<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Join Prep Dig using code “AVG30” for a discount on your initial membership.</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The final four teams in Class AAA battled hard this morning as Stewartville, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Marshall, and Princeton took the court for the state semifinals. All four teams are loaded with talent, including some big name players who have already committed to college programs and others who likely will in the near future. There was no shortage of talent on display, and all four teams were fun to watch. Unfortunately, only two can advance to the championship match. While the big names certainly made their presence felt, there were also some players who may not always get the same recognition but made a big impact when their teams needed them. The following are a few familiar faces, along with some lesser known names, who delivered impressive performances in the Class AAA semifinals.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>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!</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1064409"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af72d7d9f08e"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">The deeper you get into the state tournament, the fiercer the competition becomes. There are plenty of big name attackers who can put the ball away, but there are also some impressive blockers who can make life pretty difficult for those hitters. One who really caught my attention was Fuery of Benilde-St. Margaret. She moves fluidly along the net, reads opposing hitters extremely well, and has the quick lateral movement needed to get into position and put up a strong block. Against Stewartville's talented outside hitters, Fuery did a great job of closing the block, taking away attacking angles, and making it difficult for them to find open court. Her ability to read the play and control the net was impressive to watch.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1064414"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af72efaaad91"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Stewartville has a very balanced attack with several players capable of putting the ball away, and Eckerman is certainly one of them. She has a way of providing a spark when her team needs it most, coming through with some big swings at just the right time. She moves well with her setter, transitions quickly, and does a great job of making herself available offensively. What I really like about Eckerman is her ability to mix up her shots. She can drive a hard ball into the corners or take something off it and catch defenders on their heels.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["967014"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af73526801f1"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Serving specialists don't always get the recognition they deserve, but JoJo Nguyen of Benilde-St. Margaret's certainly deserves some love. With her team trailing in the second set against Stewartville, Nguyen helped turn things around from behind the service line. Her strong float serve kept Stewartville out of system, making it difficult for them to establish their offense. She also picked up an ace along the way, helping Benilde-St. Margaret's battle back and eventually take the set. Nguyen showed just how much of an impact a strong server can have on a match, especially when her team needed it most.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774455"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af74abdb5307"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Holmgren has developed into quite the dynamic middle, and the All-Conference and All-State standout showed exactly why she has earned those honors. She was dominant on both sides of the net in the semifinals, giving Princeton all kinds of trouble. One of the things that makes Holmgren so effective is that she is constantly moving, working to make herself available and giving her setter plenty of options. She does a great job varying her attack, whether she is running a quick in tandem with her setter or moving across the net to hit the gap. That versatility makes her incredibly difficult for opposing defenses to track. Add in her strong blocking presence and Holmgren was simply too much for Princeton to handle.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["731694"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af74abdb5372"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">UW-Platteville commit [player_tooltip player_id='731694' first='Gretchen' last='Beltrand'] left it all on the court as she worked tirelessly to provide the spark Princeton needed in its semifinal matchup against a tough Marshall team. She came through with some big kills at key moments, finding ways to put the ball away against a tough defense. Beltrand was just as impressive in the backcourt, where she held down the middle back position, covering a ton of ground and making some great defensive plays. She was all over the court, battling for every point and doing everything she could to keep Princeton in the match.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["939033"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af74abdb53d0"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Nwakama is a dynamic middle with a quick arm swing who first caught my attention during the club season, and I was instantly impressed. She is fast, fluid, and constantly on the move, whether she is running the slide or attacking a quick out of the middle. Her ability to move so effortlessly along the net and get up quickly makes her a tough matchup for opposing defenses. She has brought that same energy and skill to Marshall, making a huge impact throughout the season and continuing to deliver at the state tournament. Nwakama gives Marshall another dangerous offensive option and is a big reason why the team has such a well balanced attack.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
Join Prep Dig using code “AVG30” for a discount on your initial membership.
The final four teams in Class AAA battled hard this morning as Stewartville, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Marshall, and Princeton took the court for the state semifinals. All four teams are loaded with talent, including some big name players who have already committed to college programs and others who likely will in the near future. There was no shortage of talent on display, and all four teams were fun to watch. Unfortunately, only two can advance to the championship match. While the big names certainly made their presence felt, there were also some players who may not always get the same recognition but made a big impact when their teams needed them. The following are a few familiar faces, along with some lesser known names, who delivered impressive performances in the Class AAA semifinals.
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 vanguilderamy@gmail.com. I always love hearing from players, especially Minnesota athletes and I'm always looking for new players to watch and follow!
The deeper you get into the state tournament, the fiercer the competition becomes. There are plenty of big name attackers who can put the ball away, but there are also some impressive blockers who can make life pretty difficult for…
Stewartville has a very balanced attack with several players capable of putting the ball away, and Eckerman is certainly one of them. She has a way of providing a spark when her team needs it most, coming through with some…
Serving specialists don't always get the recognition they deserve, but JoJo Nguyen of Benilde-St. Margaret's certainly deserves some love. With her team trailing in the second set against Stewartville, Nguyen helped turn things around from behind the service line. Her strong float serve kept Stewartville out of system, making it difficult for them to establish their offense. She also picked up an ace along the way, helping Benilde-St. Margaret's battle back and eventually take the set. Nguyen showed just how much of an impact a strong server can have on a match, especially when her team needed it most.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Holmgren has developed into quite the dynamic middle, and the All-Conference and All-State standout showed exactly why she has earned those honors. She was dominant on both sides of the net in the semifinals, giving Princeton all kinds of trouble. One of the things that makes Holmgren so effective is that she is constantly moving, working to make herself available and giving her setter plenty of options. She does a great job varying her attack, whether she is running a quick in tandem with her setter or moving across the net to hit the gap. That versatility makes her incredibly difficult for opposing defenses to track. Add in her strong blocking presence and Holmgren was simply too much for Princeton to handle.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
UW-Platteville commit Gretchen BeltrandGretchenBeltrand
5'10" | OH/DS/L
Princeton | 2027 StateMN
left it all on the court as she worked tirelessly to provide the spark Princeton needed in its semifinal matchup against a tough Marshall team. She came through with some big kills at key moments, finding ways to put the ball away against a tough defense. Beltrand was just as impressive in the backcourt, where she held down the middle back position, covering a ton of ground and making some great defensive plays. She was all over the court, battling for every point and doing everything she could to keep Princeton in the match.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Nwakama is a dynamic middle with a quick arm swing who first caught my attention during the club season, and I was instantly impressed. She is fast, fluid, and constantly on the move, whether she is running the slide or…
Gretchen
Beltrand
5'10" | OH/DS/L
Princeton | 2027
State
MN
left it all on the court as she worked tirelessly to provide the spark Princeton needed in its semifinal matchup against a tough Marshall team. She came through with some big kills at key moments, finding ways to put the ball away against a tough defense. Beltrand was just as impressive in the backcourt, where she held down the middle back position, covering a ton of ground and making some great defensive plays. She was all over the court, battling for every point and doing everything she could to keep Princeton in the match.
