Future of Minnesota

[pointu]

Gilk serve receives both on her club and high school teams too. She is the ultimate utility player, I'm so excited to see her in a gopher jersey

[zero-rotation outside hitter]

Just sort of putting it all together...if Stella Swenson is indeed redshirting, a potentially stellar class of players for '25: Swenson (S), Kinney (OH), Taylor (MB), Gilk (Opp), Garr (L/DS).

What a talented nucleus of athletes to build a championship team around. And all with the possibility of playing four years together.


Yay.

[pointu]

Anyone know why Gilk sat out of Champlin Park's season opener vs Lakeville North?

[courtwatchers]

Are there any Minnesota fans that feel KCook has addressed the Minnesota serve/receive issue starting in 2025 that can/will turn this ongoing issue around for the program? I will admit I'm not familiar with these incoming recruits like many of you are.

[sptimes2]

He has McKenna Garr coming in next year, top libero for Northern Lights. I haven't watched her, but others on here have spoken highly of her. Not sure beyond that.

[dietcokefan]

Sept 1, 2024 18:07:34 GMT -5 courtwatchers said:

Are there any Minnesota fans that feel KCook has addressed the Minnesota serve/receive issue starting in 2025 that can/will turn this ongoing issue around for the program? I will admit I'm not familiar with these incoming recruits like many of you are.

Agree. Same thing year after year.

[vbruh]

With the new roster limits next year, I expect staff will want 4 L/DS ideally 1 from each class year. Both Z and Kate will be Jrs, Garr a Frosh, my guess is staff will look to Portal to bring in a transfer either a Grad student or perhaps a Sophomore. If a Sophomore, they’d have 5 littles in 2026, but that’s only for one year.

Also, both 25 pins currently pass. Gilk is a RS and passes a high rate, which will provide multiple options in serve receive that do not exist today.

[justafan44]

Thought I would provide an update from a previous discussion on this thread regarding PrepDig and their absurd rankings. For 2027s in MN -- The first rankings were: Deboer started as 1, Bjorkland was 2. Second rankings came out and Deboer was 2, Bjorkland 1. Rankings came out today and you guessed it: Deboer is back to 1, Bjorkland is 2. If only they had some people working for Prepdig who actually knew what they were doing and weren't just looking for subscribers. In all honesty, Cora Bicknese, a DS from Chatfield should probably be the #1. She is SOLID and will be a huge get for whatever program gets her.

[skolgophers]

Sept 10, 2024 10:47:58 GMT -5 justafan44 said:

Thought I would provide an update from a previous discussion on this thread regarding PrepDig and their absurd rankings. For 2027s in MN -- The first rankings were: Deboer started as 1, Bjorkland was 2. Second rankings came out and Deboer was 2, Bjorkland 1. Rankings came out today and you guessed it: Deboer is back to 1, Bjorkland is 2. If only they had some people working for Prepdig who actually knew what they were doing and weren't just looking for subscribers. In all honesty, Cora Bicknese, a DS from Chatfield should probably be the #1. She is SOLID and will be a huge get for whatever program gets her.

I have hope that Bicknese is a huge target for the gophers. She gives me CC vibes

[GoGophs]

Sept 10, 2024 10:47:58 GMT -5 justafan44 said:

Thought I would provide an update from a previous discussion on this thread regarding PrepDig and their absurd rankings. For 2027s in MN -- The first rankings were: Deboer started as 1, Bjorkland was 2. Second rankings came out and Deboer was 2, Bjorkland 1. Rankings came out today and you guessed it: Deboer is back to 1, Bjorkland is 2. If only they had some people working for Prepdig who actually knew what they were doing and weren't just looking for subscribers. In all honesty, Cora Bicknese, a DS from Chatfield should probably be the #1. She is SOLID and will be a huge get for whatever program gets her.

I'm crossing my fingers for Bicknese and Deboer. Deboer will depend on how they want the setting situation to go assuming SS redshirts and Deboer is willing to come in behind her and I completely agree that Bickenese is a local prize. I'm hoping that since Shaff is coaching/helping with her club team that'll persuade her to MN 🤞 I wonder if she'll stick with Vital this season or move to Select or NL like a lot of kids do, kind of fun that she's playing for a "lesser known" local club

[gopherhim]

I saw Garr is playing OH for her high school team. That’s fun. Not uncommon for a lower enrollment school to have players out of position just to get the best six on the court.

