Club Preview: Southwest MN Volleyball

The Southwest MN Volleyball club has proven to be one of the most competitive JO programs in the North Country Region outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. With the ability to draw from strong high school programs in their area, SWMNVB has developed into a great environment for player development and competition.

Heading into 2018 with some good experience behind them, SWMNVB will be poised to compete well at the U18 age level. Their U17 squad qualified as a NCR representative to the 2017 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in the 17 American division finishing in 27^th place overall. Returning in 2018 is senior setter Sydney Schwitters (MACCRAY HS). Schwitters was the 2017 Camden League North Division MVP. Other Camden League all-conference selections include Lydia Sussner (Minneota HS) and Ellie Thein (MACCRAY HS). Sussner was also selected to the all-tournament team at the 2017 Minnesota high school state championships in helping her team to a runner-up finish. The roster also includes all-Big South Conference selections in junior Erica Jones (Marshall HS) and seniors Alexis Ferrell (Luverne HS) and Whitney Schwartz (Marshall HS). Rounding out the roster are juniors Meeghen Dahlager (YME HS), Ahlea Wright (Canby HS), Maddy Guetter (Wabasso HS), and Miah Kunkel (Adrian HS).

SWMNVB’s U16 squad is led by a pair of Big South all-conference picks in sophomores Paige Andries and Mia Schnaible, both of Marshall High School. Camden League all-conference honorable mention selection, Madison Hinz (YME HS), will provide direction from the setting position. One of the area’s best underclassmen is outside hitter Natalie Rolbiecki (Minneota HS), another all-tournament selection from the 2017 A state championships. Other key members include sophomores Logan Sherman and Bria Morris of Marshall HS and fellow 2020’s Alyssa Groves (MCC HS), Sophie Johnson (Hendricks HS), Charlotte Wright (Canby HS), and LeeAnn Stensrud (Lakeview HS). The lone freshman on the squad is Kalleigh Carr (RTR HS).

The future for SWMNVB is also represented well in their U15 squad. Karoline Dahl (Dawson-Boyd HS) is set to shine after earning Camden League all-conference honorable mention selection. She is joined by setters McKenzie Dulas (Pipestone HS) and McKenna Yost (Minneota HS) as well as outside hitters Araya Rock (Marshall HS), Alli Steffen (YME HS) and Abby Rost (Minneota HS). Bryn Hoekman (MCC HS) and Karli Arkell (RRC HS) will compete from the middle while libero/DS McKenzie Tolk (Minneota HS) will anchor the defense.