Vote: Who is the top blocker in Minnesota high school volleyball?

Sophomore, Lakeville North 

Christianson has been a starter for Lakeville North since she was an eighth grader. Last season, as a freshman, she led the team with 88 blocks and was an all-conference player. She also boasted the team’s top hitting efficiency number at .412. 

Junior, DeLaSalle

Johnson was an all-conference player last season, a year in which she recorded two 10-block matches and collected the school record for most blocks in a match. A team captain entering this season, she’s receiving interest from multiple Division I programs. 

“Jordyn is a wow player,” coach Chelsea Hammerschmidt said. “She gets up and hits with such power and speed.” 

This year, Johnson is on track to break more school records, but she also has the potential to break the state record for blocks in a single match as just a junior.

Senior, Cannon Falls

Burr, who stands at 6-foot-1 in the middle, was named to the Class 2A all-state team last season. She helped lead the Bombers to a 28-7 record and a Class 2A state title win against Pequot Lakes. She’ll anchor the middle in 2023 as the Bombers look to repeat. 

Junior, Cambridge-Isanti

Steman was one of the state’s top middle blockers last season. She led the state with 61 blocks, to go along with 140 kills. Steman helps comprise a strong front line for the Bluejackets, which finished 18-10 last season. 

Senior, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

Fischer is a multi-time all-conference player who earned a nod as an all-area honorable mention last season. 

“Brooklyn has a great swing,” coach Alanna Hunter said. “She is a smart player that sees the court well and uses that to score points.” 

The returning starter brings good size at 5-foot-9, and will look to build on what’s been a stellar past two seasons, in 2023.

Senior, Stillwater Area 

“Mackenzie is a leader in the front row for kills and blocks,” coach Sara Baumgard said. “She is also a fantastic leader and sets the expectations high for her teammates.” 

The senior, Peterson was named an all-conference honorable mention in 2022, and will look to build on that entering her fourth and final season. 

Junior, St. Cloud Cathedral 

Voth had 181 kills and 55 blocks last season for coach Heidi Schloe’s program. She also boasted a 92.5 serving percentage. Her blocking was critical to the success of a team that made it to the Class 2A, Section 6 championship last season. 

An all-conference honorable mention last year, Voth is Cathedral’s “go-to” hitter this season. 

“She can take swings from the outside as well as the middle,” Schloe said. “She runs many different routes to keep the other team on their toes. She also earns many kills from swinging in the back row.”

Senior, Buffalo

Caffee, a middle hitter, was named to the Class 4A all-state team last season. In 2022, she helped push Buffalo to a 14-11 record and later, the Class 4A, Section 8 semifinals. The 6-foot-4 middle totaled 214 kills with a .308 hitting percentage and 51 total blocks. 

Senior, Sartell 

Haus is a four-year varsity player and a team captain entering her senior season. She’s been an all-conference player each of the last two seasons and broke the school’s record for blocks in a single season with 58 last year. 

“Abby will be playing all the way around for us this season as long as she is able because of her leadership abilities and the energy and fire she physically brings for our team when she is on the court,” coach Riley Marod said. 

Haus will be continuing her volleyball career at the University of Sioux Falls next year. 

Sophomore, Centennial 

A 6-foot-3 Division I prospect, Hoecke notched 283 kills, 72 blocks and 62 aces in 2022. Hoecke will be turning into a six-rotation middle this season. 

”It's undeniable she is talented, but she is a great team player as well,” coach Nicole Christensen said. “[Her] kills will only increase with three more opportunities to score.”

Sophomore, Centennial

Kemper, another standout underclassmen for Centennial, helps create a formidable front line up front, alongside Hoecke. She’ll be playing opposite of Hoecke this season to “create a force out of our middle,” Christensen said. 

A 6-foot-1 blocker, Kemper may also play all six rotations this season. 

Junior, St. Louis Park

Carlson plays both hitter and blocker for St. Louis Park, and is a transfer from Fourth Baptist Christian School—which won three MACS state championships while she was on roster. 

She was the tournament’s MVP in 2022, as well. 

“Nevaeh is going to add depth to our roster this season and will bring a much needed outside presence,” coach Sam Hanlon said. “[She] will make an all around difference immediately.”

Senior, Fosston

Mahlen is both a middle front as well as setter in the back row. 

“Brynlea is our team captain and a natural born leader,” coach Alyssa Macy said. 

Mahlen led the team in blocks each of the last two years and Macy expects her to once more in 2023. Last season, she also added 182 kills. This season she has also stepped into a role as a 6-2 setter. 

"She has beautiful hands and well placed balls to her hitters,” Macy said. “Brynlea also has a very aggressive float serve and can consistently spot serve anywhere on the court. Along with her athletic ability, she also has an unbelievable work ethic and is a great teammate.” 

Junior, Redwood Valley

An all-conference player, Huhnerkoch has been a starter since she was in eighth grade. She plays all the way around as a middle and is the team’s “go-to” player whether she is in the front row or the back row, according to coach Taya Lindahl. 

“Kendall is a really strong passer and defender as well as a great offensive threat in the front row,” Lindahl said. 

Junior, North Branch

Bartkey recorded 142 kills at the middle blocker spot for coach Mike Selbitschka last season. The coach called his now-junior a “fun” middle blocker with “great vision and court awareness. Bartkey will look to help the Vikings improve on a 16-13 season. 

Sophomore, Mabel-Canton 

A two-year starter, 2022 all-conference and all-tournament team player, Soiney recorded 441 kills last season, which was the third best mark all-time in a single season in school history. A 5-foot-10, six-rotation player, coach Lonnie Morken called Soiney “uber athletic” and someone who is best in big moments and never lacks confidence.

Junior, Mabel-Canton

Slafter completes the middle with Soiney. A three-year starter and two-time all-conference player, Slafter is nearing 1,000 career kills. A 5-foot-7 six-rotation player, she’s a “very intelligent attacker” who rarely gets blocked, according to Morken

Senior, Red Wing 

Tix did a little bit of everything last season for Sydney Book’s Red Wing program. A four-year starter, Tix recorded 61 kills, 75 digs and was the team’s leader in blocks with 33. She’ll look to help turn around a team that was 10-16 in 2022. 

Junior, Willmar

Volk was an All-Conference selection in 2022, and he is a team captain in 2023. Last season, she finished with 153 kills, 277 digs and 36 aces.

"She is very versatile, which makes her very knowledgeable about the game," coach Leah Brogdon said. "She has played a lot of high level volleyball. She is a great leader for our team and a grinder. She always gives 110 percent and is encouraging to her teammates."