Hailey Birkholz Hailey Birkholz DS MN just keeps getting the job done. What I like is that it doesn’t always have to be the crazy diving play with her. She gets herself in the right spot, controls the first contact, and keeps giving her team something they can use. She’s seeing plenty of action back there, and her consistency has been impressive. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas

Birkholz is expected to step into the libero role for Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted this fall after spending last season as a right back defender. Last season, she proved to be a steady presence in both serve receive and defense. She handled a bulk of the serve receive, read tips well, and was able to come up with some big line digs. If the Lakers want to build on last year’s success, Birkholz has the reliability and competitiveness to be a big part of it.