Class A Standouts at Showcase
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There was so much amazing talent in the Midwest Volleyball Warehouse last weekend with 16 teams in each Class. I worked across 8 courts trying to take in as much volleyball as possible. Did I see everyone? I tried, but I’m doubtful I…
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Continue ReadingThere was so much amazing talent in the Midwest Volleyball Warehouse last weekend with 16 teams in each Class. I worked across 8 courts trying to take in as much volleyball as possible. Did I see everyone? I tried, but I’m doubtful I saw everyone. Here are a few names and performances I DID catch during the Class A Showcase.
Badger-Greenbush-Middle River
BGMR dropped a match on Friday to Minneota, which sent them into the Silver bracket for Saturday. They took a nailbiter win against Kenyon-Wanamingo and then dropped their final match to Mabel-Canton. They were led by senior middle blockers Jade Reese Jade Reese MB Badger-Greenbush-Middle River | 2023 State MN and Riley Gust Riley Gust 5'10" | MB Badger-Greenbush-Middle River | 2023 MN . Reese is a fantastic jumper and actually bounced the ball off the head of an off-blocker stationed inside the 10 ft line.
Gust offensively did a great job of finding a way through the opposing block. The Gator’s outsides were both really strong defensively. Kinsley Hanson Kinsley Hanson OH Badger-Greenbush-Middle River | 2023 MN made some great defensive reads, while sophomore McKenzie Dahl McKenzie Dahl OH Badger-Greenbush-Middle River | 2025 MN played good off-blocker defense and was quick to transition to attack. Dahl also elevated well and had a good selection of shots.
Kindopp is a Class of 2024 middle blocker competing on the Lancer squad that finished in the Bronze bracket on Saturday. She caught my eye with her ability to take a hard swing through the block. Kindopp was also quick from pin to pin and fundamentally sound.
Mayer Lutheran
Mayer Lutheran is the reigning Class A State Champs with some big shoes to fill this season. This team has an interesting mix of upperclassmen and youth. Some top attackers are Gabby Wachholz Gabby Wachholz 5'8" | OH Mayer Lutheran | 2023 State MN and Stella Maass Stella Maass 5'8" | OH Mayer Lutheran | 2023 State MN . Wachholz is a super explosive lefty who is an expert at finding the line. Maass connects and swings hard around the block.
They both do a nice job connecting with freshman setter Izabelle Keaveny. Keaveny gets some really great defensive touches and does a nice job of getting the set all the way out to the pins. But before Izzy Keaveny contacts the ball, it is usually coming from her twin sister Clara Keaveny Clara Keaveny 5'10" | DS/L Mayer Lutheran | 2026 State MN . Libero Keaveny is solid in serve-receive and keeps them in-system.
Rechtzigel is a key for KW with her composure. She knows how to find the split in the block, and on the defensive side, she emulates this squad’s overall scrappiness. Rechtzigel has the length to challenge attackers defensively and create some chaos for the opposing team.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton
This is one seriously high-octane group. This squad has a pair of physical middles, including Camry Swanson Camry Swanson MB Russell-Tyler-Ruthton | 2024 MN and Allyson Nelson Allyson Nelson MB Russell-Tyler-Ruthton | 2024 State MN . Swanson has a high contact point and a booming swing, while Nelson is a warrior at the net. Nelson doesn’t let anything get past her block, and offensively, she does a great job working the angles.
Setters, Alexis Schreurs Alexis Schreurs S Russell-Tyler-Thornton | 2023 MN and Gabrielle Borresen Gabrielle Borresen S Russell-Tyler-Thornton | 2024 State MN , know how to run the show and do a great job getting to the ball with their hands and giving their attackers the best chance to score. Schreuers has soft hands and a quick release, while Borresen moves the ball around really well and gets the outside ball all the way to the pin, giving her attackers plenty of options. Some of their favorite targets are Abigail Carr Abigail Carr 5'10" | OH Russell-Tyler-Ruthton | 2024 State MN and Elle Hesse Elle Hesse OH Russell-Tyler-Ruthton | 2023 State MN on the outside because they are both so physical; if you throw the ball up, they will put on a show with their athleticism.
Carr takes a big swing inside the block and has really smart tip placement. She was a huge gamechanger in the Gold Championship Match on Saturday. Hesse is an explosive sparkplug that is smaller, but she can fly. She takes a heavy swing and does a great job working the ball off the block.
Erlandson takes a really nice swing down the line and puts some heat on a power alley swing. She also knows when and how to tool the block. Erlandson is a springy jumper with a solid hand contact and a forceful swing from the left side.