Versatile front-row athlete Sophee Mink, in the high school class of 2019 at DeForest Area High School in Wisconsin, has verbally committed to play at Division I High Point University in the fall. Mink, part of the Capital Volleyball Academy’s 17 Adidas team, their top-rated side, stands 6’1″ tall and has a massive leaping ability. She has a standing reach of 8 feet has an approach touch height of 10′ 4.5″, and can grab a 10′ basketball rim.
That’s no surprise, given that she’s a Wisconsin Division I (big schools) state qualifier in the high jump, clearing 5 feet at the 2017 outdoor state meet when she was just a sophomore, and with a personal best of 5’5″. That’s already within an inch of High Point track & field’s school record, though she’s committed to just playing volleyball so far. A full-blown 3 season high school athlete, she also plays power forward on the school’s basketball team. In fact, she’s only a recent convert to club volleyball, because it had previously conflicted with basketball season, which was arguably her better sport coming into high school.
I’m extremely humbled and honored to announce that I have verbally committed to attend and play volleyball at High Point University. I would like to thank @HPUVBCoach for this amazing opportunity along with my friends and family for their unending love and support. Go panthers!? pic.twitter.com/mvoWj73lgI
— Sophee Mink (@SopheeMink) March 31, 2018
While she’s played all along the front line, the right-hander projects as an outside hitter at the college level.
As a junior, she had 228 kills in 112 sets, with a .256 hitting percentage. She also had 12 aces in 51 service attempts, though only 78.4% of her serves landed in play. She also chipped in 76 blocks, or .7/set.
Last season, High Point made a statement when they became the first at-large bid in Big South Conference history to earn an invite to the NCAA tournament – not by way of a conference title, but by way of amassing a sufficient resume. They’ve since brought in a whole new coaching staff, including hiring former Creighton assistant Ryan Meeks as head coach.
High Point will have a big hole at outside hitter when she arrives – both listed outside hitters on their 2018 roster, Abby Broadstreet and Adeline Ellis, are seniors. The team’s top offensive weapon, Haley Barnes, is graduating after averaging 3.21 kills/set last season, though the team also runs a lot of offense through its middles. High Point is bringing in 2 freshman outsides for the fall as well, 6’2″ Madison Smith, a two-time first team all-conference selection in Ohio; and 6’0 Brantley Rhodes, who collected 1,000 career kills and was the State Championship MVP in Alabama as a senior at Bayside Academy in 2017.
Mink is the 2nd player from her club team to commit to a D1 program so far – teammate Kiana Schmitt will play at Creighton. Another Capital Volleyball alumni, senior middle blocker Molly Livingston, also plays at High Point.
Upcoming High Point Commitments:
Class of 2018:
- Gabrielle Idelbird, 6’0 middle blocker, Mesquite, Texas
- Andrea O’Connor, 6’1″ middle blocker, Stamford, Connecticut
- Brantley Rhodes, 6’0 outside hitter, Montrose, Alabama
- Madison Smith, 6’2″ outside hitter, Hilliard, Ohio
- Mackenzie Thornburg, 5’7″ setter, Timberlake, North Carolina
Class of 2019:
- Sophee Mink, 6’1″ outside hitter, DeForest, Wisconsin
- Allie Scheiwiller, 6’1″ middle blocker, Channahon, Illinois
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