MN Team 2A Preview: Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend I had a chance to sit in the&nbsp;stands at a volleyball tournament in Rochester. Not only were C-Squad and JV teams on display, but varsity&nbsp;squads were also battling it out at the National Volleyball Center. One varsity team that caught my eye was the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms.&nbsp; As I watched from the&nbsp;stands and talked with some of the local kids that were there watching their girlfriends (yes, I asked whether they were "brothers or boyfriends" like the latest TikTok trend), it was fun to see a team with very energetic, scrappy and talented players as well a great fan base.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blooming Prairie is a 2A school with a town population base of about 1900. I truly believe there is&nbsp;always&nbsp;talent to find in the&nbsp;small towns, and Blooming Prairie delivered. I give this team a ton of credit. They came in and competed against bigger schools and did not back down. Below are a few of the players that captured my eye and deserve some recognition&nbsp;for their big efforts on the court his past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember to follow me on Instagram @Prepdigamy and Facebook @PrepDig Amy for up to date event coverage, stories, and more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882895"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71a908cd5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schwarz is a 5'11" lean, athletic lefty, with a hefty vertical and a quick arm swing that can really deliver a punch.&nbsp; Playing out of the middle position, Schwarz has a big presence at the net, moves quickly lateral, and can take big swings from out of the middle and right pin. Only a freshman, Schwarz is just getting started and will be a big weapon for the Blossoms for many years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882897"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71c8dd0761"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='882895' first='Elaine' last='Schwarz'] isn't the only dynamic lefty middle on the this squad. Doocy is also a lefty middle with quick feet, excellent reading skills, and enhanced court awareness. She was all over the court on Saturday. Doocy is a middle that does not give up on a play, reads the opposing setter well, and works swiftly to get out to the pins to put up a block.&nbsp;She is also a middle that covers her neighboring attackers well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882896"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71c8dd07ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schwarz is a solid setter, who sets a clean, consistent, hittable ball to her attackers. She reads the court well, isolates her attackers, and seems to find just the location they need to make each successful. Running a 6-2 offense, Schwarz will also take big rips from the pins when she is in the front row.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882899"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71c8dd07f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Libero Harvey was all over the court on Saturday.&nbsp; She has quick feet, reads attackers well, and makes efficient movements in the back row. Due to her speed, she is very good at running through the ball and covering her attackers. I was impressed with the number of balls she was able to recycle for her team,&nbsp;giving them numerous second chance attacking attempts. Rumor has it she is interested in playing ball at the collegiate level. Whether as a libero or a defensive specialist, Harvey would be an asset for sure.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882902"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71c8dd0834"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mongeau was a beast in the back court. On the defensive end, she came up with some huge digs, especially down the right side line.&nbsp; She also reads the court well and steps into the seam allowing her to keep balls in play for her team that otherwise would have found the floor. Mongeau also has a strong, float serve which also allows her to contribute on the offensive end as well.&nbsp; She delivered a few aces and kept teams out of system numerous times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["837722"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68b71c8dd0875"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hefling is an undersized outside at 5'6" but she certainly doesn't play like it. She uses her solid vertical, grit, and sheer determination to propel her up and over the block, around it, and often times off it to generate kills. She doesn't seem to have a preferred&nbsp;method to score (her line shots are my favorite though), but instead uses a "toolbox" filled with numerous shots and does whatever it takes to get the job done. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->