Week 5: Key Matches on Thursday’s (9/19) Slate

<p>The focus here is upon the Metro East league and some key matches scheduled for Thursday evening. Four of the league's better teams are set to square off and should include some exciting play and perhaps some dramatic results. North St. Paul currently boasts the best overall record at 11-3. They take on Hill-Murray, who currently sits at 5-5. Simley (6-3), a recent 3-2 winner over Hill-Murray, makes the trip to take on Henry Sibley (6-4).</p> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <p><strong><em>North St. Paul @ Hill-Murray</em></strong></p> <p><strong>North St. Paul</strong></p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Lauren Stenman</strong> - 2020 | OH/RH | Prep Dig #18</em><br /> Athletic and versatile, Stenman brings great physicality to the court. She elevates well and has a great arm that can provide pace and range, making her a big threat for the Polars. She has great competitive club experience with Kokoro and will take her skills to Lewis next year.<br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>Yaiza Franco</strong> - 2020 | MH | Prep Dig #48</em><br /> A great complement to Stenman on the pin, Franco provides big presence in the middle with a nice high arm swing and good transition work to make herself available throughout the course of the point. Defensively, she has good patience and pursuit to get herself from pin to pin and disrupt opposing attackers. She will play at LaSalle next season.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Hill-Murray</strong></p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Keely Kurschner</strong> - 2021 | DS/L | Prep Dig #33</em><br /> Leading the team in total digs, Kurschner is also one of the best at her position in the Metro East as an all-conference performer. She reads the floor well, which puts her in good position to make big plays and provide great leadership to her teammates.<br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>Alyssa Isackson</strong> - 2021 | OH | Prep Dig #104</em><br /> A six-rotation athlete she is Hill-Murray's best and most productive offensive threat. Primarily attacking from the left pin, Isackson can elevate and tag the ball well with good balance and quickness. She is also very productive in other areas of her game as one of the team's best defensively digging the ball as she is 2nd in digs behind Kurschner while also among team leaders in service aces. </li> </ul> <p><em><strong>Simley @ Henry Sibley</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Simley</strong></p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Tiwaah Danso </strong>- 2020 | MH</em><br /> A multi-sport athlete, Danso carries that athleticism well on the volleyball court with her strength being in her size, length, and quickness. Perhaps a bit raw in her technical skills, she provides great effort to overcome that lack of fundamental polish. She is among the core of offensive threats for Simley from the middle and transitions well to utilize her rangy reach to terminate the ball. Her athleticism and quickness also have a great potential to more consistently put up an imposing block on the defensive side. <br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>Sydney Stensgard</strong> - 2021 | RS/OH</em><br /> Stensgard is a big part of Simley's effort and can swing from a variety of locations if needed although primarily settled on the right side. She has provided steady offense thus far among Simley's core group of attackers and will be a big factor regarding their success in league play given her arm and the great competitiveness she contributes. </li> </ul> <p><strong>Henry Sibley</strong></p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Brooke Solberg</strong> - 2020 | OH | Prep Dig #130</em><br /> Solberg is perhaps one of the best examples of an underrated athlete whether within our player rankings or due to the higher profile nature and focus upon other programs that maybe have more history and success. She is definitely the undisputed leader for Sibley regarding her production, effectiveness, and presence. She can attack at varying tempos and location and can bring some of the best heat around with her arm. She is at the top or among Sibley's leaders in many categories including total kills, digs, service aces, and blocks. <br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>Erika Kladar</strong> - 2020 | S</em><br /> The connection between Kladar and Solberg is critical for Sibley given the volume of swings that Solberg gets per match. The ability of Kladar to deliver multiple locations and tempos consistently allows Solberg room for variety in utilizing her skill set and arm well as an attacker. Kladar has good court awareness and nice touch in her release in locating on the pins effectively from various locations around the floor. </li> </ul>