A Closer Look: The Next Big(10) Thing
Writing about the high school and club seasons is a great thing, especially when you live in an area like Minnesota that has such great depth of talent. This year has been no exception especially given the parity across leagues…
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Continue ReadingWriting about the high school and club seasons is a great thing, especially when you live in an area like Minnesota that has such great depth of talent. This year has been no exception especially given the parity across leagues and classifications. There are athletes all across the state that that can jump and hammer balls, distribute with deft location, and can defend through sheer grit and hustle. Every week continues to bring great competition, drama, and excitement and this season will undoubtedly take us enthusiasts on a great journey towards crowning the next state champions.
Another part about living in a region of the country that continues to produce great volleyball athletes is that we are also surrounded by incredible volleyball at the next level. In particular, the Big 10 is arguably the toughest college volleyball conference in the land with the likes of Penn State, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the home state favorites in the Gophers at the University of Minnesota. At the college level in general and like Minnesota high school play, this season has displayed great parity as in just a few weeks teams have come and gone from the top 10 nationally in the Division I poll and has coaches and the media anticipating results from week to week with conference play getting underway this weekend. As a huge volleyball fan, I try to watch as much volleyball as I can and at minimum check scores several times a week. In watching several Big 10 matches over the past few weeks it has also been a great treat to see a handful of Minnesota high school alums, now rookies on various Big 10 rosters, finding their way on the court and making key contributions for some of the nation’s best DI college programs. As well, it is no surprise to know that the quality of talent and depth in the Minnesota high school ranks today includes future Big 10 stars that have verbally committed to some exciting future opportunities. Here is a breakdown of some of the current Big 10 rookies from Minnesota followed by a look at some of Minnesota’s verbally committed future Big 10 stars and a list of Big 10 futures from the midwest region.
CURRENT BIG 10 ROOKIES FROM MN
Izzy Ashburn
Izzy
Ashburn
5'10" | S
Champlin Park | 2019
State
MN
– Wisconsin
Minnesota’s 2018 Ms. Baden Volleyball is a regular contributor for the Wisconsin defense coming off the bench primarily to play three rotations in the back row. She has made an immediate impact at the service line as she currently leads the Big 10 in service aces at .61/set. As the starting setter and leader for Champlin Park’s state championship run a year ago, Ashburn is setting behind another former Minnesota high school star in Sydney Hilley, the Badgers current starting setter who is currently second in the conference in assists per set at 11.23. Wisconsin is currently 5-4 overall and ranked #13.
Lauren Clark
Lauren
Clark
6'1" | OH
Champlin Park | 2019
State
MN
– Penn State
Another member of Champlin Park’s 2018 state championship team, Clark is averaging 1.08 kills/set and 1.42 points/set. She also has seven total blocks on the season. Not a primary starter in the Nittany Lions’ rotation, Clark is one of the first options off the bench at the outside hitter position. Penn State is 9-2 overall and currently ranked #5 in DI.
Ellie Husemann
Ellie
Husemann
6'2" | MB
Eagan | 2019
State
MN
– Minnesota
Husemann has only played in a handful of sets for the Gophers. However, she is a primary option when the Gophers choose to utilize some strategic situational defense. With four total blocks on the season, Husemann most often enters a match when Minnesota is looking for more size defensively at the net.
Rachel Kilkelly
Rachel
Kilkelly
5'9" | OH/LI
Shakopee | 2019
State
MN
– Minnesota
With former Prior Lake standout
CC McGraw
CC
McGraw
5'10" | LI
Prior Lake | 2018
State
MN
as the Gophers’ starting libero, Kilkelly provides some great support for three rotations as a primary serving and defensive sub. McGraw leads the Gophers and is currently fourth in the league with a 4.42 digs/set average. Kilkelly is third on the team in digs per set at 2.77. The Gophers are currently ranked #7 in the DI poll with an overall record of 8-2
FUTURE BIG 10 STARS FROM MN
Skylar Gray
Skylar
Gray
5'10" | OH
Maple Grove | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | Maple Grove | Commitment = Minnesota
Having committed to the Gophers a couple of years ago, Gray continues to produce in all six-rotations in developing her game for the biggest stages and most exciting environments at the college level. Gray is all business in her effort with a great transition game that includes quickness off the net and footwork to the ball that provides her the ability to move the ball around at the peak of her approach. She leads the Crimson in total kills and is among team leaders in total digs, blocks, and service aces. Her game at the next level will most likely transition to one of a primary passer and defender (similar to current Minnesota rookie Kilkelly) for the Gophers, which is a strategy and strength of theirs in identifying highly skilled and experienced six-rotation athletes with good size that can serve aggressively and pursue the ball with great range defensively and in serve receive.
