AAA Section 2 Preview

Section 2AA

2009 Champ: Shakopee Sabers (32-0)

Teams: Buffalo, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Praire, Mankato West, Minnetonka, New Prague, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Waconia, Willmar

The Call: This one is too tough to call and it is one of Minnesota's most intense sections. Where does one start? Shakopee has to be proven why they are are not going to be contenders again. At the same time, Eden Prairie is deep and worthy of a run to the State Tournament. Meanwihile the Chaska Hawks are legendary in their State Tournament history and have an All-Stater on their roster. Waconia has the ability to not only upset but go deep in the post season while the plucky Chanhassen Storm are up and coming. Buffalo could pose problems for teams too and Prior Lake was 23-5 last year. The Section 2AAA will have all the trappings of an entertaining and drama filled season.

Buffalo (12-15) Chemistry and experience will catapult the Bison to a potential contender in the loaded section. They have experience at all positions including senior middle Sophie Stangl, junior middle Jill Wackler, and junior outside hitter Alexa Thielmar. Watch out, they have player in freshman Kylee Zumach who picked up 199 kills as an 8th grader. Brooke Gagnon handles the libero slot for the team which has plenty of opportunity not only this year but in the coming years to make noise in the 2AAA.

Chanhassen (10-19) Ten wins for the Storm in their first season is quite an impressive inagural campain. They will return their entire team as they did not have any seniors at Chanhassen last year. The Storm make the move with Chaska form the Lake Conference to the equally competitive Missota Conference. They look to All Lake Conference senior outside hitter Jessica Jerde's 231 digs, and also set effectively for the Storm. Kaylee Schmall, Julianne Bomberg, and Emily Zahn were all Lake Conference Honorable Mentions who will be a thorn an many a team's side this season.

Chaska (25-4) This is a team that had a great run last season. While they said farewell to seven seniors all of whom were All Conference or Honorable Mention All Conference. They bring gack the All State middle Chelsie Stahl which is a good chip to grow with. There is a reason Chaska, who lost All State outside hitter Ellen Degler and All State setter Amanda Konetch, continues to be a player in Class 3A volleyball. With 14 trips to the State Tournament and 6 titles to go with it, the Hawks have always had the hopper full with hard working players that have talent. How good would they be if Chan was still in the mix with their players? The Missota conference could very well be the toughest in Volleyball and Chaska should be the standing tall in the end.

Eden Prairie (18-10) With a team first attitude and commitment to hard work, the Eden Prairie Eagles have been one of the top programs in the State over recent years. There has been one thing in their way however, and that is the Shakopee Sabers. Having been on the short end of the Section 2AAA title the past three seasons, the Eagles now have a chance soar to the top with their first State appearance since 2004. Nine players return to their squad and they balance that out with depth from a solid JV team last year. Sarah Willhite earned All Lake Conference honors last year as a freshman. She deivered 258 kills and will have some help. A pair of Ashley's-Snuggerud and Alonso-will be captaining the Eagles this year and will contribute along with senior middle Dani Schultz who won Honrable Mention All Conference last year. Andie Kuebler earned the same honors as Schultz and they will jump into the Classic Lake with rivals Wayzata and Hopkins as coach Chad Becker tunes his squad up for a run to the State Tournament.

Mankato West (8-17) The Scarletts will have a tough run in the Section 2AAA, yet last year, were middle of the road in the Big 9. Helping coach Stefanie Sandstrom is the return of 5 seniors and 2 juniors. Setter Alice Rockswold will direct the offense to senior hitters Anna Veroeven, Carly Schindler, Danielle Sukalski, and Jana Christensen. Improvement in the balanced Big 9 is the call to order followed by a run in the difficult 2AAA for Mankato West.

MInnetonka (10-18) Even though the Skippers are going to be a younger team this year with many sophomores at the helm, they look to work their way to the mendozza line of .500. They will rely on the work of senior outside hitter Ashley Ness who came up with 122 digs last year. She is joined by junior libero Renee Hoffman who delivered 261 digs last season. Together, they make the task difficult in the already tough Classic Lake Conference. As coach Mary Stude's team develops, they have the ability to suprise some teams this year.

New Prague (14-13) Head coach Angie Anderson will have a hole to fill left by the departed All Missota middle Hannah Strop. However, Sara Rookaird is back to lead the offense for the Trojans who was an All Conference Honorable mention. . At 3-4 in the Missota Conference