Weekly Rankings: Highlighting Those Disrupting Them

<p>The weekly rankings in Minnesota have seen a lot of movement, both among teams that are mainstays and moving up and down within the polls as well as those that have been in and out of them over the past few weeks of the regular season. As interesting as it is to see what the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association determines on a weekly basis, its has been more interesting to think about how all of this movement is going to shape the postseason. Here are two teams and some of their key athletes that have provided recent results that continue to exemplify the parity and have contributed to the proverbial wrench in the rankings game.</p> <p><strong>Kittson County Central (Class A)</strong></p> <p>At 20-2, the Kittson County Central Bearcats are currently ranked #7 in class A. Following some quality outcomes from this past weekend at the Class A Showcase, which included wins over #6 Mabel-Canton, then #9 Henning, and then #4 Medford, the Bearcats put class A on notice as a team to pay attention to going forward. For their efforts, the Bearcats jump into the top 10 for week 6 of the regular season. Key players include:</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57521" first="Marlee" last="Turn"]</strong></em> - (5’10 | MH | 2020 | Prep Dig #86): The Bearcats leader in kills, blocks, and digs, Turn does a lot of work for her team as a six-rotation athlete that can hammer the ball as well as make big plays in the back row. She was a 2018 Northern Lights all-conference selection and MVCA all-state honorable mention honoree. Her numbers so far in 2019 should assure her a similar recognition at the conclusion of this season as a result of a highly productive senior campaign. Turn was recently recognized as the MaxPreps/AVCA Minnesota Player of the Week for the week of September 9-14 in which she amassed 102 kills on a 6.08 kills per set average while also contributing 11 service aces. She has led the Bearcats to multiple tournament titles this season to go along with a very respectable 5th place showing at the Class A Showcase.<br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="72049" first="Gracie" last="Whitlock"]</strong></em> - (5’10 | S | 2021): Whitlock is also a returning Northern Lights all-conference selection. She is the Bearcats’ floor general in controlling the offense, including distributing over 500 assists in 2019 so far. Her size is a big bonus for Kittson given her ability to defend well at the net as she is among team leaders in total blocks on the season. She has good court awareness and has ability to find opportunities for her to score as an offensive threat herself.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Norwood Young America (Class AA)</strong></p> <p>The Raiders are 13-8 and are receiving votes that sit them just outside of the current top-10 in the class AA poll. Competing among the some of the state’s best teams as part of the Minnesota River conference, they develop great experience over the course of the season that can serve them well towards a postseason push. Recent success includes a non-league win over current #8 ranked Watertown-Mayer and previous class AA #10 ranked Pequot Lakes. The Raiders graduated a core group of all-conference performers from 2018 and are developing a new identity by finding great production from various sources. Key players include:</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="72041" first="Grace" last="Strickfaden"]</strong></em> - (5’6 | S | 2021): Strickfaden is a confident and competent setter with great mobility and touch on the ball. In leading the Raiders in total assists on the season, she has great footwork that creates a consistent delivery motion across a variety of attack points her her hitters from pin to pin and in the middle. She may be undersized as the primary setter but she puts herself in good position blocking that can apply pressure to opposing attackers. She is a great floor leader and runs a balanced attack through her various hitters.<br /> <br /> </li> <li><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="72047" first="Allie" last="Fritz"]</strong></em> - (5’5 | DS/L | 2021): At just 5’5, Fritz plays much bigger her quickness and ability to dig balls up high or if sprayed out in front of her. She reads the court well, as good preparation as the opponent’s offense develops, and pursues low to the ground and with great extension that helps her increase her range. She leads the Raiders in digs and also will attack out of the back row if needed. Fritz is a big reason reason the Raiders compete so well by creating quality opportunities for their offense. </li> </ul>