2022 Season History
2022 Teams
US Junior National Championships – June 27 – July 5, 2022
Northern Lights placed 4 of our 8 teams into the Gold Championship Brackets at the US Junior National Championships in Indianapolis, IN and medaled 2 of them. Northern Lights had 4 All Tournament player selections. Northern Lights had more teams finish in the top 10 than any other Minnesota club team! #MNLproud
4 Northern Lights All Tournament Selections
Player Name | Team |
Reese Ptacek | Northern Lights 16-1 |
Gabby Wachholz | Northern Lights 17-1 |
Clara Brown | Northern Lights 17-Black |
Sydney Carlson | Northern Lights 17-Black |
Final Finishes
Team | Final Finish | Division |
17-1 | 5th – Gold Bracket | 17 National |
17-2 | 27th | 17 American |
17-Black | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 17 Liberty |
16-1 | 5th- Gold Bracket | 16 National |
16-2 | 13th | 16 American |
15-1 | 13th | 15 Open |
15-2 | 9th | 15 American |
14-1 | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 14 National |
AAU National Championships Trip (11s – 17s) | June 13 – 27, 2022
Northern Lights placed 14 of our 24 teams into the Gold Championship Brackets at the AAU National Championships and medaled 6 of them. Two teams were in their division finals, and NL teams won 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals. NL had 15 AAU All Tournament selections.
Mizuno Northern Lights 12-1 placed 1st at
the AAU National Championships in the 12 Club Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 15-Red placed 2nd at
the AAU National Championships in the 15 Aspire Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 15-Black placed 3rd at
the AAU National Championships in the 15 Club Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 15-Zinc placed 3rd at
the AAU National Championships in the 15 Classic Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 17-Black placed 3rd at
the AAU National Championships in the 17 Club Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 placed 5th at
the AAU National Championships in the 14 Open Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 17-Red placed 5th at
the AAU National Championships in the 17 Aspire Division
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Mizuno Northern Lights 17-White placed 5th at
the AAU National Championships in the 17 Classic Division
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15 Northern Lights AAU All Tournament & MVP Selections
Player Name | Team |
Brynlee Opland | Northern Lights 12-1 |
Lauren Schellhammer | Northern Lights 12-1 |
Gabrielle Weidemann – MVP | Northern Lights 12-1 |
Sidney Burley | Northern Lights 14-1 |
Teagan Jaynes | Northern Lights 15-Black |
Katie Kelzenberg | Northern Lights 15-Black |
Rowan Carr | Northern Lights 15-Red |
Savannah Meyer |
Northern Lights 15-Red
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Paige Hansen | Northern Lights 15-Red |
Jocelyn Herda | Northern Lights 15-Zinc |
Annie Dahlheimer | Northern Lights 15-Zinc |
Samantha Ball | Northern Lights 17-Black |
Ellenor Crimmins | Northern Lights 17-Black |
Ally Ball | Northern Lights 17-Red |
Kaia Krocak | Northern Lights 17-White |
Final Finishes
Team | Final Finish | Division |
17-1 | 27th | 17 Open |
17-2 | 17th | 17 Premier |
17-Black | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 17 Club |
17-Red | 5th – Gold Bracket | 17 Aspire |
17-White | 5th – Gold Bracket | 17 Classic |
16-1 | 9th – Gold Bracket | 16 Open |
16-2 | 25th | 16 Premier |
16-Black | 27th | 16 Club |
16-Red | 14th | 16 Aspire |
16-White | 9th – Gold Bracket | 16 Spirit |
15-1 | 9th – Gold Bracket | 15 Open |
15-2 | 11th | 15 Premier |
15-Black | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 15 Club |
15-Red | 2nd – Gold Bracket | 15 Aspire |
15-White | 41st | 15 Spirit |
15-Xenon | 9th – Gold Bracket | 15 Classic |
15-Zinc | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 15 Classic |
14-1 | 5th – Gold Bracket | 14 Open |
14-2 | 39th | 14 Club |
14-Black | 51st | 14 Aspire |
13-1 | 9th – Gold Bracket | 13 Premier |
13-2 | 55th | 13 Club |
12-1 | 1st – Gold Bracket | 12 Club |
11-1 | 3rd – Gold Bracket | 11 Club |
Northern Lights 12-1 | 1st Place in 12 Club
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Northern Lights Banquet
The Banquet returned after a two year break! It was the largest banquet to date, rounding out at about 889 people in attendance. It was also the first year of the Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence (which replaces the Maurice Batie Award starting this year).
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Congratulations to our Northern Lights Coach, Elizabeth Larson, on receiving the Marlon Johnson Award of Coach Excellence! We appreciate you & your hard-work!
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Congratulations to our player, Kaija Kunze-Hoeg, on receiving the Marlon Johnson Award of Player Excellence! You are an amazing person, Kaija!
