Oct. 18—(Editor's note: Team records are updated through Oct. 14).
The first round of this year's Section 1, Class 1A and Section 1, Class 2A girls volleyball tournaments gets underway on Thursday, Oct. 22. Here are some players to keep an eye on during the postseason.
The Division I Michigan State University commit is in the midst of another standout season for the two-time defending Section 1, Class 2A champion Gophers, averaging 4.1 kills and 4.9 digs per set. According to Minnesota State High School League records, Bicknese, a 5-foot-7 senior libero/outside hitter, recently became one of only two players in MSHSL volleyball history believed to reach 1,000 kills and 2,000 digs for her career — the first was Stewartville grad Julie Rainey.
The 5-foot-7 freshman outside hitter averages a team-high 3.6 kills per set (251 total) for the Warriors, who are 16-6 on the year (7-1 in Section 1-2A, 7-2 in the Three Rivers Conference). Reinhart has also tallied 198 digs and 25 aces.
The sophomore hitter leads the No. 10-ranked team in Class 2A in kills (355), digs (198) and aces (35). At 6-foot-2, Frie has helped the Eagles record one of their best seasons in program history, with a 23-3 overall record (10-0 in Section 1-2A, 8-1 in TRC).
Peck, a 5-foot-9 senior setter, has done a stellar job running the Eagles' offense this fall, tallying 535 set assists, 135 digs and 63 kills through Oct. 12. D-E has one regular season game remaining before playoffs begin, against St. Charles on Monday.
The 5-foot-10 junior setter/hitter is an all-around playmaker for the Panthers, who are 19-7 (7-5 in Section 1-2A, 6-2 in Hiawatha Valley League). Barnett has recorded 332 kills, 250 set assists, 204 digs, 51 aces and 49 blocks as of Oct. 15.
The 5-foot-4 senior setter averages 6.7 assists per set for the Cobras, who are 20-3 overall (11-0 in Section 1-2A, 8-1 in the Gopher Conference) as of Oct. 13. Essig has put up 429 assists, 154 digs and 56 kills on the season.
The 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter leads Triton in kills with 283. She's also notched 201 digs and 47 aces. Wirkus recorded a whopping 30 kills and set the school record for points scored in a career in Triton's close 3-2 loss to Kenyon-Wanamingo on Oct. 13.
Zwart, a 6-foot junior middle blocker, leads the No. 2-ranked team in Class 1A with 222 kills, 3.5 kills per set and 62 blocks. Fillmore Central, the two-time defending Section 1-1A champion, is 18-4 overall (3-1 in Section 1-1A and 9-0 in TRC) through Oct. 14.
The 5-foot-9 junior outside hitter is first on the team in ace serves (43), and second in digs (163) and kills (169) through 64 sets played with the Falcons. Nagel has been battling through injury this fall, but when she is on the court, she is a threat to her opponents.
The 5-foot-8 sophomore outside hitter leads the Knights (19-5, 5-1 in Section 1-1A, 9-0 in the Gopher Conference) with 244 kills and is second in digs with 289. K-W, the No. 4-ranked team in the state in Class 1A, sits atop the Gopher Conference after taking down Triton in five sets on Oct. 13.
Rein, a 5-foot-4 freshman setter, has posted an impressive 735 set assists, 135 digs and 33 aces for the Cougars this fall. M-C is 20-8-1 overall (12-2 in Section 1-1A, 12-1 in the Southeast Conference) with one regular-season match remaining, versus Grand Meadow on Oct. 19.
The 5-foot-6 freshman setter reached 1,000 career set assists earlier this season, with 528 of those coming this fall. Sherburne leads the Lions in aces with 53 and is second in digs with 203. She's also added 73 kills for Spring Grove, which is 17-9 after sweeping Mabel-Canton on Oct. 13.