One Last Hurrah and New Beginnings: 8AA Players to Watch

Join Prep Dig using code “AVG30” for a discount on your initial membership.   Every season brings a new group of players who are asked to take on bigger roles and Class 8AA is no different. With key seniors moving on, several young players are ready to transition from supporting roles into team leaders, while others will be counted on to fill important gaps in their lineups. Some will be expected to shoulder more of the scoring load, while others will bring consistency and versatility to their teams. There are also some seasoned veterans in this group who have been around the block and are ready for one last hurrah. I can't wait to see what these players bring to the court this fall as they look to leave their mark on Class 8AA.   Remember to follow me on Instagram @Prepdigamy and Facebook @PrepDig Amy for live event coverage, behind the scenes stories, player highlights, and the latest updates. If you want to get on my radar or feel like I may have missed you, please reach out to me on email at <a href="mailto:vanguilderamy@gmail.com">vanguilderamy@gmail.com</a>. I always love hearing from players, especially Minnesota athletes and I'm always looking for new players to watch and follow!    Amundson is a quick libero with fast reflexes who hustles and always seems to be involved in every play. Last season, the all conference libero racked up 346 digs and 24 aces for Barnesville, proving herself to be a key piece in the back row. Everything starts with a good pass and Amundson will be instrumental as the Trojans look to build on last year's 13-14 record.     Costello is a four-year veteran in the libero role for Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and has built an impressive resume during her time in the back court. She is the school's all-time digs leader and has earned All-Conference honors in each of the last three seasons. With another winter and spring of development under her belt playing club with ND Elite, we expect Costello to be a force in the back row once again as she competes in her final prep season.     [player_tooltip player_id='837416' first='Ruby' last='Eckert'] was a key contributor for Frazee last season, tallying 218 kills from the pins while adding 321 digs to help the Hornets to a 20-7 record. Her all around play also earned her All-Conference honors. Heading into the 2026 fall season, we expect Eckert to lead not only on the stat sheet but also as a steady leader on the court, setting the tone for her team in every aspect of the game.     Hackel is a beast of a hitter who knows how to use the court to her advantage. She does an excellent job turning her body, finding even the smallest sliver of space down the line, and making defenses pay. She has put up a whopping 513 kills while also adding 108 blocks and 351 digs, showing just how much she can impact a match all over the court. Simply put, Hackel is a stud, and she is going to be a tough player for opponents to slow down again this year.     Liebenow caught my attention when I watched her at the state tournament last November where her range, speed, and quick arm stood out in the middle. She has a knack for turning nearly everything sent her way into gold, finding ways to score and to make an impact offensively. Last season, she earned All-Conference Honorable Mention in a tough conference while racking up 132 kills and 27 blocks. She will be a big factor once again as her team looks to complete for a three-peat run back to the state tournament.     Byfuglien is an attacker who can score from just about anywhere on the court. I've seen her take big swings from the pin and also light it up from the middle, making her a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Last season, she put up 170 kills, 42 blocks, and 158 digs while earning All Conference accolades. She will be a big time point scorer for the Rams this fall as they battle it out in the North Border Conference and look to make their way back to the Class AA state tournament.     Another young go-to player to watch is [player_tooltip player_id='903452' first='Adrian' last='Solheim']. She is a versatile pin who sees the block well and makes smart decisions at the net. Solheim can hit the seam, roll, tip, and use the block to her advantage to find ways to score. Entering just her sophomore season, she already has 209 kills, 227 digs, and 24 aces under her belt. With another offseason of training and development, Solheim looks poised for another huge prep season and will no doubt be a major contributor for her team.     It's hard to do an article on the prep stars in Section 8AA without mentioning Gravelle, the Park Region Conference MVP last season and 2X All-State honoree. The fiery middle is headed to the University of Sioux Falls in less than a year, but before she goes, we get one more high school season to watch this hard hitting middle go to work. She is fast, agile, and honestly, tough to stop when she is on the move. With a quick, heavy arm, she can find open court and turn even tough sets into points. Now, she gets one more season to leave her mark on the Wolverine court before heading to Sioux Falls.

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