Thursday’s Minnesota Prep Volleyball Standouts
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Minnesota had a full slate of prep volleyball action on Thursday, and here’s a look at the top performers. Julia Bigalke MN #43 MB #11 HEIGHT 6'0" POS MB CLASS 2025 View Profile Julia Bigalke State: Minnesota School: Concordia Academy…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota had a full slate of prep volleyball action on Thursday, and here’s a look at the top performers.
Julia Bigalke Julia Bigalke 6’0″ | MB Concordia Academy | 2025 State MN stepped up for Concordia Academy in a 3-1 win over St. Croix Lutheran 25-18, 21-25, 25-19.
Bigalke 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.
She 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.
With her height and strong approach, Bigalke is a force around the net. She can get the ball past opposing defenders on the front line with ease.
Highlights
Payton Gravelle Payton Gravelle 6’0″ | MB Wadena Deer Creek | 2027 State MN stepped up for Wadena-Deer Creek in a 3-0 sweep of New York Mills, 20-25, 15-25, 14-25.
Gravelle 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.
She 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.
Gravelle has an excellent jump and hitting style on the attack. She delivers the ball with high velocity, and her elevation makes it all more the more difficult for opposing teams.
Isabel Larson Isabel Larson 5’8″ | OH Pequot Lakes | 2024 MN stepped up for Pequot Lakes despite a 3-0 loss to Albany, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25.
Larson posed 10 kills, 13 digs, and a block in the loss. She excels at getting to the ball and popping it over the net and opposing blockers.
Her 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.
Alivia Brown stepped up for Pillager despite a 3-0 loss to Henning, 9-25, 11-25, 13-25.
Brown tallied 13 digs and four kills in the loss. She plays both defensive specialist and outside hitter for Pillager.
On the attack, Brown uses her athleticism 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.
Highlights
Hannah Koester Hannah Koester 5’10” | OH Northfield | 2025 State MN had a solid outing for Northfield in a 3-0 sweep of Winona, 25-16, 25-14, 25-10.
Koester 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.
She 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.
Koester uses her athleticism well on jumping into kills and blocks and 116 inches and 103 inches respectively. She also has good reach at 89 inches.