1A State Finals: Impact Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1A State finals at the beginning of the month were between St. Paul, a program that had last won a state title in 2019, and Crane, which sought to win its first title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs fought hard and beat the Buckaroos in an exciting four-set match (25-22, 21-25, 25-12, 26-24).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To recap the match, we will be identifying and highlighting players from each team that were impact players for the team. Although Crane came out on top, St. Paul also had some athletes with great performances in the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CRANE HIGH SCHOOL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Bowen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Crane","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe sophomore middle blocker was solid at the net during the state title match. Although she's a bit undersized for a middle, Bowen showcased strong court vision and a quick, confident approach, which she used to put the ball away for the Mustangs. Over the course of the match, Bowen racked up 4 kills on 8 total attempts, hitting a .250. She also notched 2 aces, 2 digs, and 1 block assist, rounding out her all-around steady play that helped Crane take the win.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Kortney Doman","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Crane","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDoman, who was named Player of the Match by Moda Health, played super impressively and was instrumental in Crane's first championship win. The senior captain hit from everywhere on the court efficiently to put the ball away. With her explosive approach, solid vertical, and whip of an arm, Doman was hard to stop. She posted an incredible 37 kills on 77 attempts, hitting a .351. Doman also showcased her talent from the baseline, notching 4 aces on 22 total serves for a 90.9 serving percentage. In the back row, Doman was steady and consistent, picking up 6 digs and 25 passes in serve receive. And, not only was Doman Crane's biggest offensive weapon, but she was also strong at the net defensively and notched 2 block assists. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Kendal Nichols","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Crane","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFreshman setter Nichols did an excellent job of running a quick, effective offense during the state title match. Nichols not only placed her sets well, but she also showcased great connections with her hitters. On 55 total setting attempts, 46 of those converted into assists. Nichols played well in other aspects of the game, too, notching 1 kill off 3 attempts, 1 ace and 0 errors on 13 total serves, and 8 digs. It will be exciting to see how the freshman continues to improve her game over the next few years. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='769071' first='Kaitlyn' last='Siegner']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Crane","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHitting out of the middle, Siegner was solid all-around during Crane's final match and earned a spot on the 1A All-Tournament Second Team as the only freshman to make the 1A list. Siegner has a powerful and heavy arm, which helps her bury the ball into the court. She is also a strong player from the baseline and is an excellent blocker, getting up high to stop opponents. Siegner tallied 6 kills on 17 total attempts during the match. Impressively, she also notched 5 aces on 15 total serves, as well as 3 solo blocks and 2 block assists. Siegner will be one to watch.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559bc5336c1f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ST. PAUL HIGH SCHOOL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Meredith Coleman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Paul","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSenior captain Coleman was on fire during the final match against Crane, earning a spot on the 1A All-Tournament Second Team. The attacker showcased her versatile swing from the middle, reading the court well to find openings and swinging deep into the court to score. Coleman racked up an impressive 15 kills on 42 swings, hitting a .119. Out of 19 total serves, Coleman did not miss a single one. And, not only was Coleman an offensive weapon, but she also showcased solid passing, notching 9 digs and 7 passes off serves. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["244432"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eKoch, another senior captain and St. Paul's primary setter, played excellently not just during the state title match, but also throughout the entire season. The setter has improved so much over the past year, and her ability to run a quick and tough offense was certainly exciting to watch. Koch, who was also named to the 1A All-Tournament Second Team, notched a solid 30 assists off 32 total attempts, setting an impressive .938. She also racked up 1 kill, 1 ace and 0 serving errors on 18 total serves, 4 digs, and 1 block assist. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["249593"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eRose, who was named Player of the Match by Moda Health, was St. Paul's offensive weapon during the final match. With her heavy arm and powerful approach, Rose was formidable from the front row. On 39 total hitting attempts, Rose posted an impressive 18 kills, hitting a .308. The connection between Rose and Koch was hard to stop, and Rose managed to put the ball away on nearly half of her swings. Leading her team in blocks, Rose was also competitive at the net and tallied a solid 3 solo blocks and 1 block assist. Luckily for St. Paul, the 6'1” junior still has another year to help lead her team to a state title. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559bc5336dec"} /-->