Sanford Fargo~15UA Finishes Among Nation's Best at USAV

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   Sanford 15UA had a solid week at the USAV Girls Junior National Championship, going 7-3 and finishing fifth in the American Division. Playing teams from all over the country is never easy, but this group continued to compete with confidence and found different ways to win throughout the tournament. Sanford played with the kind of energy that kept momentum on its side from the first day through bracket play while staying balanced offensively and defending at a high level.   One clear thing was how connected the team looked at every position. The middles got their presence known early at the net, the setters kept the offense flowing, the pins found a way to score in and out of system, and the back row continued to provide quality first contacts. It was that balance that kept Sanford competing against good opponents all week long.    [player_tooltip player_id='882490' first='Ellery' last='Ames'] kept opposing offenses on their heels throughout the tournament. She was always on time to close the block, put her hands across the net, and eliminate quality attack angles. What I kept noticing was how quickly she moved after she blocked responsibility. She came off the net, reset her approach, and stayed available on first-tempo swings, making opposing middles account for her on every rally. Even when she wasn't recording a block, her touches slowed attacks and let Sanford turn defense into transition offense. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='783337' first='April' last='Flack'] was very disciplined at the net all week. She remained balanced when moving side to side, sealed seams with her pin blockers, and was rarely out of position. Offensively, she kept her good approach, which allowed the setters to get to her at a quick tempo before the opposing blockers were fully set. I also liked how often she gave second chances with controlled block touches instead of trying to pound every ball straight down. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='743602' first='Brooklyn' last='Gjevre'] embraced everything that comes with playing on the right side. She picked up the block early against the other team's left-side hitters, kept her footwork disciplined, and took away the line consistently. Offensively, she became a dependable out-of-system option, attacking from a high contact point and working around the block rather than at it head-on. She made an assortment of shots that kept defenses guessing all tournament long. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='882486' first='Julia' last='Hulstein'] had a strong six-rotation tournament. She took care of quality-first contacts in service reception and then quickly readjusted her approach to remain available during the transition. What stood out was how she was able to turn a passing play into an attack without getting behind the play so quickly. She knew where the blockers were setting up, used the available space, and changed pace well enough to keep defenders from getting into predictable reads. This is why she made All-Tournament Team!~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='755656' first='Raegan' last='Killoran'] was outstanding in running Sanford's offense from the first snap of the match to the final day. She often squared to the target, varied tempos, and established the middle before stretching the offense to both pins. In out-of-system situations, she distinguished herself in her decision-making by opting not to keep the rally alive but to continue to produce hittable balls. Her kick save was a tournament highlight, but her ability to control the flow of the offense, point after point, impressed me most. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='754196' first='Maya' last='Klabo'] also made her mark from the right side throughout the tournament. One thing I did notice was how consistently she got herself in position in transition. “When she flipped defense into offense, she was already rebuilding her approach and giving her setter an option on the pin. She hit with a high contact point, was patient against a formed block, and did an impressive job of using the block rather than forcing low-percentage swings. Defensively at the net, she closed well with her middle, pressed her hands across the tape, and took away quality angles from opposing outside hitters. She was one of Sanford's most dependable right-side attackers at nationals because of how completely she handled both her blocking assignments and offensive opportunities. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='882487' first='Harper' last='Larson'] gave Sanford another strong attacking presence on the left pin throughout nationals. She did an impressive job of being available in transition, getting to her route on time, and attacking from a high-contact point. What I saw was how well she adapted to the block. She didn't try to hit the block; instead, she worked different angles, used the block when it was there, and kept finding ways to finish. She also played well at the net, finishing well with her middle and helping to take away quality scoring chances. Sanford's offensive production and front-row presence remained valuable as it made its run through the tournament. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='745242' first='Liv' last='Mattern'] quietly anchored one of the strongest parts of Sanford's game. She always made quality first contacts that allowed the setters to run the entire offense without becoming predictable. She read hitters well, beat the ball to the spot, and turned difficult digs into playable contacts defensively. Those little touches kept rallies alive, created transition opportunities, and kept Sanford in the system throughout the tournament. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Every time [player_tooltip player_id='745951' first='Lucy' last='Rydell'] got on the floor, Sanford's offense remained balanced. She did an impressive job of freezing middle blockers with her distribution, and it created one-on-one opportunities for her hitters on the pins. “Even in a first contact situation off the net, she was calm, she handled second contact well, and she delivered balls that her attackers could be aggressive with. Her ability to keep the offense flowing was a key factor throughout nationals. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    Ten games in national competition are a true test of any roster, and Sanford 15UA answered the challenge throughout the week. A 7-3 finish and a fifth-place finish in the American Division speak to a team that remained disciplined, trusted one another, and kept playing quality volleyball from the first serve to the last point. ~Congrats!

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