 in the 2nd set.<a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigMN</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://t.co/R7Vd7on9DM">pic.x.com/R7Vd7on9DM</a></p>
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1459274175105880075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166013" first="Allyson" last="Sea"] – 2022 – 5’5 – Outside Hitter – Walker-Hackensack-Akeley</strong><br />
Sea closed out her senior season with a great postseason showing. She was a key piece of WHA’s tournament showing, and she made a big impact both offensively and defensively. Sea hit a .225 in their quarterfinal win over Legacy Christian. She recorded 10 kills while adding twenty-three digs. After the Wolves dropped their semi-final match, Sea rebounded in the 3<sup>rd</sup> place match and collected another 10 kills and 28 digs. She is a gritty 6-rotation player who is undersized but has a plethora of really effective shots. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166016" first="Madeline" last="Guetzkow"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Right Side Hitter/Setter – Mayer Lutheran</strong><br />
Guetzkow closes out her junior year with a great performance at the state tournament. Her 9 kills on a .438 attack percentage in the semifinals over Bethlehem Academy was a crucial one, as her team fell into a great rhythm and cruised to the championship match. Guetzkow has a really high contact point and fast swing. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">5’11 Junior Pin Hitter/Setter, [player_tooltip player_id="166016" first="Madeline" last="Guetzkow"], finds the floor for the point as <a href="https://x.com/mayerlutheran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayerlutheran</a> Crusaders lead 22-17 in the 3rd set. Closing in on a trip to the class AA championship match. <a href="https://t.co/sdIB4ApXQt">pic.x.com/sdIB4ApXQt</a></p>
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1459249061337387008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166014" first="Brielle" last="Cimbura"] – 2024 – Outside Hitter – Legacy Christian Academy</strong><br />
This sophomore six-rotation outside hitter led her team to a big consolation championship over Breckenridge with 7 kills and 22 digs. Cimbura was a player who stuck out as the ultimate hustler. She would go flying off the sport court to bring the ball back into play. It’s exciting to think she has 2 more years of potential trips back to the Xcel Energy Center. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="72762" first="Natalee" last="Rolbiecki"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter - Minneota</strong><br />
Rolbiecki can be a difference maker, and she had a big match in the semifinals, leading her squad with 20 kills to hit a .378 and send the Vikings to the Class A Championship match on Saturday. With 17 kills in the quarterfinals and ten in the championship, Rolbiecki collected 47 kills in the tournament, averaging more than 5 kills per set. She was highly effective, executing from anywhere on the court and extremely solid in serve-receive. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s been a battle between <a href="https://x.com/vballvikings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vballvikings</a> Senior OH [player_tooltip player_id="72762" first="Natalee" last="Rolbiecki"] and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley’s Freshman Libero, Aubrey Morrison down this line. Rolbiecki wraps up set 1 with 8 kills while hitting a .462. <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigMN</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://t.co/jG6RQXZTmN">pic.x.com/jG6RQXZTmN</a></p>
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1459270273803427843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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