Week 2: Three Key Matches on Tuesday's (8/27) Slate

As we enter the first full week of the high school season, we have a lot to be excited for given the slate of matches taking place over the next few days. The first few days of the season brought about some high drama, intensity, and flat out great competitive volleyball to set the tone for what should be a thrilling ride for Minnesota volleyball enthusiasts over the next several weeks. Here a few of the key matches for Week 2 (8/26-9/1/19) and several athletes to look for: TUESDAY 8/27 Champlin Park @ Moorhead Both of these teams advanced to the 2019 AAA state championships with a loaded Champlin Park team claiming the crown. Following the departure of some highly talented athletes, the Rebels look to ride the wave of a handful of returning starters. Leading the attack is senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="71651" first="Jordan" last="Stalpes"] (Prep Dig #6), a Nebraska-Omaha commit. Her pin opportunities should open up well this season with the highly capable senior middle tandem of [player_tooltip player_id="71665" first="Hannah" last="Prasky"] (Prep Dig #17 | committed to Augustana) and [player_tooltip player_id="57481" first="Sami" last="Hilley"] (Prep Dig #10) commanding their share of opportunities. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id="71679" first="Megan" last="Panser"] (Prep Dig #58) is a highly capable passer and defender and will help dictate the success of Champlin Park’s young setting corps that includes sophomore Allie Koop, recently listed as Prep Dig’s #24 prospect for the Class of 2022 athlete rankings. Moorhead has some holes to fill from their successful 2018 campaign. The Spuds are represented well in Prep Dig’s Class of 2021 athlete rankings as the trio of hitters in [player_tooltip player_id="72046" first="Sam" last="Zimmerman"] (MH | Prep Dig #80), [player_tooltip player_id="72053" first="Ella" last="Swedberg"] (OH | Prep Dig #88), and [player_tooltip player_id="72057" first="Willow" last="Carrier"] (OH | Prep Dig #93) will be counted upon to do the bulk of the point scoring this season. Prediction: Champlin Park in four sets. New Prague @ Northfield Recently profiled here on Prep Dig, New Prague is talented and hungry for a deep postseason run in 2019. They are led by the dynamic arm of senior [player_tooltip player_id="30263" first="Sophia" last="Andersen"] (Prep Dig #13 | Concordia-St. Paul commit). She is supported well on the pins by setter/opposite [player_tooltip player_id="71958" first="Tori" last="Moe"] (Prep Dig #37), outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="57543" first="Dani" last="Friedges"] (Prep Dig #110), and the senior middle duo of Kate Seymour and Amanda Giesen. Northfield presents a big challenge for the preseason #9 ranked Trojans with a solid core of attackers in senior [player_tooltip player_id="57483" first="Bronwyn" last="Timperley"] (RS | Prep Dig #22), junior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id="57498" first="Megan" last="Reilly"] (Prep Dig #54) and [player_tooltip player_id="58067" first="Rachel" last="Wieber"] (Prep Dig #66), and junior middle [player_tooltip player_id="84909" first="Sylvia" last="Koenig"]. Additionally, 6’1 senior setter [player_tooltip player_id="57515" first="Lida" last="King"] (Prep Dig #80) can distribute the full range of the court very well and shoul be a big factor in helping to created a balanced offense. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id="10110" first="Emma" last="Torstenson"] (Prep Dig #7) is the highest ranked athlete in the Class of 2021 at her position. She may also be the most critical factor for Northfield’s success with her terrific skills, energy, and competitiveness. This one should be close and could easily go the distance. Prediction: Northfield in five sets. Hutchinson @ Marshall The Hutchinson Tigers enter the season with experience and high hopes for a deeper postseason run in 2019. Senior middles [player_tooltip player_id="57490" first="Grace" last="Daak"] (Prep Dig #46) and Morgan Ellis, along with sophomore outside [player_tooltip player_id="72792" first="Adri" last="Rhoda"], provide great size and offense at the net. Add in junior [player_tooltip player_id="58058" first="Aubrey" last="Brunkhorst"] (Prep Dig #57) and senior Emma Olberg, a Wright Count East all-conference selection in 2018, on the pins to solidify the Tigers depth. Senior Emily Messner will hold down the defensive leadership at libero. Hutchinson bowed out of the 2018 section bracket with a tough five-set loss to Prior Lake to finish at 18-10 overall. With past success as conference champions in recent years, the Tigers and their veteran roster look to reclaim the crown. This early-season test against perennial power Marshall will prove just how competitive their senior-laden roster will be. Marshall is loaded with veteran players as well, many of them key contributors to their state tournament run in 2018 at which they lost a tough five-set thriller to finish as runner-up. With a senior corps of athletes playing various positions, Marshall once again should prove to be a well-balanced machine with consistent and low-error volleyball. Senior opposite/setter [player_tooltip player_id="71659" first="Logan" last="Sherman"] (Prep Dig #28 | a Valley City State commit) provides versatility, great size, and floor leadership while Prep Dig’s #23 senior, libero [player_tooltip player_id="71656" first="Mia" last="Schnaible"], often makes passing and defense look easy as one of the state’s best in that position. Point scoring for Marshall will come from the arms of a handful of athletic and talented attackers. Senior outsides [player_tooltip player_id="71685" first="Bria" last="Morris"] (Prep Dig #52) and Jordyn Hilgemann can both hit a heavy ball while fellow senior teammate and middle [player_tooltip player_id="57516" first="Paige" last="Andries"] (Prep Dig #81) can terminate in a variety of ways. Senior Rachel Schwarz handles the rest of the setting opposite of Sherman and has the experience and talent to create great opportunities for her attackers. This match has potential to be a tight battle but the tradition and postseason experience of Marshall will prove to be too much. Prediction: Marshall in four sets.