Key Returning Prospects from Class 1A State Teams

The class 1A state tournament featured some great teams and individual talent. Many of the competing teams have some key returning talent that should factor significantly in 2020 and each program’s respective effort to get to the final weekend once again. Here is a collection of some those prospects: BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA [player_tooltip player_id="58028" first="Karsee" last="Kampsen"] - 2021 | S Kampsen is a well known element of this BBE program as she has led this program’s offense for a while, amassing a ton of assists and leading them deep into the postseason. She provides great consistency in her effort and ability to locate the ball well for her hitters to take aggressive swings. She also has good quickness and mobility to help them on the defensive side as well. With Kampsen as their floor leader, and through her crafty distribution skills, BBE could find themselves at state once again in 2020. [player_tooltip player_id="73486" first="Ava" last="Mueller"] - 2023 | OH Mueller provided some good offensive balance in support of BBE’s top pin attacker in 2019. She saw her share of opportunities and found ways to score through good arm control and using her power and length well in the air. This included 11 kills in their match versus Henning at the state tournament. With the graduation of BBE’s top point scorer Mueller will be called upon to increase her production to help fill those shoes. She gained some good experience competing for KEVC during the club season and should benefit well from that added training and competition. She has great potential as a stock riser in this class. Other Key Returners for BBE: <ul> <li>Karissa Jones - 2021 | MH</li> <li>Emily Kern - 2022 | DS/L</li> </ul> FOSSTON [player_tooltip player_id="100699" first="Emma" last="Drellack"] - 2021 | 5’8 | OH /RS Drellack provides plenty of competitiveness and energy for this team along with a lot of offensive fire. She gets up well and has good vision to move the ball around or challenge the block with an aggressive swing. She is good in her last two steps of her approach aas her ability to swing from both sides of the floor and the back row is key. Her point scoring skills were in full effect in their tough semifinal loss to the eventual state champion during which Drellack notched 17 total kills. [player_tooltip player_id="72069" first="Kora" last="Norland"] - 2021 | 5’6 | S Norland is the floor leader for this squad and helped guide Fosston to the class 1A state semifinals in 2019. She is a competent setter in that she makes the simple play to engage their offense well. She has good touch and extension to distribute to a good location in which her hitters can be successful. She also helps them on the defensive side with good pursuit and range to keep the ball off the court. She is a key veteran among a few returning that should have this team competing deep into postseason once again. Other Key Returners for Fosston: <ul> <li>Jaime Carlin - 2021 | MH</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="72050" first="Taylor" last="Kroening"] - 2021 | OH</li> </ul> GREENWAY [player_tooltip player_id="100700" first="Lexi" last="Hammer"] - 2023 | S Hammer did a terrific job of guiding this offense during her freshman season, helping to create a dynamic balance across the front row that includes some big arms. She has good movement, touch and extension and showed a lot of variety across the net in location and tempo. She should have this offense scoring a lot once again in 2020 and has great potential to be a stock riser in this emerging 2023 class. [player_tooltip player_id="100712" first="Bri" last="Miller"] - 2022 | MH Athletic at the net Miller helps create good balance of power and defense at the net for Greenway. She has good mobility and quickness in transition and her block move to be very effective. She can score points through quick tempo opportunities and gets to opposing attackers aggressively to put a lot of pressure on them at the net when blocking. She should be on the radar as she is talented and a key part of this very good Greenway program. [player_tooltip player_id="58104" first="Claire" last="Vekich"] - 2021 | MH/OH The undisputed leader of this team both offensively and defensively, Vekich is a big-time prospect from a small school. She scores a lot of points as an attacker as she gets many opportunities across the net and sometimes from the back row. She also defends extremely well at the net as she watches the play development and has fast and strong hands across the tape to create a big block. An all-state selection in 2019, she should be among the state’s leading points scorers in 2020. Others Key Returners for Greenway: <ul> <li>Aubri Olson - 2021 | DS</li> <li>Kaisa Reed - 2021 | RS</li> <li>Emma Sutherland - 2021 | MH</li> </ul> MEDFORD [player_tooltip player_id="71954" first="Kinsey" last="Cronin"] - 2021 | MH One of the biggest arms in class 1A, Cronin has been a huge factor in Medford’s recent rise among the state rankings that includes multiple trips to the state tournament. Along with the terrific power she can generate, she also has great vision to swing through the full range of the court and counter well the block that is put up in front of her. She contributes well from the service line and in defending at the net as well. An all-state selection in 2019, Cronin will likely be Medford’s first offensive option but will need some increased support from the pins to help balance their attack following the graduation of their top outside hitter. Other Key Returners for Medford: <ul> <li>Jenna Berg - 2021 | DS</li> <li>Isabel DeLeon - 2022 | RS</li> <li>Clara Kniefel - 2022 | MH</li> </ul>