New Names Featured Among Talented MN Class of 2023
Minnesota has 2023 athletes who are going to make some waves during their prep volleyball careers. Some have already placed their names in state tournament archives, while others have made an impact on the club scene, and then there are…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota has 2023 athletes who are going to make some waves during their prep volleyball careers. Some have already placed their names in state tournament archives, while others have made an impact on the club scene, and then there are some we are still discovering. Who are some of the newest athletes having made their way into our rankings?
Alexandra McGeehan Alexandra McGeehan 6'3" | MB Totino-Grace | 2023 State MN – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Totino-Grace – MN Select 17-2
MN Select has had some great success with athletes from a variety of different schools recently. Players like McGeehan make the depth to their programs even more impressive. McGeehan is definitely a sleeper in the Class of 2023 who will surely catch the eyes of college coaches this season. Standing 6’2 and very strong at the net, McGeehan has a major upside and high ceiling that will be fun to watch as she reaches new levels.
2023 6’2 Middle Blocker @mcgeehan2023 from @MNSelect is the gate keeper at the net and isn’t letting anything thru!@PrepDigChris @PrepDig @PrepDigMN #PDTop250 pic.twitter.com/HoQADqUvTV
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) December 5, 2021
Cameron Berger Cameron Berger 5'11" | S Eden Prairie | 2023 State #71 Nation MN – 5’9 – Setter – Eden Prairie – Vital Volleyball 18-1 Gold – Committed to Illinois State
The experience playing up an age and the athleticism of Berger is something that sets her apart from other setters. Berger can set a solid block, attack, and run a fast-paced offense. She is a threat in multiple ways – whether she is moving the ball from pin to pin, taking it over on the second contact, or establishing the middle attack. Berger was part of Eden Prairie’s state 3rd place finish and named to the Class AAAA All-State recognition. She will be setting for Bradley commit Kendall Minta Kendall Minta 6'3" | MB Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN and Iowa State commit Lilly Wachholz Lilly Wachholz 6'2" | MB Mayer Lutheran | 2022 State #42 Nation MN for a big 1-2 punch on the Vital Volleyball 18-1 Gold squad.
Charlotte Lempka Charlotte Lempka 6'5" | MB Alexandria Area | 2023 State MN – 6’5 – Middle Blocker – Alexandria – Kandi Elite 17-1
Kandi Elite was just another 17’s team ready to take on some of the best teams in the state. But with an asset like Lempka, they can truly compete right along with them. Lempka has been a big part of this group, and she will just continue to take them to new levels. She moves really well and is an incredible force. Lempka must know magic because she can make things happen out of nothing.
6’5 2023 Middle Blocker Charlotte Lempka Charlotte Lempka 6'5" | MB Alexandria Area | 2023 State MN crushing balls from front row and backrow at the @PrepDigMN #PDTop250 @PrepDigChris @PrepDig pic.twitter.com/7i3T4LUZGA
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) December 5, 2021
Claire Baribeau Claire Baribeau 6'0" | MB New Prague | 2023 State MN – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – New Prague – M1 17-2
Baribeau teamed up with the Molstad’s (2022’s) to finish 3rd in the Class 3A State Tournament. She makes a solid contact and takes a heavy swing while also being able to put up a big block. Baribeau is a force at the net with a high contact point and an aggressive approach.
Emma Matousek Emma Matousek 5'6" | DS/L Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN – 5’6 – Libero – Eden Prairie – Midwest United
Matousek found herself on one of the top Class AAAA teams in the state, and she came up with some big plays during Eden Prairie’s road to state. Matousek is an energetic defensive player who has a solid advantage with high-pressure post-season experience alone. She is steady from the service line and stays cool, calm, and collected in the big moments.
Kloey Lind Kloey Lind 6'1" | MB Pine City | 2023 State MN – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Pine City – Northern Attack
Lind is a natural athlete who sees the court really well and can find the open spots from anywhere on the net. She is a spark plug who moves well, puts up a big block, and what caught my attention was how she moved defensively and created strong platform angles. She has a really high ceiling and would make a tremendous addition at the next level.
Mehlayna Straub Mehlayna Straub 6'0" | MB Southwest Christian | 2023 State MN – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Southwest Christian – Northern Lights 17-1
Straub is climbing the ranks quickly as she made her presence known at Southwest Christian. In 2021 she led her team to a 5th Place finish at the MN State Class AA Tournament and earned herself Wright County 1st team all-conference honors. Straub is a highflyer who can cut angles like no one’s business. She brings a lot of physicality and power to the offense.
Sophia Johnson Sophia Johnson 5'9" | DS/L Wayzata | 2023 State MN – 5’8 – Defensive Specialist/Libero – Wayzata – MN Select 17-1
Johnson continues to find herself in the defensive specialist role while working with some really stellar liberos both on her high school and club teams. She is most likely looking for somewhere to play in that libero position, but she does a great job contributing any way she can. Johnson is fast, physical, and shows some grit in her style of play. She has all the intangibles to be a real positive teammate and finds a way to get the job done.
More To Keep An Eye On:
Eleanor Erickson Eleanor Erickson 6'2" | RS Bloomington Jefferson | 2023 State MN – 6’2 – Right Side Hitter – Bloomington Jefferson – Vital Volleyball
Jenna Gapinski-Vogt Jenna Gapinski-Vogt 6'0" | RS Sauk Centre | 2023 State MN – 6’0 – Right Side Hitter – Sauk Centre
Kara Goetzinger Kara Goetzinger 5'8" | RS Chatfield | 2023 MN – 5’8 – Right Side Hitter – Chatfield
Kayla Thorsfeldt Kayla Thorsfeldt 5'11" | RS New Prague | 2023 MN – 5’11 – Right Side Hitter – New Prague
Kaysie Bakke Kaysie Bakke 6'2" | OH Forest Lake | 2023 State MN – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Forest Lake – Kokoro
Lillian Ekness Lillian Ekness 5'11" | OH Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Eden Prairie – Vital Volleyball
Madeline Guetzkow Madeline Guetzkow 6'0" | RS Mayer Lutheran | 2023 State MN – 5’11 – Right Side Hitter – Mayer Lutheran
Madison Knutson Madison Knutson 6'0" | RS Maple Grove | 2023 MN – 6’0 – Right Side Hitter – Maple Grove
Tori Liljegren Tori Liljegren 5'11" | OH Stillwater | 2023 State MN – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Stillwater – MN Juniors