Club Close up: Minnesota North

<p>If you have been at any big tournaments this club season, you know the Minnesota North teams have been traveling everywhere to showcase skilled players from the northern part of our state.  This fairly new club, started 10 years ago with one team of ten players; now, they proudly boast of their 20 teams, 40 coaches, and 250 players.</p> <p><em>Philosophy:  </em></p> <p>"The goal of the Minnesota North Volleyball program is to promote the growth of youth volleyball in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin by providing instruction and opportunities to play in organized youth leagues."</p> <p><em>Schedule:</em> </p> <p>They are making big changes within their club, having just purchased a large facility to practice at play at Duluth Indoor Sports Center (DISC).  This facility will be the home of both National and Club level teams.  They describe the “national” teams to be for players who hope to continue playing in college.  Their <em>18-1’</em>s team will be playing in the AAU Grand Prix in South Dakota on April 15^th and finished 2^nd at Molten Series 2.  They just qualified for USAV in Annaheim California.  The <em>17-1 Navy</em> finished 7^th in Big City Luau.  And they are building a strong future for the club with all their young teams: <em>13-1</em>’s won their Snownami Tournament they host.</p> <p><em>College Pathway:  </em>They have several players who will continue their volleyball career in college.</p> <p><strong>Lexi Ahrens</strong>-University of North Dakota</p> <p><strong>Meredith Sutton</strong>, <strong>Aleksie Rengel</strong> and <strong>Hope Schjenken</strong>– U of M-Duluth </p> <p><strong>Megan Walsh</strong>– University of Texas-Arlington </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Watch list:</em> there are still many great players for colleges who are searching for well-rounded athletes.</p> <p><strong>Hannah Hughes</strong>: 5’3” DS from Superior, WI; grad. yr 2019</p> <p><strong>Caitlin Schneeweis</strong>: 6’ OH from Duluth-Denfeld; grad. yr 2019</p> <p><strong>Lauren Skar</strong>: 5’9’’′ RS from Duluth East; grad. yr 2019</p> <p><em>Features:</em>  Despite the large size of this club, it is easy to see they are a close, supportive group.  The club provides many players with assistance for player’s fees through scholarship money.  They have the Megan Ann Adams Bailey (MAAB) scholarship awarded to one player each year.  That player’s fees are paid in full, in the memory of past player, Megan, who passed away in 2013.  It is great to see communities come together through volleyball the way MN North has united players on the range!</p> <p>Links to support the:</p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/minnesotanorthsports">DISC</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.minnesotanorth.org/page/show/2913601-information-regarding-mn-north-scholarships">MAAB scholarship</a></p>