Pioneers set to open season!
By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
The Northland Community & Technical College volleyball team will open its 2025 slate Friday (Aug. 22) with a trip to Coon Rapids for the MCAC Crossover Tournament.
The Pioneers open the two-day event with a 3 p.m. match-up against Minnesota West Community & Technical College. The Blue Jays ended the Pioneers’ season with a three-set sweep in an NJCAA Region 13A Semifinal match last year.
Other matches scheduled this weekend include a 7 p.m. Friday night match against Western Tech; and matches against Riverland and Ridgewater at 8 a.m. and noon, respectively, on Saturday.
The Pioneers’ home and MCAC Northern Division opener will be Friday, Sept. 5 against Vermilion Community College at 6:30 p.m.
Five sophomores return from the 2024 Northland volleyball team that went 11-12 overall and 8-6 in MCAC Northern Division play. The Pioneers finished fourth in the division, which set-up the first round match-up with MCAC Southern Division champion Minnesota West Blue Jays.
Head Coach Kelly Olson also returns for his second season at the helm of the Northland volleyball program after replacing longtime coaches Abdul Chamma and Courtney Nordby.
Under Olson’s guidance, the Pioneers defeated eventual Northern Division winner Central Lakes for the first time since 2014 and qualified for the postseason for the seventh consecutive season.
“Last year was a good year on the court and a great one off,” Olson said. “Instituting a new system is always difficult because players are used to what they have always operated under. We try to get them to use their knowledge of volleyball and show them that what they already know can be applicable to our system. We try to change very small things in their games to make them more efficient on the court, and get them to try some things in new ways.”
Also back from last year’s team, but in a much different role, is Assistant Coach Riley Gust. “Riley was a second-team MCAC her freshman year, and first-team MCAC her sophomore season,” Olson noted. “She brings consistency to the team now as a coach, and has been great to work with. The players and I are lucky to have her on our team.”
Sophomore returners for the Pioneers include Sierra Westberg, OH, Middle River, Badger-Greenbush Middle River High School; Kaydence Augustine, S, Newfolden, Marshall County Central High School; Tessa Hoglo, MB, Thief River Falls, Marshall County Central High School; Lily Holthusen, MB, Newfolden, Marshall County Central High School; and Rylie Fredrickson, RS, Thief River Falls, Marshall County Central High School.
“All returners have been great this year,” Olson said. “They have taken control of the floor and have welcomed the new players.”
Joining the team this year are freshmen McKenzie Dahl, OH, Greenbush, Greenbush-Middle River High School; Sheynelle Weaver, RS/MB, Naytahwaush, Waubun High School; Abigail Sauer, OH, Bagley, Win-E-Mac High School; and Halle Baldwin, DS, Middle River, Marshall County Central High School.
“We have good competition this year for playing time,” Olson said. “We are still working through rotations with different personnel. We are trying to create as much depth at all positions as possible, so that we can be flexible with our lineups.”
Olson said the strengths of the 2025 team will be building flexibility and communication.
“This is a fun group of players who want to do right by each other,” Olson said. Olson said ball control is the main area where the Pioneers are looking for improvement.
“Every team must learn how to keep pressure on the other side of the net,” Olson said. “Once we realize what we can do, and how that fits into what we want to do, we can identify weaknesses and focus on building those skills.”
The Pioneers are seeking their eighth consecutive postseason appearance in 2025, and they will also look to challenge a few of the conference’s perennial powers. Based on history, Olson expects Alexandria and Central Lakes to be the preseason teams to beat in the North, with Minnesota West, St. Cloud and Century battling for the top spot in the South. The top-four finishers from each division will qualify for the postseason.
