Impact Middles/Rights from Top 250 Expo: Minnesota Session 2

<p>As a remote scout, I am immensely impressed with Minnesota's wealth of great athletes. I am especially happy with the middle and right-side hitters on display at the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo during the second session. The way it was arranged this year we watched the freshmen and sophomores in the morning then watched the juniors and seniors in the afternoon. So I was already impressed with those fantastic younger athletes in the morning and then here comes these mature and more experienced players in the afternoon. They blow me away with their skill and smarts. Let's look at the middle and right-side hitters and find out what makes them individually so good. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/31-Elizabeth-Acker-crop-4378x2875-1702870112.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-492030" style="width:216px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261232' first='Elizabeth' last='Acker'], MH from Farmington High School, class of 2025.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261232' first='Elizabeth' last='Acker']</h2>   <p>Acker is a 5'9" junior middle hitter from Farmington High School. She is a determined and smart athlete. She jumps well and can block with the best of them. She has a great platform and can dig, set, and serve well. She has a hammer of a swing and is very accurate when trying to hit open court. She is quick on her feet and anticipatory in her movements like she knows where the ball is going to go. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gabriella Arnston</h2>   <p>Arnston is a 5'10" junior middle hitter from Hermantown High School. She is a powerful athlete and a big block or hitter in the front row. She can serve, dig, or set another player and she did at the expo. She has a great vertical and she can out-joust other middles at the net. She is a very strong athlete. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_2947.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492009" style="width:164px;height:auto" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='398608' first='Hannah' last='Gudknecht']</h2>   <p>I first scouted Gudknecht this past August at a Prep Dig showcase. She is a 5'11" junior middle hitter from Apple Valley High School. She has a good vertical, long reach, and great blocking. Her first touch on the ball is impressive because it is impactful for her team. She successfully shuts down her opponents across the net by putting up a wall in front of their hitters. She is an impressive athlete. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/44-Nola-Haider-Harralson.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-264020" style="width:167px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261260' first='Nola' last='Haider-Harralson'], 6' RS from Champlin Park, class of 2025.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261260' first='Nola' last='Haider-Harralson']</h2>   <p>Haider-Harralson is a 6' junior right-side hitter from Champlin Park High School. Haider-Harralson has long arms, a great reach, and a good vertical. She has really smart placement when she takes a shot at her opponent's court. She has large hands and uses them to be a big blocker. She is impenetrable when one on one. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Madeline Hakes</h2>   <p>Hakes is a 5'10" middle hitter from Mounds View High School's junior class. She is a nice and big middle hitter with a great block and powerful hits. Throw a little soccer background in there and you have the picture. As an old goalie, I agree with putting a foot out there if no one is around it and it is going down. I admire the "never give up" style of play that Hakes has. She is great at defense and she is difficult to stop when hitting in the middle. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_2945.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492010" style="width:172px;height:auto" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chiara Houser</h2>   <p>Houser is a 5'11" middle hitter from Esko High School's junior class. Houser was one of my favorite middles to watch today. She has a great blocking technique and used intimidation to stop a hitter from attempting to even put one over by her. Her hands are big, strong, and fast which allows her to block even the fastest attempt. She has a good vertical and reach which allows her to win at the net most of the time. She was always on the move and had great athleticism. Great job today at the expo!</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_2937.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492012" style="width:184px;height:auto" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='447962' first='Maesen' last='Oste']</h2>   <p>Oste is a 5'9" junior right-side hitter from Providence Academy. This athlete can hit from anywhere on the court. She is very versatile and can dig, set, serve/receive, and pretty much looks great anywhere she is playing. She is athletic with a lot of speed and uses that to make great blocks. Her swinging and blocking moves are great. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kate Pepin</h2>   <p>Pepin is a 6'2" middle hitter from the junior class at Eastview High School. She is strong, powerful, and a beautiful athlete to watch perform. She has a long reach, with a concrete wall of a block, and hits with a powerful swing that is hard to defend. Superb athlete!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='491141' first='Lily' last='Peterson']</h2>   <p>Peterson is a 5'8" right-side hitter from the junior class at Swanville High School. Peterson is a smart athlete and can lure her opponents to hit too high to avoid her block and hit out of bounds. I watched her do it several times at the expo. She can also tool her hits off the block and get a kill for her team. She is very athletic and uses her strength wisely to gain advantages for her team. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='492064' first='Marissa' last='Reed']</h2>   <p>Reed is a 6' middle hitter from Big Lake High School's junior class. Reed has a great block and is a strong athlete with powerful hands. I would pick her for my team if I were coaching. She is imposing and dangerous for defenders. She has such a strong block and very strong hits with great accuracy. Imposing athlete to face at the net.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='348393' first='Sara' last='Scherber']</h2>   <p>Scherber is a 5'10" junior right-side hitter from Rogers High School. She has a perfect swing that I could watch all day. She can hit for a touch of hands or just short enough that defenders fall all over themselves trying to bring the ball out of the ground. Great cross-court shot and is smart about what the other team is doing as far as trying to block her. She is very court-aware and takes her opportunities where she finds them. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_2934.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492011" style="width:186px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='434973' first='Madeline' last='Mendelblatt'], MH from Richfield High School, class of 2025.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='434973' first='Madeline' last='Mendelblatt']</h2>   <p>Mendelblatt is a 6' middle hitter in the junior class at Richfield High School. This is my second time scouting Mendelblatt. I was first impressed with her this past summer at a Prep Dig Showcase. She is graceful and athletic with a great vertical. She jumps above the net and then unloads when striking the ball for a kill. She has powerful hands and great blocks. </p>

As a remote scout, I am immensely impressed with Minnesota's wealth of great athletes. I am especially happy with the middle and right-side hitters on display at the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo during the second session. The way it was arranged this year we watched the freshmen and sophomores in the morning then watched the juniors and seniors in the afternoon. So I was already impressed with those fantastic younger athletes in the morning and then here comes these mature and more experienced players in the afternoon. They blow me away with their skill and smarts. Let's look at the middle and right-side hitters and find out what makes them individually so good.