Summer Preview: Horace Is Coming Back With Purpose

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: digdakotas30</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   Last season did not end the way Horace High School wanted. Finishing eighth at the Class AA State Tournament left a feeling that stayed with this group long after the final point. For some teams, that kind of finish becomes the ending of the story. For Horace, it feels more like the beginning of what is next.   There are really only two choices after a season like that. Stay stuck in disappointment or get back in the gym and start building toward something better. From everything I continue to hear and see, this team has chosen the second option.   And honestly, I think people may be sleeping a little on how dangerous this roster could become by October.   When I look at this lineup, the experience returning, the competitiveness in the gym, and the athletes spread across multiple positions, I truly believe Horace has the pieces to play on the final night of the Class AA State Tournament. This is a team that is going to be hungry. They know what last season felt like. They also know they are capable of much more.   Even after losing a few seniors, this group may actually come back stronger because of the balance they now have across the court. There is size on the pins, athleticism, defensive grit, setter depth, and players who understand the speed of high-level volleyball. What excites me most is this does not feel like a team hoping to figure things out. It feels like a team already preparing with purpose.   And the energy around this group already feels different.   This is absolutely one of the teams I am most excited to watch heading into the upcoming North Dakota high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='724923' first='Jordan' last='Christofferson'] is the player that changes the energy in the gym the second she steps on the court. Her athleticism jumps out immediately, but what makes her so dangerous in volleyball is how explosive she is in transition and how quickly she closes space attacking the pin. She creates pressure with her arm, but I also love the way she competes through rallies and refuses to back down from big moments. There is leadership in the way she carries herself and teammates naturally follow that. You can hear the communication and intensity rise when she is on the floor. Yes, she is committed to North Dakota State University for basketball, but let's be honest, she has the ability to be a high-level dual-sport athlete if she ever wanted to pursue it. Horace is going to lean heavily on her this season and I fully expect her to embrace that role.   [player_tooltip player_id='748233' first='Alivia' last='Suda'] is one of the top setters in the state and I do not think that conversation should even be debated anymore. The first thing that stands out is her volleyball IQ. She processes the court faster than most players around her and consistently puts hitters in positions where they can be successful. What separates her even more is the motor she plays with. She chases down balls, competes through chaos, and never looks out of rhythm when a play breaks down. I watched her create offense out of imperfect first contact multiple times last season and that is the type of setter coaches trust deeply. Her tempo control, decision making, and defensive hustle allow Horace to stay aggressive even when rallies become unpredictable. Good luck trying to defend an offense when the setter is able to extend rallies the way she does.   [player_tooltip player_id='731517' first='Nora' last='Schumacher'] gives Horace another physical presence on the right side and that matters in Class AA volleyball. She brings length, strength, and the ability to terminate from different angles, which helps balance the offense across the net. I like the confidence she plays with and how willing she is to challenge blockers instead of tipping away from pressure. As this team continues developing offensively, Nora could become a major mismatch because of the size and scoring ability she brings from the opposite position.   [player_tooltip player_id='736781' first='Bostynn' last='Evenson'] is one of those players that continues getting more dangerous the more confident she becomes. I really like her ability to stay composed through long rallies and still be available offensively late in points. She does a nice job staying patient in transition and finding seams instead of forcing low-percentage swings. Horace has depth on the pins this year and Bostynn is a huge reason why. She brings versatility and physicality that will allow this offense to keep pressure on defenses from both sides of the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='834062' first='Kendall' last='Mueller'] brings a smooth and controlled game to the outside. She does not look rushed and that matters when the speed of the match increases. Her platform work in serve receive allows Horace to stay in system consistently and offensively she continues finding ways to score without trying to overpower every swing. I really like the balance in her game because she contributes in multiple phases and keeps rallies stable. She feels like one of those players who is going to quietly put together a very strong season while doing a little bit of everything well.   Every strong team needs a libero that can settle the court and [player_tooltip player_id='725659' first='Joslyn' last='Asplin'] gives Horace exactly that. Her first contact quality is critical to the success of this offense. She stays low, keeps her platform quiet, and absorbs pace extremely well against aggressive servers. What I appreciate most is how calm she stays defensively. She reads hitters early and positions herself before the attack even happens, which allows her to keep balls off the floor that many players do not touch. Even during longer rallies she does not look rattled. Joslyn is going to be one of the anchors of this roster and her consistency in the back row could become one of the biggest reasons Horace makes a deep postseason push.   [player_tooltip player_id='724960' first='Courtney' last='Heiser'] understands the game at a very high level and that shows up in every phase of her play. What stands out to me is how defense-first her mentality is as a setter. A lot of players at that position focus only on hands and offense, but Courtney understands how to read attackers, pursue second contacts, and extend rallies defensively. That IQ is valuable and honestly not talked about enough. The commitment to Mayville State University fits because she brings the kind of mature game coaches trust. Her leadership and experience are going to matter in a big way this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='748628' first='Harper' last='Colter'] adds even more depth to an already talented setter group. What I like about Harper is the pace she plays with and her willingness to compete for every touch. She stays active defensively and keeps the offense moving when rallies become chaotic. Horace has multiple athletes capable of handling different responsibilities and Harper gives them flexibility that many teams across the state simply do not have.   [player_tooltip player_id='748629' first='McKenna' last='Colter'] gives Horace another attacking option that can impact matches from multiple pin positions. She has the ability to create heavy swings but also understands how to tool blockers and extend rallies when needed. I like the physical edge she brings and the way she attacks confidently in transition. With the amount of offensive options Horace has returning, McKenna is another player defenses are going to have to account for every single rotation.   [player_tooltip player_id='953684' first='Emma' last='Erickson'] is going to be an important piece at the net this season. Middles that can control blocking assignments and stay disciplined laterally become extremely valuable in Class AA play and Emma has the ability to do that. She works well closing blocks and does a good job staying available offensively in transition. As Horace continues developing chemistry offensively, I expect Emma to become a bigger factor both scoring and defensively.   Coty Christofferson is one of the younger names on this roster, but do not let the age fool you because she already has the tools to make an impact at the varsity level. While she has the ability to run an offense as a setter, I honestly could see her becoming a major piece on the right pin this season and that is exciting. Her length, timing, and physicality give Horace another option to help slow down bigger attackers at the net. What stands out is she does not shy away from contact or high-pressure moments. She competes confidently and brings a presence that feels beyond her years. Even if we do not see her setting consistently this fall, her role could still become extremely important because of what she can bring offensively and defensively from the pin.   And what makes Horace even more dangerous moving forward is this is not just a veteran-heavy group trying to make one final run. There is younger talent continuing to work its way into the program, which means the competition in the gym is only going to get better. Strong programs are built when younger athletes push upperclassmen daily and develop before their number is fully called.   That matters.   Horace feels like a program building depth, confidence, and culture all at the same time. I could easily see this being a team that peaks late in the season once chemistry fully clicks together. The pieces are there for a deep postseason push, but the future of this program also looks incredibly strong.   Do not be surprised if Horace becomes one of the most dangerous teams in North Dakota by the time postseason volleyball arrives.~Theresa @prepdigdakotas   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

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