Class of 2025: Top Five (and who is knocking on the door)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Minnesota has updated the Class of 2025 Rankings and let me tell you, this is not an easy job! This class is loaded with talent and you will see that when you look at some club's 3s and 4s teams with players that could potentially make high-level commitments. The craziest part is that this class has just embarked on their time as upperclassmen so they have a couple years to develop yet. Sometimes, the Top 5 are pretty cut and dry or obvious but with this class, the top 10-15 could make the top 5 in some of the other classes. With that being said, let's take a little look at our Top 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["117878"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Coming in at #5 is [player_tooltip player_id='117878' first='Anya' last='Schmidt'].  Schmidt is a crazy athletic setter/pin hitter.  She is a 2-time Class AAAA All-State and All-Tournament Team honoree.  Schmidt was also named to the 2022 AVCA Phenom Watchlist and played her club ball with [program_tooltip program_id='428834' first='Club' last='Velocity'] 16-1.  Most recently she made her commitment to Division 1 St. Thomas as she heads into her junior season.  Schmidt is dynamic as an attacker, setter, as well as relentless as a defender.  She puts up a huge block and has a gnarly serve that gives opposing passers nightmares.rnrnShe certainly has plenty of competition in the setting position with the likes of: [player_tooltip player_id='211521' first='Reese' last='Axness'], [player_tooltip player_id='207317' first='Teagan' last='Jaynes'], [player_tooltip player_id='177453' first='Addison' last='Rossum'], and [player_tooltip player_id='221896' first='Alexis' last='Opland'] all within the top 20.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["177424"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"#4 will be 6'5 middle blocker, [player_tooltip player_id='177424' first='Keira' last='Schmidt'].  Schmidt has been a little under the radar but has a consistent presence on Northern Lights top team.  She was named to the 2023 JVA Watchlist and recently committed to Division 1 Marquette.  Schmidt is an intimidating presence at the net both offensive and defensively.  She runs a number of routes without hesitation and hs no problem executing the attack.  Schmidt is quick laterally and fast in transition to be available to hit a number of different tempos.rnrnShe's in good company with middle blockers: [player_tooltip player_id='205530' first='Katie' last='Kelzenberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='283773' first='Carly' last='Slusser'], [player_tooltip player_id='223050' first='Alaina' last='Panagiotopoulos'], and [player_tooltip player_id='261244' first='Kathryn' last='Adler'] all ranked in the top 20.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["177422"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Libero, [player_tooltip player_id='177422' first='McKenna' last='Garr'], is staying consistent at #3.  This makes sense since she is the ever consistent 1st contact and libero for Northern Lights top team.  She was named to the 2023 JVA Watchlist and recently committed to Minnesota.  Garr is an impressive defender that trains and competes at a high level to maintain this standing.  She gets game saving touches, and makes tough serves look like free balls.  Her team is in system a majority of the time because of her movement, technique and communication in the back court.rnrnGarr is pushed by some high level liberos that include: [player_tooltip player_id='166372' first='Emerson' last='Dillon'], [player_tooltip player_id='177451' first='Gretchen' last='Volk'], [player_tooltip player_id='285238' first='Josie' last='Tingelhoff'], and [player_tooltip player_id='231729' first='Ava' last='Boelter'] all ranking in the top 45.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["191402"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"#2 is non-other than [player_tooltip player_id='191402' first='Carly' last='Gilk'].  Gilk is just built like an elite athlete and she has really exploded this past year.  In 2022 she earned honors such as being named to the AVCA Phenom Watchlist and Class AAAA All-State Team.  Gilk took on the MN Select 16-1 squad this past club season and picked up a 2023 JVA Watchlist mention.  This summer she committed to play for Minnesota and was invited to the USAV Spring NDTP.  She gained valuable experience as an alternate for the U.S. U19 FIVB World Champion team.  Gilk has a high ceiling and I'm looking forward to see more growth the next couple years.rnrnGilk leads the right side attackers including: [player_tooltip player_id='229827' first='Kate' last='Holthaus'], [player_tooltip player_id='229965' first='Elli' last='Tufto'], [player_tooltip player_id='218718' first='Addison' last='Ertz'], and [player_tooltip player_id='232397' first='Natalie' last='Mix'] all ranked in the top 70.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["117880"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"And coming in at #1 is [player_tooltip player_id='117880' first='Mesaiya' last='Bettis'].  Bettis and Gilk have a lot of the same upsides including really high ceilings.  In 2022 she was named to the AVCA Phenom Watchlist and in 2023 she made the JVA Watchlist.  Bettis was invited to the USAC Spring NDTP and was named a USAV GJNC 16 Open All American. I'm glad to see Bettis making her rounds to check out a number of different schools because there is no limit for her.  I've seen tremendous gains over the last couple years and I don't see her slowing down.  They both show extroidinary athleticism.  One thing that pushes Bettis to a little higher would be the consistently high level she competes at and has found a lot of success at.rnrnBettis is pushed by a strong crew of outside hitters that include: [player_tooltip player_id='177421' first='Ava' last='Ball'], [player_tooltip player_id='177445' first='Hannah' last='Klein'], [player_tooltip player_id='177426' first='Mia' last='Weaver'], and [player_tooltip player_id='285235' first='Hannah' last='Koester'] all ranked in the top 20.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dfb42d39cde"} /-->