Big Futures: Minnesota’s Young Volleyball Talent to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Join Prep Dig using code “AVG30” for a discount on your initial membership.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minnesota is loaded with young volleyball talent, and recently, a new group of rising eighth and ninth graders has caught our attention. These young athletes are already making an impact on the court, showing impressive skill, and a level of maturity beyond their years. Whether they are stepping into significant roles on the varsity court or making the most of their opportunities, they are proving they belong alongside older, more experienced players. What makes this group especially exciting is the potential they have as they continue to develop their skills, gain experience, and grow their games. These are some of the newer names on our radar, and they should be on coaches' watch lists as well. We expect to hear plenty more about these young standouts in the coming years as they continue to develop into some of Minnesota's next big volleyball talents.</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":["1058008"],"_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-6ae4bbfe86044"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I recently had a front row seat to watch Nelson in action during the first round of the playoffs and she certainly caught my attention. I knew she was young, but I never would have guessed she was only an eighth grader because she certainly doesn't play like one. Nelson is quick on her feet, tracks down just about everything, and does an excellent job getting herself in position to deliver a clean, hittable ball to her attackers. She has solid tempo, moves the ball around the court well, and shows impressive court awareness for someone so young. What stood out to me most was how comfortable and confident she looked running the offense against older competition. With several years of varsity volleyball still ahead of her, Nelson is definitely a young setter coaches should have on their radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1055853"],"_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-6ae4bbfe860a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1055853' first='Mira' last='Johnson'] is a lefty libero/defensive specialist out of the Duluth area who is quickly making a name for herself. She is quick on her feet, reads the game well, and has fluid, natural reactions that allow her to cover a lot of ground in the backcourt. Johnson is a true gamer who brings a ton of energy, intensity, and competitive fire every time she steps on the court. She has that relentless drive to chase down every ball and refuses to let anything hit the floor without a fight. What I love about her game is the combination of athleticism, hustle, and passion she brings to every play. She is a fierce competitor who isn't afraid to put in the work, and as she continues to develop her skills and gain experience, Johnson is definitely a young defensive talent coaches will want to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1019621"],"_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-6ae4bbfe860f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eighth-grade pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='1019621' first='Victoria' last='Barbie'] is already showing why she is expected to be a standout in the Class of 2031. She is tall, athletic, competitive, and has a natural feel for the game that is exciting to watch at such a young age. Barbie moves quickly to get herself in position, has a solid approach, and shows impressive coordination and timing when attacking the ball. She is comfortable on the court, moves well, and brings a competitive edge to her game. What makes Barbie especially exciting is the potential she has as she continues to develop her skills, add strength, and become more aggressive offensively. She has many of the tools coaches look for in a young pin hitter and I expect her to be a name we hear plenty more about in the coming years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1058256"],"_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-6ae4bcc3ef15b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Southland put together a solid season, finishing with a 14-10 record. While their season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs against Lewiston, they certainly didn't go down without a fight, pushing the match to five sets before falling 2-3. One of the young setters helping run the offense for Southland was freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1058256' first='Molly' last='Wiste'], who is already showing plenty of promise. Wiste does a nice job getting her feet to the ball, squaring up, and delivering a clean, hittable set that puts her attackers in a position to score. She moves well around the court, works hard to get underneath the ball, and shows a good understanding of how to run an offense. With three more years of high school volleyball ahead of her, Wiste has a great opportunity to continue growing her game and becoming an even bigger part of Southland's offense. She is another young setter worth keeping on the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1042256"],"_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-6ae4bcc3ef1b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gossen is a young middle for Lewiston who has a ton of potential and is already showing some impressive skills at the net. I had the opportunity to watch her play a few times this season, and while she is still young, there is a lot to like about her game. She does a nice job positioning herself at the net, taking up space, and making her presence felt as a blocker. Offensively, Gossen transitions well, gets herself available for her setter, and shows versatility in her attack by running everything from a quick in front of the setter to a gap. She moves well along the net and is developing a nice understanding of how to find opportunities to score. As she continues to gain experience, improve her timing, and become more aggressive offensively, Gossen has the potential to develop into a strong presence in the middle for Lewiston. She is definitely a young player I will be keeping an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->