Champlin Park (Gilk) and Eagan (Kraft) are # 2 and 3 in the state. Weird not seeing Wayzata at the top of the heap. Lakeville North now.

[justafan44]

Sept 10, 2024 11:06:21 GMT -5 gopherhim said:

I saw Garr is playing OH for her high school team. That’s fun. Not uncommon for a lower enrollment school to have players out of position just to get the best six on the court.

Champlin Park (Gilk) and Eagan (Kraft) are # 2 and 3 in the state. Weird not seeing Wayzata at the top of the heap. Lakeville North now.

Bicknese also plays 6 rotations for her high school team. I agree that it's fun to see them play all the way around.  Bicknese is exactly like CC, maybe better.  I hope that Minne figures out a way to keep her here.

[holms]

Sept 10, 2024 11:05:19 GMT -5 GoGophs said:

Sept 10, 2024 10:47:58 GMT -5 justafan44 said:

Thought I would provide an update from a previous discussion on this thread regarding PrepDig and their absurd rankings. For 2027s in MN -- The first rankings were: Deboer started as 1, Bjorkland was 2. Second rankings came out and Deboer was 2, Bjorkland 1. Rankings came out today and you guessed it: Deboer is back to 1, Bjorkland is 2. If only they had some people working for Prepdig who actually knew what they were doing and weren't just looking for subscribers. In all honesty, Cora Bicknese, a DS from Chatfield should probably be the #1. She is SOLID and will be a huge get for whatever program gets her.

I'm crossing my fingers for Bicknese and Deboer. Deboer will depend on how they want the setting situation to go assuming SS redshirts and Deboer is willing to come in behind her and I completely agree that Bickenese is a local prize. I'm hoping that since Shaff is coaching/helping with her club team that'll persuade her to MN 🤞 I wonder if she'll stick with Vital this season or move to Select or NL like a lot of kids do, kind of fun that she's playing for a "lesser known" local club

I wonder if Shaff’s decision to take a 5th year which caused SS to redshirt will have any effect on our ability to land Deboer or Bjorkland. Let’s hope not, both are amazing

[zero-rotation outside hitter]

Sept 10, 2024 11:49:23 GMT -5 holms said:

Sept 10, 2024 11:05:19 GMT -5 GoGophs said:

I'm crossing my fingers for Bicknese and Deboer. Deboer will depend on how they want the setting situation to go assuming SS redshirts and Deboer is willing to come in behind her and I completely agree that Bickenese is a local prize. I'm hoping that since Shaff is coaching/helping with her club team that'll persuade her to MN 🤞 I wonder if she'll stick with Vital this season or move to Select or NL like a lot of kids do, kind of fun that she's playing for a "lesser known" local club

I wonder if Shaff’s decision to take a 5th year which caused SS to redshirt will have any effect on our ability to land Deboer or Bjorkland. Let’s hope not, both are amazing

Who's the girl from one of the Dakotas who's supposed to be VERY good and would be a 2028 I think?

*setter

[justafan44]

Sept 10, 2024 11:49:23 GMT -5 holms said:

Sept 10, 2024 11:05:19 GMT -5 GoGophs said:

I'm crossing my fingers for Bicknese and Deboer. Deboer will depend on how they want the setting situation to go assuming SS redshirts and Deboer is willing to come in behind her and I completely agree that Bickenese is a local prize. I'm hoping that since Shaff is coaching/helping with her club team that'll persuade her to MN 🤞 I wonder if she'll stick with Vital this season or move to Select or NL like a lot of kids do, kind of fun that she's playing for a "lesser known" local club

I wonder if Shaff’s decision to take a 5th year which caused SS to redshirt will have any effect on our ability to land Deboer or Bjorkland. Let’s hope not, both are amazing

I feel like it has to be a big factor for both sides.  The recruit has to be willing to sit for 2 years (with a redshirt, I assume) but would come in as a sophomore with a lot of training under their belt.  The drop off from setter to setter shouldn't be as much of a factor as a 4th year starter to a fresh freshman.  And then on the gophs side, do they want someone that will only play for 3 years? How will that affect their future recruiting?  I think there's a strong chance that Minne holds off for a '28 unless they are gonna go for the Minnesota talent to try to keep them home.  They have been trending in that direction with Gilk, Garr, Hoecke, Craft, etc.  The Swenson redshirt definitely throws a wrench in things.