All eyes on the MEQ

The MEQ was always over the first weekend of March Madness when I was playing so I already know there will be some parents spending their “off” matches standing in front of any TV they can find to catch up on some March Madness basketball. But that doesn't mean there won't be some electric volleyball going on inside the convention center all day. The MEQ usually highlights the best of the Midwest and that will stay pretty true for this year as well, although there are a few teams from the south sprinkled in. It's a good thing I have multiple TV’s with split screen capability because I will be right there with those parents on the off games… glued to the TV catching up on college hoops!

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Anyways… back to the volleyball;) Here are a couple of athletes I am looking forward to checking out this weekend at MEQ and will be on my watchlist for PPV increases:

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Katherine Anderson: MB, MN Select 16-1, PPV 166-I am looking forward to seeing her play with some speed. This tournament will come with a lot of talented players and she is a middle blocker who makes plays. She moves well laterally, but I am excited to see how she blocks against some of the top Midwest talent. 

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Aubrie Wirkkala: MB, MN Select 16-1, PPV 168- The other half of the middle duo for MN Select that I am looking forward to seeing. I am interested in how her speed will play out against some of the other athletes at the MEQ. I have been impressed with her ability to make big moves and get good touches on a lot of swings so im excited to watch her and Anderson make plays. 

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Kyla Hurley: Libero, Pineapple, PPV 171- Really strong libero. She plays the high balls really well. The balls that are high and look like they are gonna go past her… she sticks her platform out and manages to keep those balls in play really well. I want to see how she defends some of the big hitter she will see at MEQ

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Sarah Stegall: OH, Pineapple, PPV 187- Stud outside hitter that attacks really well from the outside and the back row. Stegall really pushes this Pineapple team and has the potential to help them get their BID to nationals this coming weekend at the MEQ. I will be watching to see how she attacks against some of the blockers she will face, although I am anticipating nobody will be able to defend her back row attack.

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Natalie Krogwold: OH, MKE Sting, PPV 146- a bit of an undersized outside hitter, but she knows how to use her size to help her. She tools the block well and Ill be interested to see how she tools some bigger blocks at MEQ. She passes well and also sets up a pretty solid block even though she may be a bit undersized. Looking forward to seeing how she and the Sting team does. 

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Jacleyn Zgonc: OH, Rock City, PPV 184- Such an explosive outside hitter. SHe bangs the seam ball really well. If there is a block with a hole in it she will be hitting that shot. She has a heavy arm and quite a bit of power. Zgonc carries quite a heavy load for her team so we will see how she continues to deal with the pressure of having to score a lot of points at the MEQ. I am excited to watch her and her team play. 

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Molly Bokenkroger: Libero, PVA Elite, PPV 156- she covers a lot of ground passing. A lot of times when she passes next to an outside hitter she will cover almost half of the court. I am impressed with her ability to play so big on serve receive. There are tons of serves missed in the club game right now so if she can continue making good plays on balls that are in and letting the rest go she will keep her team really in system and successful. Bokenbroger is also really strong moving forward. She pursues the tip really well and also sets OOS to her hitters at a high level. Overall a really strong bro im excited to see. 

‍Sophia Farina: Setter, MOD elite, PPV 138- She runs the gap ball to her middles really well. I like watching her force the middles in perfect pass but also in imperfect situations. She is able to push the ball all the way to the pin with her strength. I think something that sets her up for success is her defensive pursuit. She works hard to play balls on D that are in front of her.