Prep athletes of the week: Lakeville South's Mosser puts together prep week to remember

After helping her club volleyball team win a national championship last summer, Mosser can say she's had some pretty good weeks. But the explosive senior outside hitter said last week was probably the best she's had as a high school player.

Mosser led the Cougars to a 7-0 record on the week. She had 20 kills and 16 digs in a three-set victory over Wayzata, then ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, and 30 kills in a victory over Eden Prairie. She averaged seven kills per set in five matches as Lakeville South won the prestigious Southwest Minnesota Challenge in Marshall. In the home victory over Wayzata, she notched her 1,000th career kill.

"It was a great win over Wayzata, we beat Eden Prairie, whom I've never beaten, and we won the Marshall tournament for the second time in a row,'' she said. "That's as good as high school week as I've ever had."

Coach Stephen Willingham said that no less a volleyball authority than Marshall coach Dan Westby, a Hall of Fame member, gave gave the uber-athletic Mosser the ultimate compliment.

"She plays so high [above the net] that teams don't get the chance to stop her," Willingham said. "Dan said 'Jenny just wears us down. We can't maintain our level of defense against her,' "

The Raiders won the Apple Valley Aerie Challenge by leaning on the 6-foot-2 outside hitter, highlighted by a 21-kill, nine-dig effort in a semifinal victory over Centennial. Overall last week, Carlson, who has committed to play at Kansas St., had 88 kills, 12 ace serves and 59 digs.

KEVIN DADO

The eighth-grade forward has played like a seasoned veteran, leading the Lions to a 5-1 start. She had eight goals in three games last week, with hat tricks in a victories over New Life Academy — including a final minute game-winner — and Cristo Rey.

The Bauman/Rovn Invitational at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista has become Korzenowski's personal showcase. She won the meet for the third consecutive year in an impressive 5K time of 18:25. It was her second victory of the young season.

The senior defensive back made it his mission to deny Lakeville South a passing attack in a 14-7 victory. He intercepted three passes, including one in overtime that sealed the victory, broke up three other passes and made two tackles.

The 5-foot-9 tailback is the metro's best combination of speed and grit. He rushed for 175 yards on just 18 carries and scored six TDs, all in the first half, in a 42-7 rout of Eagan. He is fourth in the metro in rushing with 345 yards.

JIM PAULSEN