State Tournament: Three Intriguing Quarterfinal Matchups
The state tournament is here with first serves set for 9am on Thursday morning as class AAA will get quarterfinal action started. As each of the three classifications have their favorites regarding odds to win the title, day one presents…
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Continue ReadingThe state tournament is here with first serves set for 9am on Thursday morning as class AAA will get quarterfinal action started. As each of the three classifications have their favorites regarding odds to win the title, day one presents some interesting matchups. Here is a look at intriguing quarterfinal pairings from each classification:
CLASS AAA
Elk River. vs Wayzata
On one side we have at team returning to state following a long hiatus but has been among the upper ranks of class AAA teams all season. On the other side of the net we have a team making their first appearance at state and whose season has been a bit unpredictable although what we have learned is that when they are good, the are really good. In the minds of most, Wayzata may be a clear favorite in this particular match and even among the teams favored to get to the championship match. They have great size and incredible terminating ability throughout their lineup and from different areas of their offense. From the right side it is
Elizabeth Helmich
Elizabeth
Helmich
6'1" | MB
Wayzata | 2020
State
MN
, from the middle it is
Lily Emlong
Lily
Emlong
6'2" | OH
Wayzata | 2020
State
MN
, and from the outside it is
Sophie Jesewitz
Sophie
Jesewitz
6'3" | OH
Wayzata | 2022
State
MN
. This trio of athletes, each standing 6’2 or above, have all displayed the ability to be extremely productive and with great authority. When they are all in rhythm and sync, Wayzata becomes extremely dangerous and difficult to slow down. Add in
Kate Long
Kate
Long
5'11" | MB
Wayzata | 2020
State
MN
and that is another highly capable factor that opponents have to deal with. Senior setter
Olivia Johnson
Olivia
Johnson
5'10" | S
Wayzata | 2020
State
MN
has been among the best 5-1 setters in the state in her ability to get everyone involved and utilize them in ways that create the best opportunities for each to be successful. For Elk River, they are a “by committee” type of team that relies on contributions from a lot of people. Two of their best represent their setting duo in Clare Hilary and
Elle Cotton
Elle
Cotton
6'0" | S
Elk River | 2022
State
MN
. As they have learned to balance their shared responsibility in running the offense well, they also have been getting better and better at getting their teammates involved while also capitalizing on their own opportunities. As Hilary is terrific defensively in addition to her setting, Cotton has continued to show her mettle as an attacker at the net as one of the most productive point scorers for her team. She is one of the better two-way athletes (setter/attacker) in the area regardless. Looking through Elk River’s offensive production, there often tends to be several athletes hovering similar levels of attacking opportunities and total kills each match. Additional key attackers include
Kaylin Plautz
Kaylin
Plautz
6'2" | MB
Elk River | 2020
State
MN
, Kennedy Gleason, Johanna Langbehn, and Emma Olson. As these teams met up early in the season, Wayzata won in 3-0 fashion although set scores were respectable, including a 26-24 third set. Elk River is a much better team today while Wayzata has proved all season that they belong here. The one neutralizing factor is that these current squads have no state tournament experience, which represents a weekend where anything can happen. Elk River may have to be near perfect to pull this one off but they have shown that they can compete well among the state’s best teams, which may translate to some confidence to accompany well a “nothing to lose” mindset and that limits the pressure they feel. Wayzata’s position and rank have been scrutnized from the start with increasing pressure all season to make it to the final weekend given their corps of athletes. These all are certainly factors that could impact the flow and outcome of this particular match. If anything, whether lopsided or evenly contested, we can appreciate that there is some terrific talent that will be on display on both sides.
