12 southeastern Minnesota volleyball players to watch in 2023
Aug. 28—A look at 12 of the top volleyball players in southeastern Minnesota as the 2023 season gets underway:
Morken helped lead the Cougars to great heights last season, the star setter pushing them to a third-place finish at the Class 1A state tournament. An All-State player in 2022, Morken is an assist machine. The junior totaled 68 of them in the Section 1, Class 1A final last year and had 1,262 on the season. She also recorded 335 digs.
There likely isn't a more dynamic player in southeastern Minnesota than Burr, a 6-foot-1 senior. Burr has the lethal combination of height, long arms, strength, timing and leaping ability. She finished with 468 kills and 113 blocks last season en route to being named All-State and guiding the Bombers to the school's first volleyball state championship.
Nelson chose her college volleyball home in March, going with Division II Augustana University (Sioux Falls, S.D). The 5-foot-11 senior middle hitter has a versatile and powerful game. She had 160 kills, 217 digs, 42 blocks and 30 aces last year. That helped the Bears to a 19-9 season. Even more will be expected of her this year, as Byron lost some excellent players to graduation.
The junior outside hitter was a dynamo last season, with 341 kills and 244 digs. She also had the best hitting percentage in the Three Rivers Conference. LaPlante plays much taller than her 5-feet-7 and is a six-rotation player.
The sophomore setter took her team by storm last season en route to a state championship. Hepola finished with a school-record 1,155 assists. She also totaled 287 digs. Hepola has a way of brushing off mistakes, rides great instincts and rarely tires.
Lund, finally a senior, has been a Century starter since the eighth grade. A tremendous setter, Lund had 771 assists last year, along with 238 digs and 48 aces. The senior is one of the top all-around athletes in southeastern Minnesota, also one of the area's top sprinters in track and field.
Meincke was arguably the top libero in the Big Nine Conference last season as a junior. Meincke flies around the back of the court and used her quickness and touch to record 460 digs last season.
Distad plays with tremendous energy and encouragement. The senior setter had 979 assists last season, with 256 digs and 36 kills. Distad played a major role in the KoMets reaching the state tournament and finishing 26-9 overall.
Soiney was an incredible force in the middle for the Cougars, who reached the Class 1A state tournament last season. A freshman a year ago, the 5-foot-10 Soiney collected 441 kills (third all-time at Mabel-Canton) and 102 blocks. She had a school-record 38 kills in the Section 1-1A championship. Soiney can jump and has uncanny timing.
The competitive Lester, a senior, had 370 assists last season from her setter position. She also mixed in 170 digs, 170 kills, 52 aces and 31 blocks. Lester has a motor that never quits.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter is a complete player. The senior helped her team to a 19-3 record last season with 339 kills, 271 digs, 31 aces and 34 blocks.
Broadwater is known as much for her leadership skills as her volleyball abilities. And she's got plenty of the latter. The senior outside hitter had 246 kills, 233 digs, 27 blocks and 32 aces last year.
