MN Stock Up: 2026 Attackers

<p>As the Class of 2026 moves into the ranks of upperclassmen the Midwest's future is looking good. They were on full display Saturday at the Minnesota Stock Up Showcase. Here's a look at some of those 2026 Attackers that grabbed our attention.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Schulze has a really fast armswing and I love seeing that in a middle because it can be the difference between a big kill or hitting the ball out of bounds. And she knows how to work the angles around the opposing block. Standing at 6'1 Schulze can make plays on both sides of the ball but I have to say her effort and work ethic at the net really caught my eye. Two intangibles necessary to find in a great middle.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Michaelis looks better and better every time I see her play. Whether her skill, athleticism or confidence is increasing she is finding a way to get better every time she steps on the floor. Michaelis was taking a big rip on the ball and you can tell she is ready for another run to the X this fall.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1819755268646830360 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hanson is not messing around as she prepares for her junior season at Chaska. She has some really good hang time and isn't afraid to go after an overpass. Hanson shines in drills and gameplay with the extra effort she puts in to really finish things out.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1819862181560648134 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Dienger was taking some really aggressive swings on Saturday and the general confidence needed to take those kinds of swings is what first pulled my attention. She also demonstrated some nice passing during defensive play and followed those up with powerful swings to close out a rally. Dienger demonstrated the capability of being a sound six-rotation player.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Peters plays much larger than a near 6'0 attacker. She elevates in her approach and takes such a hard swing down on top of the blocker's hands. I wonder how many blocker's fingers has she broken. Peters will sometimes confuse the opposing defenders with her offspeed swing to go with her flow of the game.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Traczyk runs a number of smooth routes but I particularly enjoyed her slide approach. She looked loose and comfortable and knew how to make adjustments when necessary. Traczyk demonstrated a solid work ethic and when you combine that with her natural ability she is bound to make a great asset at the next level.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Wiese is a fun lefty that you will want to keep an eye on. I saw her doing some nice things in the front row but what I really liked was when she went to right back and took a wicked swing out of the backrow. Wiese meshes well with whoever is on her court and she is consistent in her play on the ball.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Barnett takes a big approach on the ball and isn't afraid to take a big swing either. She has a solid all-around game and she can deliver power from front row or back row. Barnett can pass on defense and isn't afraid to lead by action.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Lobitz is a lefty with some really great timing on her approach. I love seeing athletes that can adjust once the set is up in the air to make sure they are accelerating into their attack. Lobitz can also deliver the power from either pin and she was really competitive in gameplay.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Tarnowski did a great job of getting up in the air early for a quick tempo ball. She could hang and then just when the time was right she could pull the trigger and send the ball straight to the floor. Tarnowski shows a ton of potential and good footwork at the net.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1819863569351258450 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is an explosive jumper and a fun player to watch. She definitely has the size and athleticism to be an impact player. Williams has the confidence and ability to finish plays making her a dangerous weapon in the fall.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Runge does a nice job of wrapping her hand over the top of the ball as she swings. She has a really nice mix of height and power to go along with her athleticism. Runge makes great adjustments to the set and could be very hard to stop this fall.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Puchalski caught my attention with some really aggressive swings out of the backrow during game play. There was just a different sound when she made contact and you could tell there was an explosiveness to her approach to the ball. Puchalski has sound technique and definitely tests the opposing team's defense.</p>

As the Class of 2026 moves into the ranks of upperclassmen the Midwest's future is looking good. They were on full display Saturday at the Minnesota Stock Up Showcase. Here's a look at some of those 2026 Attackers that grabbed our attention.