CLASS AA
Concordia Academy vs. Watertown-Mayer
These two teams met at the Showcase back in September with Watertown-Mayer earning the 2-1 victory including the third set going extra points finishing at 20-18. Both teams have a prolific arm in their respective offensive arsenal that will undoubtedly get a lot of swings while also contributing in other ways key facets. For Concordia,
Kira Fallert
Kira
Fallert
5'11" | OH
Concordia Academy | 2021
State
MN
is their most potent attacker and she is a good one. She has great high-level experience and been in a position that has required her to carry the bulk of the work load on several occasions. As she terminates extremely well, where she also excels for this team is with her ball control and defense as she has great vision and spatial awareness to pursue the ball and create great angles in serve receive and defensively. For Watertown-Mayer,
Paige Thibault
Paige
Thibault
5'7" | DS/L
Watertown-Mayer | 2021
State
MN
is their offensive catalyst and terminator that will be relied upon heavily to make things happen. Like her counterpart, she expects to get a lot of opportunities and is an athlete that will welcome that role to put her team on her back with the hopes of advancing another step towards the title. As both Fallert and Thibault are juniors, they have the I.Q and savvy to be highly productive and successful on Thursday across the net from one another. In 2018, it was a junior outside hitter that carried her team to the state title in class AA and these two athletes have the potential and skill set to offer up a similar performance stretch. In their lone match this season, each attacker had similar outputs as Fallert took 35 of the teams 95 swings in earning 14 kills (.200) while Thibault took 38 of her team’s 90 swing, landing 17 kills (.316). As this is a great individual matchup to watch, both teams also get great contributions from a solid supporting cast. For Concordia, setter
Brooke Weichbrodt
Brooke
Weichbrodt
5'10" | S
Concordia Academy | 2021
State
MN
runs a great offense and is smooth in her pursuit and delivery of the ball with great footwork and extension.
Shaina Zinter
Shaina
Zinter
5'9" | OH
Concordia Academy | 2022
State
MN
and Sydney Pelzer provide a fair amount of offensive point scoring between the two of them and have been increasingly effective as the season has progressed, Zinter often times with great efficiency. For Watertown-Mayer, Kailey Olson and Faith Unglaub are key arms while Natalie Ernhart leads the offensive distribution. Don’t be surprised if this match goes the distance with extended points once again. The outcome prediction is a tossup. Concordia is currently ranked #5 at 22-6 overall, while Watertown-Mayer is ranked #7 at 21-6. This match should be a real treat for volleyball enthusiasts.
CLASS A
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa vs. Medford
This match features two teams that were here one year ago where they faced off against one another in the semifinals where upstart Medford claimed a 3-1 win to advance to the championship match. Both teams return some key pieces that were here last year and certainly are hungry for different outcomes when all is said and done. BBE arrives to state unranked and with a respectable 17-8 overall record while Medford brings with them a 20-8 overall record and a #7 ranking in the final poll. This match may simply come down to who can translate that desire to win to an efficient output while staying truest to their own strengths. BBE’s leadership is driven through the hands and offensive distribution of their highly productive setter in
Karsee Kampsen
Karsee
Kampsen
5'5" | S
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | 2021
State
MN
. She continues to rack up her assist totals as the team’s primary setter. Brittany Berge is a primary target and will see a lot of opportunity throughout the match and will need to bring with her a confidence to terminate the ball through good court awareness and arm control. She has proven capable of leading her team offensively on most occasions throughout the season. She gets offensive support from Karissa Jones, Grace Illies,
Ava Mueller
Ava
Mueller
6'0" | OH
BBE | 2023
State
MN
, and Jenna Dingmann. Defensively, Emily Kern has been their stabilizer. For Medford, following their surprising run last year, they certainly entered 2019 with a target on their back as a big threat to return to the state tournament. And here they are once again. The experience from a year ago has served them well and will be important for them to carry that into the first set of their first match knowing now that last year’s run was not a fluke.
Kinsey Cronin
Kinsey
Cronin
5'11" | MB
Medford | 2021
State
MN
has become one of their star performers as her stock and steadily risen this year through her balanced and key contributions both offensively and defensively. Her increased production complements well the returning leadership and effort from Emma Kniefel and the addition of
Alyvia Johnson
Alyvia
Johnson
5'10" | DS/L
Owatonna | 2020
State
MN
in providing a third very capable arm. Defensively, Kiley Nihart has been the team’s leader as setter Morgan Langeslag has run the show offensively. These two teams match up very well and come into this contest without any experience against one another yet this season. This is another match in which the prediction is too difficult to make.