Minnesota Colleges Picking Up Big Time Recruits

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota, the new California?  California was always known as the mecca of volleyball.  Until the mid 90s, no one in college volleyball West of the Rocky Mountains had won a national championship until Nebraska in 1995.  With the rise of club volleyball in the midwest, Minnesota has seen success not only for the University of Minnesota, but at the NCAA Division 2 and NCAA Division 3 level.  The Northern Sun is one of the best Division 2 conferences in the county as is the MIAC for NCAA Division 3. Are the gophers one of the best in the country? Absolutely, but it is the level of college volleyball in Minnesota at all levels that really provides a deep pool of talent, consisting of mostly local athletes. Here are some of the recruits that are heading to Minnesota Division 2 and Division 3 schools, as well athletes from Minnesota clubs that have athletes going to other out of state schools to make an impact. </span></p> <p><strong>Kandi Elite</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 17s was second at the USA Northern Lights Qualifier, but the Class of 2018 is sending some athletes to some top notch programs.  For NCAA Division 1 schools, <strong>Abbey Peterson</strong> is heading to South Dakota while plenty of her counterparts are playing for NCAA Division 3 schools.  <strong>Karly Fehr</strong>, a setter out of Morris is heading to Northwestern in St. Paul which has been one of the top ten programs in NCAA Division 3 the past couple of years.  <strong>Abby Volk</strong> of Willmar will be heading to <strong>Eau Claire</strong> and <strong>Liz Lansink</strong> will be heading to UW-La Crosse. <strong>Kamryn D’Heilly</strong> will be heading to NCAA Division 2 Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. </span></p> <p><strong>Northern Lights</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s no secret than Northern Lights produces some of the top club teams and players in the country with plenty going to Division 1 schools from coast to coast.  However, there are plenty that will be going to quality programs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. <strong>Kennedy Brady f</strong>rom the 18-1’s team will be going to Concordia-St. Paul, who owns a full trophy case of national titles.  <strong>Mary Campbell</strong> and <strong>Isabella Erne</strong> will be joining her in the Northern Sun going to Bemidji State and St. Cloud State. Bemidji State has a couple others from Lights with <strong>Madeline Mackinac</strong> and <strong>Haley Stolt</strong>. There will also be a strong crew going the NCAA Division 3 route with <strong>Brynne Gray</strong> going to St. Olaf, <strong>Ashley Perrin</strong> to St. Thomas, and <strong>Julia Weiler</strong> to St. Kate’s. </span></p> <p><strong>MN Select</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minnesota Select 18-1 has a full crew going to some power five conference programs, but the 2 and 2’s team has athletes going the Northern Sun/Division 2 route as well as Division 3.  <strong>Kaleigh Beehler</strong> is heading to Winona State, <strong>Bryanna Goar</strong> to Northern State, <strong>Hannah McCann</strong> to Winona State, <strong>Jessica Nelson</strong> to Minnesota State - Mankato, and <strong>Leyla Zaker</strong> to Sioux Falls. <strong>Bryanna Leverentz</strong> will be heading to St. Kate’s, <strong>Emily Higley</strong> to Hamline, <strong>Paige Hinze</strong> to Minnesota-Morris, and <strong>Ann Loncorish</strong> to St. Kate’s as well.  </span></p>