Minnesota Stock Up: These Middles Deserve the Final Word

<!-- 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>We've covered a lot of talent from Minnesota Stock Up, but I wasn't closing out the showcase without talking about this group of middles. They gave me too much to leave in the notebook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was power, quickness, strong blocking hands, and some impressive movement along the net. A few were beating the block with tempo, others were closing space defensively, and some showed they could be dangerous on multiple attacking routes. What I liked most was that they didn't all look or play the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, before we officially wrap up Minnesota Stock-Up, these middles get the final word.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["758477"],"_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-6a7d2c540a2e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='758477' first='Taliya' last='Benjamin'] brought some real physicality to the net. When she got a ball in her window, she wasn't looking to keep it safe. She took control and attacked quickly, especially when the setter involved her early. On the blocking side, Benjamin took up space and got her hands across instead of letting hitters work easily around her. The combination of power and presence at the net made her difficult to overlook. <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":["828902"],"_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-6a7d2c540a38b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='828902' first='Brooke' last='Kleinschmidt']'s footwork was something I kept coming back to. She moved well laterally and didn't waste many steps trying to get herself into position. That showed up when she had to close toward the pins and again when she came off the net looking for her next approach. Offensively, she stayed available and gave the setter a target instead of disappearing when the first option wasn't there. There was a lot happening between contacts with Kleinschmidt. <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":["932863"],"_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-6a7d2c540a413"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='932863' first='Evelyn' last='Meyer'] gave the offense speed through the middle. She got into her approach quickly and was comfortable attacking at a faster tempo, which didn't give the block much time to get organized. I also liked that Meyer wasn't waiting around for a perfect situation to become involved. She transitioned, got herself back into the play, and kept asking the defense to pay attention to her. When that connection with the setter was on time, she could score fast. <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":["819375"],"_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-6a7d2c540a497"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='819375' first='Stella' last='Roth'] made me watch her hands. She did an impressive job getting them over the net on the block and taking away space instead of letting the hitter see an easy seam. Even when she didn't get the stuff, she created touches that gave the defense behind her another chance. Roth also stayed disciplined in her movement and didn't constantly guess where the set was headed. That patience helped her get into better blocking positions. <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":["993250"],"_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-6a7d2c540a518"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='993250' first='Emilia' last='Maunumaki'] showed more than one way to score. She could work the quick ball in front of the setter, but I also liked seeing her move and attack from a different spot along the net. That kept her from becoming predictable. She had a good arm once she got up and wasn't afraid to attack open court instead of just swinging at whatever was directly in front of her. There's some offensive variety in Maunumaki's game that I want to keep watching. <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":["1010167"],"_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-6a7d2c540a594"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1010167' first='Claire' last='Stier'] brought energy to just about every front-row rally. She worked hard to get off the net in transition and was right back into her approach when her team earned another swing. What caught me was how often she stayed involved. Block, transition, approach, reset—she kept working through the entire point. Add in her ability to get off the floor and challenge hitters at the tape, and Stier gave me plenty to write down before the day was over. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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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