Thursday’s Minnesota Prep Volleyball Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minnesota had a full slate of prep volleyball action on Thursday, and here's a look at the top performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["285255"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='285255' first='Julia' last='Bigalke'] stepped up for Concordia Academy in a 3-1 win over St. Croix Lutheran 25-18, 21-25, 25-19.rnrnBigalke delivered 14 kills, three total blocks, a dig, a set assist, and two serve receptions. The 5-foot-11 junior middle hitter has a strong season going with 137 kills, 40 total blocks, and 22 digs in 62 sets played.rnrnShe recently surpassed 100 career blocks, and she passed 300 career kills earlier this season. Bigalke has 335 career kills, and she has 104 career blocks.rnrnWith her height and strong approach, Bigalke u003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2M8Ygru0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eis a force around the netu003c/au003e. She can get the ball past opposing defenders on the front line with ease.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["447964"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='447964' first='Payton' last='Gravelle'] stepped up for Wadena-Deer Creek in a 3-0 sweep of New York Mills, 20-25, 15-25, 14-25.rnrnGravelle posted 13 kills, three digs, two blocks, and a service ace. She's been a big part of WDC's success amid a 15-7 record and 6-0 start to conference play.rnrnShe recently tallied 20 kills in a conference win on October 5, a 3-0 sweep of Verndale. An All-Conference middle hitter last year as an eighth grader, Gravelle looks to keep going strong into the final weeks of the high school season.rnrnGravelle u003ca href=u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh38ctCctLsu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003ehas an excellent jump and hitting styleu003c/au003e on the attack. She delivers the ball with high velocity, and her elevation makes it all more the more difficult for opposing teams.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["235010"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='235010' first='Isabel' last='Larson'] stepped up for Pequot Lakes despite a 3-0 loss to Albany, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25.rnrnLarson posed 10 kills, 13 digs, and a block in the loss. She u003ca href=u0022https://www.maxpreps.com/mn/pequot-lakes/pequot-lakes-patriots/athletes/isabel-larson/media/videos/?careerid=ton5a6a75q666u0026amp;videoid=3dccc412-26bc-456f-89dc-d3e9fe693e6cu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eexcels at getting to the ballu003c/au003e and popping it over the net and opposing blockers.rnrnHer ball placement is solid, and she doesn't hesitate to go right at taller opponents and go for the kill. Larson uses her athleticism well when she jumps into the kill attempt.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["185683"],"_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":"Alivia Brown stepped up for Pillager despite a 3-0 loss to Henning, 9-25, 11-25, 13-25.rnrnBrown tallied 13 digs and four kills in the loss. She plays both defensive specialist and outside hitter for Pillager.rnrnOn the attack, Brown u003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2M5zBZu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003euses her athleticismu003c/au003e to a get a good jump on the ball, and she drives it over the net like a fast ball. It's a difficult hit for opposing teams to return.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["285235"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='285235' first='Hannah' last='Koester'] had a solid outing for Northfield in a 3-0 sweep of Winona, 25-16, 25-14, 25-10.rnrnKoester tallied 11 kills and five digs in the win.  The 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter has a solid season going with 231 kills, 18 service aces, 18 total blocks, and 129 digs.rnrnShe recently passed the 200 career dig mark, and she has 220 career digs at the moment. Koester also passed the 400 career kill mark earlier this season, and she has 430 kills for her career.rnrnKoester uses her athleticism well on jumping into kills and blocks andu003ca href=u0022https://www.northernlightsjuniors.org/2022/player.php?year=2022u0026amp;id=457153u0026amp;team=152u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003e 116 inches and 103 inchesu003c/au003e respectively. She also has good reach at 89 inches.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65256318ed455"} /-->