Minnesota Clubs Tally 26 All Americans and One National Champion!
Could this be the year of not just good, but great things to come for Minnesota volleyball (Minneapolis does host the NCAA Final Four in December at the Target Center). In the past few weeks to wrap up the club…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCould this be the year of not just good, but great things to come for Minnesota volleyball (Minneapolis does host the NCAA Final Four in December at the Target Center). In the past few weeks to wrap up the club volleyball season the state of Minnesota racked up a total of 26 AAU All Americans, three AAU MVPs, three USA all tournament members, and one USA MVP! Oh, and a 17 Open National Championship from Northern Lights 17-1, the crown for the best team in the nation.
In order to be considered for an AAU All American status, the team must be in the Gold bracket on the final day. Northern Lights, always a perennial power had eight All Americans at the AAU level, but Kokoro out of the St. Paul area was right behind with seven, most of which were at the younger levels which provides for a bright future, a club on the rise. Southwest Minnesota Volleyball Club out of Minneota had six total All Americans and two MVPs.
Northern Lights 17-1 got hot at just the right time. A favorite heading into the AAU National Championships was upset by fellow metro club, MN Select and was defeated by VC Nebraska 17 Elite 27-25 in a cross over as well to keep them out of contention for an AAU National Championship, finishing 13th. Fast forward a week and new life heading into the USAV National Championships in Detroit, Lights suffered two losses in pool play to Momentus 17-1 Dan out of Southern California and Mintonette out of Ohio. With finishing in the top three of their pool there was still life for a chance to play for a title. After a tight two set sweep of Iowa Power Plex 26-24 and 27-25, Lights did not drop a set enroute to a national title.
Kyndra Hansen, a 6’1 outside hitter of Mahtomedi High School is a heading to the University of Iowa and Mari Hinkle, a libero from Rosemount High School will be heading West to UCLA were both named to the all tournament team. Kennedi Orr, who just finished her Freshman year at Eagan was named MVP of the tournament (playing up two years). Orr will be heading to Nebraska after she finishes her high school career.
USA 17 Open All Tournament Team
Kyndra Hansen – Northern Lights 17-1
Mari Hinkle – Northern Lights 17-1
*MVP Kennedi Orr – Northern Lights 17-1
AAU All Americans
14 Aspire
Hannah Reichenapeeger – MN North 14-1
14 Club
Haley Graetz – Kokoro 14-1
Danielle Lien – Kokoro 14-1
15 Club
Jadyn Garrison of Kokoro 15-1Keely Kurschner – Kokoro 15-1
Jadyn Garrison – Kokoro 15-1
15 Open
Maddy Hornyak – Northern Lights 15-1
Kira Fallert – Northern Lights 15-1
16 Classic
Madison Klimek – Kokoro 16-2
Makenna Hollman – Kokoro 16-2
Kaitlyn Zignefo – Kokoro 16-2
16 Aspire
Mimi Meadows – MN Select 16 Black
Madeline Fratzke – Northern Lights 16-Red
Mikayla Coops – Northern Lights 16-Red
16 Club
Mia Schnaible SWMNVB 16-1
Logan Sherman SWMNVB 16-1
*MVP Alyssa Groves SWMNVB 16-1
16 Premier
Lauren Link – Northern Lights 16-2
McKenna Vacek – Northern Lights 16-2
Ally Peterson – Northern Lights 16-2
17 Classic
Erin Siebenaler – Vital 17-1 Gold
Emma Martinson – Vital 17-1 Gold – 17 Classic
17 Aspire
Linnea Larson – Northern Lights 17-Red – 17 Aspire
17 Premier
Brenna Hesse – Northern Lights 17-2
18 Club
Alexis Ferrell – SWMNVB 18-1
Sydney Schwitters – SWMNVB 18-1
*MVP Madison Guetter – SWMNVB 18-1 MVP