Harrisburg Reloads With Plenty of Talent for Another AA Run

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrisburg comes into the fall with something every team in Class AA would like to have: the state title everyone else wants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers were dominant in 2025, but the upcoming season won't be the same lineup. Graduation took a lot of skill, digs and experience with it, which leaves Harrisburg with some decisions to make before this group settles in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I still like what they have coming back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nebraska commit [player_tooltip player_id='722208' first='Josalyn' last='Samuels'] is back to run the offense. A Harvard commit [player_tooltip player_id='725196' first='Bergen' last='Stiff'] returns in the middle, and a South Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='834116' first='Kennedy' last='Kokenge'] gives them experience in the back row and [player_tooltip player_id='833431' first='Julia' last='Masselink'] enters her sophomore season after a summer with Team USA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then there are players such as [player_tooltip player_id='800226' first='Sarah' last='Holt'], McKinnley Munce. They've been part of the varsity gym, but several of them are going to be asked to do more now. That's the part of Harrisburg I'm interested in watching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["722208"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1017603,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a7b85bf5810b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having JosalynSamuels back at setter gives Harrisburg a lot to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-2 Nebraska commit finished last season with 1,050 assists, 93 kills, 166 digs, and 58 blocks. She's been starting varsity since eighth grade and enters the fall just shy of 3,000 career assists. (According to Maxpreps.com)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samuels can do more than put up a good ball. She's physical enough to block, will score on second contact, and has been running this offense long enough to understand where her best matchup is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Harrisburg is passing, she can really move things around. She'll get the middle involved, go pin to pin, and make a block work before deciding where she wants to attack it. If someone is scoring, she's going to keep finding her. If something isn't there, she can move on quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's what I want to see from Samuels with some different hitters around her this fall. Harrisburg doesn't need to make things complicated. Get her a pass and let her figure out where the ball needs to go. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["725196"],"_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-6a7b85bf58172"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='725196' first='Bergen' last='Stiff'] gives Harrisburg a middle they already know they can use.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Harvard commit had 253 kills last season, hit .378, and finished with 70 blocks. She doesn't need a ton of swings to put up numbers, which is part of what I like about her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stiff stays involved in transition and can get up quickly enough to keep the opposing middle honest. If Harrisburg can continue getting her the ball before the block is fully formed, she's going to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her blocking is another reason she'll be difficult to take off the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those 70 blocks weren't accidental. Stiff does a good job getting across the net and taking away space. Even when she doesn't stuff the ball, she can slow it down enough for someone behind her to make the play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'd like to see Harrisburg feed her more this fall. With some kills gone from last year's lineup, Stiff is already there and has shown she can terminate. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728637"],"_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-6a7b85bf581d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='833431' first='Julia' last='Masselink'] hasn't even started her sophomore season, and she's already having one heck of a summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Masselink is currently in Chile with the U.S. Girls U17 National Team at the FIVB Girls U17 World Championship. She isn't just getting on the floor. She's scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She opened World Championship play with 13 kills and 17 points, leading all players while adding three blocks, an ace, and six digs. Against Türkiye, she had five kills and a match-high four aces. She followed with another match-high 17 points against Thailand, putting down 11 kills with five aces and a block. (According to usavolleyball.org)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember, she was a freshman a few months ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now she's taking swings against international blocks and playing at a much faster pace before she even gets back into a Harrisburg uniform. She's also showing more than just her arm. Her serving has been a problem for opponents, and she's getting involved as a blocker and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Masselink was already producing before this summer. She had 208 kills and hit .367 as a freshman on Harrisburg's state championship team. (According to maxpreps.com)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think we're going to see a different hitter this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She isn't trying to find out whether she belongs on a varsity court anymore. At 6-foot-2, she has the size to be a problem on the left, and now she's adding international reps to everything she learned during her freshman season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's what makes Masselink one of the Harrisburg players I really want to watch this fall. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["725211"],"_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-6a7b85bf5821d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='834116' first='Kennedy' last='Kokenge'] is the player I'd look at when talking about Harrisburg's first contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The South Dakota State commit took 385 receptions last season, the most on the team, and finished with 222 digs and 49 aces. (According to maxpreps.com)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has already been asked to take a lot of court in service and reception, and Harrisburg will need that again with a different group around her. Kokenge reads well behind the block and can turn around and make teams uncomfortable with her serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She can also help on the pin when Harrisburg needs her there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What I like about Kokenge is that she doesn't need 30 swings to have a good match. Give me a player who can pass, keep rallies alive, and force bad first contacts from the other side, and I'll find a way to use her. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Takes the Next Step?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is where I think Harrisburg gets fun. There are spots to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='800226' first='Sarah' last='Holt'] played in 69 sets last season, so she's already had varsity reps in the back row. With the rotations changing, she has a chance to take more court in serve receive and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809376' first='Ember' last='Semmler'] will be competing for some of that court as well. She got varsity touches last season but wasn't asked to carry a large load. If she passes well and is steady defensively, there are minutes there for her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The net has its own competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKinnley, Munce, [player_tooltip player_id='826231' first='Francesca' last='Barnett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827475' first='Nahla' last='Fjeldheim'] are names I'm watching as Harrisburg figures out its front row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wouldn't judge that battle only by kills. Who is becoming available every time in transition? Who is closing the block? Who can make an opponent respect another attacker instead of loading up somewhere else?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnett had some efficient swings in limited chances last season. Munce has varsity reps, and Fjeldheim got time as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now somebody has to win the spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='725197' first='Avery' last='Klein'] gives Harrisburg another setter who has already been around the varsity offense. Even with Samuels handling the bulk of the setting, having Klein available gives Harrisburg another way to work through practices and different lineup situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finding the Right Pieces</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrisburg doesn't need one of its returning role players to suddenly replace every kill or dig that graduated. I'd rather see the Tigers find players who do one thing really well and build from there. Maybe Holt or Semmler becomes the defender who takes a bigger chunk of serve receive. Maybe Barnett, Munce, or Fjeldheim wins a spot because she's consistently closing the block and staying available offensively. Those things add up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The nice part for Harrisburg is that these players aren't walking into a varsity gym for the first time. They've practiced in this system and competed against many of the players they'll now be playing beside. The back row is probably where I'll be watching closest early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Harrisburg pass well enough to stay in the system? Who takes the open court defensively? Who is reading the block and getting into the right spot instead of trying to make every dig with a highlight play? There will be similar questions on the net. Harrisburg needs another blocker who can get across and attackers who stay involved even when they aren't getting set. Those are the little things that will decide who stays on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Harrisburg Is Still Harrisburg</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrisburg has some things to figure out before we know exactly what this team will look like. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The back row will be different. There are openings at the net. Players who weren't asked to carry much of the load last season will get their chance now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's why I'm not expecting Harrisburg to look exactly like Harrisburg in the first few weeks, as it will later in the fall. There could be some lineup changes. Someone may win a spot nobody expected. Another player might take a few weeks before they look comfortable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's high school volleyball. What I do know is Harrisburg isn't short on players who can play. The top of the lineup is easy to see. What will decide how far this team goes is what happens around it. If Harrisburg finds the right mix in the back row and gets a couple of players to grab those openings at the net, the Tigers will be right where we're used to seeing them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They don't need to recreate last year's team. I'd rather see what this group becomes on its own. Until someone knocks Harrisburg out of that spot, they're still one of the teams everyone in Class AA has to get through.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. 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