Julia Hanson
Julia
Hanson
6'0" | OH
Prior Lake | 2022
State
#57
Nation
MN
– 2022 | Prior Lake | Commitment = Minnesota
Just a sophomore, Hanson has game that is dynamic and exciting. She is a high flyer and can terminate the ball through multiple attack points in the front row and back. Her range is most often accompanied by great pace on the ball that is very to dig when she hits over or around the block. She has college-ready skills and attacks like a savvy veteran. Prior Lake, with great history and tradition, has experienced their highs and lows this season and are currently 7-12 overall. They have some good pieces in place and if they can find some consistency in support for Hanson along with reducing errors overall, they can be a threat on any given night.
Kennedi Orr
Kennedi
Orr
6'0" | S
Eagan | 2021
State
MN
– 2021 | Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] | Commitment = Nebraska
The all-everything Wildcat from Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] committed to Nebraska years ago and is among the best players in her class nationally. She is athletic and versatile and is the primary factor for the Wildcats as they look to keep their state championship appearance streak in tact. Falling just short a year ago, the Wildcats rely on Orr’s leadership and international-level experience to help bring their corps of young sophomore teammates along in meeting the program’s high standards and expectations. She is a difficult matchup and can dominate a match, which has Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] atop the class AAA rankings, among the top 30 in the MaxPreps national poll, and a big favorite to win the state crown this year.
Maddi Whittington – 2020 | Stillwater | Commitment = Illinois
Among the top attackers in the 2020 class, Whittington can hammer the ball and dictate play at the net with her blocking on the defensive side. She is one of only two middle hitters selected to the Minnesota all-state 1st team for class AAA in 2018 and is currently ranked as the #2 athlete in the state for the class of 2020 by PrepDig. One of the heaviest hitters in the region, she works hard to make herself available in transition and can score will equal effectiveness in front or behind the setter. She will take her game to Illinois next season and will undoubtedly continue the Illini’s tradition of great middle play on both sides of the ball.
OTHER MIDWEST (IA, IL, MI, NE, WI) REGION BIG 10 COMMITMENTS
- Natalie Chizzo – 2020 | Oak Park River Forest | Commitment = Northwestern
- Mira Chopra – 2021 | Champaign Central | Commitment = Michigan
- Celia Cullen – 2020 | Brighton | Commitment = Michigan State
- Sydney Dennis – 2021 | North Cedar | Commitment = Iowa
- Annika Evans – 2020 | Waverly | Commitment = Nebraska
- Rylee Gray – 2021 | Elkhorn South | Commitment = Nebraska
- Sophia Gregus – 2020 | Benet Academy | Commitment = Illinois
- Lindsay Krause – 2021 | Skutt Catholic | Commitment = Nebraska
- Taylor Landfair – 2020 | Plainfield Central | Commitment = Minnesota
- Kalynn Meyer – 2020 | Superior | Commitment = Nebraska
- Lia Moore = 2020 | Chicago Christian | Commitment = Michigan State
- Brooke Mosher -2021 | Waterloo | Commitment = Illinois
- Jess Mruzik – 2020 | Mercy | Commitment = Michigan
- Rachel Muisenga – 2021 | Benet Academy | Commitment = Penn State
- Kendall Murray – 2021 | Ann Arbor Skyline | Commitment = Michigan
- Bailey Ortega – 2021 | Davenport North | Commitment = Iowa
- Devyn Robinson – 2020 | Ankeny Centennial | Commitment = Wisconsin
- Alexis Rodriguez – 2021 | Sterling | Commitment = Nebraska
- Alexa Rousseau – 2021 | Bloomfield | Commitment = Northwestern
- Lauren Schrock – 2021 | Solon | Commitment = Iowa
- Britt Soudan – 2020 | New Trier | Commitment = Indiana
- Jenna Splitt – 2021 | Cary-Grove | Commitment = Iowa
- Anna Wolf – 2021 | River Falls | Commitment = Minnesota