Seven players to watch in the volleyball state tournament at Xcel Energy Center

Reeder, committed to Arizona, is an explosive 6-1 outside hitter and the only returning player from last year’s Class 4A all-­tournament team. This season, the Anoka junior has recorded 367 kills on 30.7% hitting, plus 245 digs. In the Tornadoes’ 3-2 section championship victory over Centennial, Reeder had a match-best 29 kills to book Anoka its sixth trip to Xcel Energy Center.

No. 7 seed Anoka (22-7), looks to improve upon its third-place finish last year but first has to face No. 2 Champlin Park at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Tornadoes lost a five-set match against Champlin Park in September.

On a balanced, top-ranked Lakeville South team, 6-1 setter Bjorklund is the creating force, with 644 assists — plus 75 service aces — in only her sophomore season. Ranked by PrepDigs among the top recruits in the 2027 class, the Cougars (29-2) will be lucky to have Bjorklund in the driver’s seat for a few more years.

But for now, she will help No. 1 Lakeville South face No. 8 Apple Valley in the Class 4A quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Bjorklund had 32 assists when the Cougars swept Apple Valley 3-0 in September.

West Central (27-4) is in their second consecutive Class 1A tournament, thanks in part to 5-10 senior outside hitter Foslien. The University of Jamestown commit is a powerful six-rotation player with 391 kills and 286 digs for the Knights.

Seeded fourth, West Central will take on No. 5 Kittson County Central at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Falcons libero is among the state’s most targeted players on service receptions, with 631 this season. The 5-7 junior has also recorded 473 digs for the No. 6 seed in Class 1A, including 21 in their 3-1 Section 1 championship upset of Mabel-Canton. The Falcons (17-15) took down the team ranked second in Class 1A by the coaches’ association at the end of the regular season.

They will look to Hellickson’s defense against No. 3 New Life Academy in their quarterfinal matchup at 7 p.m. Thursday.

A Ms. Baden Award finalist for the top senior volleyball player in the state, Garr has helped Rush City to three consecutive Class 2A tournaments — including a runner-up finish last year. The future Gopher libero has 1,680 career digs and 284 service aces and, this year, she helped the Tigers (28-3) to another Section 7 title.

The No. 7 Tigers face No. 2 Chatfield at 3 p.m. Thursday.

LaPlante, a senior, has been a crucial part of Chatfield’s first trip to the Class 2A tournament. The 5-9 six-rotation outside hitter is committed to play collegiately at Minnesota State Mankato and has a recorded 386 kills on 33.5% hitting this fall.

No. 2 Chatfield (28-4) defeated Winona Cotter 3-0 to claim the Class 2A, Section 1 title and book its quarterfinal match against No. 7 Rush City.

Ehresmann, a 5-6 senior setter, has helped Albany (29-3), the top seed in Class 2A, return to the state tournament for the first time since 2003. She recorded 49 of her 668 assists in the Huskies’ 3-2 victory over Sauk Centre in the Section 6 championship. Since collecting her 1,000th career assist in early September, Ehersmann has been feeding a big hitting season from Albany senior middle/outside hitter Hannah Klein.

Albany has its quarterfinal matchup against No. 8 New London-Spicer set for 1 p.m. Thursday.