3A New Sleepers Who Will Be “Attacking” The Regional Semifinals
The margin of error is small. The further teams advance, the tighter the competition, and the stars tend to shine. However, in the big games, there is always someone who will step up that may not be as well known. …
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Continue ReadingThe margin of error is small. The further teams advance, the tighter the competition, and the stars tend to shine. However, in the big games, there is always someone who will step up that may not be as well known. Whether it be someone on their own team who has a breakout night or someone who makes a statement to the area, it is always fun seeing these athletes play at their best. Who are some sleepers in Class 3A that are attackers to be on the lookout for?
Gracie Schoonhoven Gracie Schoonhoven 5'11" | OH Unity Christian | 2023 State IA – Unity Christian
Janie Schoonhoven – Unity Christian
The Schoonhoven’s have nearly 500 kills combined on the year, leading the way for Unity Christian which is always a threat to find their way to Cedar Rapids. This year they will be competing in Class 3A and will face MOC-Floyd Valley and in the regional final Spirit Lake or Sheldon. They have split with MOCFV and will host them on Tuesday night. Unity has the tradition, this will be quite the battle of Sioux County.
Jori Hajek Jori Hajek 5'5" | OH Humboldt | 2021 State IA – Humboldt
Hajek is lightning in a bottle for Humboldt. Named to the All-District team as a Sophomore, Hajek has racked up nearly 300 kills for the Wildcats this fall. Humboldt will take on conference rival, Algona, where they have already beaten them twice this season. Hajek can make something happen out of nothing, there is always a chance for her to attack and score points.
Sophie Walker – Red Oak
Chloe Johnson Chloe Johnson OH Red Oak | 2020 State IA – Red Oak
Red Oak building quite the momentum heading into tournament time. Walker and Johnson are two Seniors who have been blazing the way where they have combined for over 700 kills and average nearly four kills per set each. In the past month, they have only lost to Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln and Carroll-Kuemper is the only 3A team they have suffered a loss to. They will take on Shenandoah and the winner of Des Moines Christian and Creston.
Madison Geise Madison Geise 6'0" | S Roland-Story | 2022 State IA – Roland Story
Geise has found her way to rack up some big numbers in attacking and setting for Roland-Story who has 29 wins on the year. With nearly 200 kills and over 600 assists, Geise has proved she has been a solid all-around player. Her favorite target setting has been Amy Rathmacher who has nearly 250 kills. Roland-Story will take on Union out of the Cedar Valley who at one point was ranked number one in 3A earlier this season.
Rachel Rinken Rachel Rinken RS New Hampton | 2020 State IA – New Hampton
New Hampton has just quietly risen to be one of the top teams in Class 3A, but that should come at no surprise with how they made it to Cedar Rapids last year before falling to Tipton in the quarterfinals. Rinken leads the Chickasaws in kills and is a threat to score in six rotations. She is dynamic, athletic, and will find a way to get the ball to the floor. They will take on conference rival in Crestwood and could potentially have a rematch with another state qualifier from last year in Mount Vernon.
Reese Martin – Independence
Independence lost plenty of stats and leadership with their Senior class last year, but the Mustangs have come back strong with a record of 28-11, led by Junior, Reese Martin who has nearly 300 kills on the season, almost doubling what she had in 2018. Martin will be looking to lead her team back to the state tournament, but first will take on Monticello and could then face top-ranked Davenport Assumption in a regional final.
[player_tooltip player_id="79019" first="Sydney" last="Mosinski"] on the attackSydney Mosinksi – Nevada
The Cubs have been on a roll as of late. Their rigorous early-season schedule is paying off, hitting their stride. Mosinkski is your prototypical athletic style middles where she can block from pin to pin, but she can get up and make things happen when she takes off one foot. She connects well with setter, Morgan Tupper Morgan Tupper S Nevada | 2020 State IA and is such a tough matchup for the other side of the net.
Abbey Griffin Abbey Griffin 5'9" | RS Albia | 2020 State IA – Albia
Griffin could be one who could double up on sports out of Albia providing plenty of power on the volleyball court as well as the softball diamond, competing for Albia in state softball last summer. Griffin can play in any position in the front row which shows how athletic she is and her ability to adjust. For Albia on the volleyball court, she is averaging nearly five kills per set and over 400 total this past season.