MN and WI Athletes Gearing Up for a Big Club Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The popularity of volleyball is continuing to grow and with that the level of talent is also skyrocketing. The following athletes are all entering the club season with drive, energy, and confidence after standout high school performances. Each player showed significant growth and leadership along with a fire and passion for the game this past fall AND we can't wait for them to showcase it on the club courts next. Check out some of areas best below.</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:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["585604"],"_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-6920b07d81f3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wrapping up the school season, Walz is a setter headed over to Elevate to compete on the club circuit. Her growth on the court over high school will translate over to club and showcase her taking charge of the offense and making smart choices with the ball. She delivers clean, accurate sets that allow attackers to swing aggressively. In addition, her tough, aggressive serve is already a major weapon that will be put to good use this season. Walz is expected to be a standout leader and playmaker on her team and we all know she will succeed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["746033"],"_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-6920b07d81fd7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Skifton is a 6'0" middle who already competed confidently at West Salem high school as a freshman and will be playing two age levels up in club this winter. Her fast, explosive arm swing makes her a constant threat in the middle, allowing her to terminate and compete against more experienced blockers. She pairs her explosiveness with a solid vertical, giving her the ability to close blocks effectively. Despite being young, she reads the game very well and adapts quickly to the speed of the competition. I predict she will have a big year at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["759052"],"_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-6920b07d82052"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Van Beek is a standout freshman middle blocker who proved her readiness for high-level volleyball this past school season with a varsity playoff run that brought them to the Civic Center in Rochester. Over the season, she became more aggressive at the net, turning her athleticism into important plays in big moments. Her blocking has even gotten more consistent, and she attacks with elevated levels of power and consistency. I anticipate she will carry this momentum with her into the club season and continue to make a huge impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486548"],"_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-6920ba978943e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Medenblik is a powerful lefty pin hitter who played a crucial role in leading her team to the state tournament this fall. Her physicality and height make her a dominant presence on the court, both as an attacker and a blocker. She swings with confidence, using that lefty advantage to create difficult angles for opponents to deal with. Her ability to be the "go-to" and score in intense moments sets her apart from many. With her combination of strength, skill, and competitiveness, she is poised to take the club season by storm in the next few weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["745657"],"_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-6920ba97894a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With club season coming near, I am going to have to check in on Blount. I followed her over the high school season and saw that she racked up some huge numbers as she had games with over 20 kills. This isn't surprising as she is a versatile outside hitter with a wide range of attack options that keep opponents guessing. She displays the right combination of power and finesse, showcasing a strong volleyball IQ, allowing her to score in almost every play and in nearly every situation. She also possesses an impressive vertical, giving her a high contact point and the ability to get up and hit over the block. Whether she decides to tip, tool, or take a huge swinging down the line, Blount consistently finds ways to put points in the scorebook for her team. We expect the same from her as we head into the club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->