Class AAAA Poll: Who Makes It Back To The X? YOU VOTE!

It is going to be quite a season in Minnesota as we watch it all unfold. The Wayzata Trojans have had a firm grasp of the Class AAAA Tournament with the Swenson twins, Avery Jesewitz, and Bianca Nistor in the driver’s seat over the past few years. So now that they are headed to the Big 10 and Big West could we see a new champion in Class AAAA? And could it be anyone looking to repeat their travels from 2023? Let’s take a look at who could be leading a return to the X in November along with a poll to vote in because we’d love to hear from you, Minnesota!

I think you certainly bet Anya Schmidt Anya Schmidt 5'10" | S Rogers | 2025 State MN will have something to say about this one. The St. Thomas commit will be making one final run to the X and I’m sure this swiss army knife player will want to make it a memorable one. She’s got her big weapon senior pin hitter, Sara Scherber Sara Scherber 5'11" | RS/OH Rogers | 2025 State MN , to feed when she is in the back row.

We’ve talked a bit about who the Trojans will be losing but who is coming back to try and continue the Wayzata tradition? Proof that they will be contenders in AAAA start with George Mason commit, Katie Kelzenberg Katie Kelzenberg 6'2" | MB Wayzata | 2025 State MN . She has not been a stranger to the bright lights and each year takes on more and more responsibilities to help her team secure the win. Another big returner is St. Thomas commit, Reilly Kurth Reilly Kurth 6'2" | MB Wayzata | 2025 State MN . Between Kurth and Kelzenberg they don’t give the opposing offense much time to breath with their suffocating block. Junior 6’3 right side hitter/setter Eva Swenson Eva Swenson 6'3" | RS Wayzata | 2026 State MN will likely step into a larger role this season but the Trojans also have a few underclassmen that will probably find more playing time as well. Outside Hitters, Kristin Vogt and Ellie Osowski Ellie Osowski 5'11" | OH Wayzata | 2027 State MN , and setter, Kayla Nawrocki, should be a few of those working into larger roles.

New Prague battled with Wayzata in the Championship in 2023 but eventually fell 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 24-26). Emerson Dillon Emerson Dillon 5'8" | DS/L New Prague | 2025 State MN has been a big contributor for New Prague and will likely take on some more of the attack load while also serving as a consistent main passer. She is joined by juniors, Kyla Klein Kyla Klein 5'9" | OH New Prague | 2026 State MN on the outside and Kira Brundage Kira Brundage 5'7" | DS/L New Prague | 2026 State MN as libero. This sets up NP with a great first contact.

Minnetonka won their section (25-18, 25-21, 13-25, 25-20) in 2023 for a trip to the X. There, they fell in 4 to the eventual runner-up, New Prague, and then Consolation winner, Rogers. Bryant commit, Hannah Jackson Hannah Jackson 6'2" | OH Minnetonka | 2025 State MN , left her mark with a team high 24 kills in those 2 matches combined. She will likely be a driving force for the Skippers in 2024. Francis Marion commit and senior setter, Aubrey Johnson Aubrey Johnson 5'10" | S Minnetonka | 2025 State MN will be calling the shots on offense.

Edina was dealt the unlucky task of taking on Wayzata in the 2023 Quarterfinals. This squad will return juniors, Caroline Banks Caroline Banks 5'11" | S Cretin-Derham Hall | 2026 State MN and Aubrey Mueller Aubrey Mueller 5'5" | DS/L Edina | 2026 State MN to try and make their way back to the X in November. They will also return senior 5’10 middle, Emmie Bireley Emmie Bireley 5'10" | MB Edina | 2025 State MN to patrol the net.

Eagan fell in 5 sets in their opening match against Anoka. Once in consolation they beat Edina in 3 and then battled with Rogers for the consolation championship. They started off a bit slow before taking set 2 and 3. Rogers then dug deep in the 4th and finished the match in the 5th. Eagan returns their high-powered senior weapons Metropolitan State-Denver commit, Isabel Purrington Isabel Purrington 6'0" | OH Eagan | 2025 State MN , Marquette commit, Keira Schmidt Keira Schmidt 6'4" | MB Eagan | 2025 State #96 Nation MN , and Angelo State commit, Olivia Moore Olivia Moore 5'10" | OH Eagan | 2025 State MN . They will also return their junior libero, Madeline Kraft Madeline Kraft 5'6" | DS/L Eagan | 2026 State MN , so their first contact will be in good hands.

Anoka kicked things off with a 5 set win over Eagan in semifinals. They then lost in 3 to Wayzata in the semifinals and then turned around and beat Stillwater in 3 in the 3rd place match. They return their junior phenoms, Arizona commit, Hayden Reeder Hayden Reeder 6'1" | OH/RS Anoka | 2026 State #89 Nation MN , and middle blocker Isabelle Leaf.

Stillwater had another exciting start to the 2023 tournament by beating Rogers in 5 but they dropped their semifinal match to New Prague in 3. Stillwater will return their big gun junior North Dakota State commit, Courtney Peters Courtney Peters 5'11" | OH Stillwater | 2026 State MN . Can they make the return trip in 2024?