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Prep Dig Gauntlet 2022 | Milwaukee, WI
We had six teams compete in the first ever Prep Dig Gauntlet in Milwaukee, WI over Memorial Day Weekend! Our teams faced some great competition and three of our teams placed third in their divisions.
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Molten Cup 2022
A big congratulations to our teams that competed in the Molten Cup this past weekend. Northern Lights won 7 of the 11 divisions! That is more than any other club; we are so proud!
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MNL May Freebie
Mizuno Northern Lights had 9 teams participate in the MNL May Freebie. It was a fun tournament for our 10-1, 11-1, 11-2, 12-2, 12-Black, 13-Black, 13-Red, 14-Red, 14-white.
Northern Lights 15-Xenon placed 1st
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NL Annual Ice Cream Social
Our Annual Ice Cream Social Night was back for Season 2022! This fun night includes playing Queen of the Court, Zumba, and of course, ice cream! It is a night to dress up in funky outfits and hangout with multiple teams and coaches. Enjoy a few pictures capture from the Annual Ice Cream Social:
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AAU Super Regional
MNL April Freebie
Mizuno Northern Lights had 22 teams participate in the 2022 MNL April Freebie!
Congratulations to our teams on their successful weekend:
Team | Finish | Division |
10-1 | 6th | 12 & Under |
11-1 | 4th | 12 & Under |
11-2 | 7th | 12 & Under |
12-1 | 2nd | 13’s / 14’s Division |
12-2 | 11th | 13’s / 14’s Division |
12-Black | 3rd | 12 & Under |
13-Black | 5th | 13’s / 14’s Division |
13-Red | 7th | 13’s / 14’s Division |
14-1 | 6th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
14-Red | 17th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
14-White | 1st | 13’s / 14’s Division |
15-Black | 5th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
15-Red | 4th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
15-White | 3rd | 15’s / 16’s Division |
15-Xenon | 9th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
15-Zinc | 13th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
16-Black | 2nd | 15’s / 16’s Division |
16-Red | 1st | 15’s / 16’s Division |
16-White | 8th | 15’s / 16’s Division |
17-Black | 1st | 17’s / 18’s Division |
17-Red | <b2nd | 17’s / 18’s Division |
17-White | 3rd | 17’s / 18’s Division |
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Northern Lights 14-White | 1st Place
Northern Lights 16-Red | 1st Place
Northern Lights 17-Black | 1st Place
Northern Lights 12-1 | 2nd Place
Northern Lights 16-Black | 2nd Place
Northern Lights 17-Red | 2nd Place
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Northeast Qualifier 2022
Our 15-1 team and 16-1 team competed in the Northeast Qualifier held in Philadelphia, PA.
The 15-1’s finished 13th in 15 Open
The 16-1’s finished 15th in 16 Open
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18’s USA Girls Junior National Championships 2022
Our 18-1’s traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the USA Girls Junior National Championships. Congratulations to our 18-2 team for going undefeated until the quarter finals and to Emma Slusser on receiving the All-American Award!
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Team | Finish | Division |
18-1 | 21st | 18 Open |
18-2 | 5th | 18 USA |
18-Black | 19th | 18 Liberty |
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MNL Challenge 2022
Final Finishes:







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13-2 | 1st place | 13/14’s Division
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11-1 | 2nd place | 12U Division
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14-White | 2nd place | 13/14’s Division
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15-Xenon | 2nd place | 15/16’s Division
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Show Me Qualifier 2022
Congratulations to our Northern Lights Teams that competed in the Show Me Qualifier at Kansas City, MO (Week 1 and 2)!
In Week One our 15-1, 15-2, 16’s and 17’s competed in the Qualifier. Congratulations to 16-Black and 16-Red on finishing 5th in their divisions. A big congratulations to our 15-1 team on placing 5th and securing a bid to the USA Girls Junior National Championships!
In Week Two, our 14-1 team and 15-Black team competed in the Qualifier.
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Team | Finish | Division |
14-1 | 5th | 14 Open |
15-1 | 5th | 15 Open |
15-2 | 22nd | 15 USA |
15-Black | 9th | 15 Liberty |
16-1 | 25th | 16 Open |
16-2 | 17th | 16 USA |
16-Black | 5th | 16 Liberty |
16-Red | 5th | 16 American |
16-White | 33rd | 16 American |
17-1 | 11th | 17 Open |
17-2 | 19th | 17 USA |
17-Black | 10th | 17 USA |
17-Red | 9th | 17 American |
17-White | 20th | 17 American |
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15-1 | 5th place in 15 Open | Bid secured!
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14-1 | 5th place in 14 Open
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Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier 2022 | Week 2
Northern Lights had 9 teams play in Week 2 of the 2022 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier | 13’s & 14’s Divisions!
Final Finishes:
Team |
Finish |
Division |
13-1 | 1st | 13 USA |
13-2 | 13th | 13 Liberty |
13-Black | 11th | 13 American |
13-Red | 19th | 13 American |
14-1 | 9th | 14 Open |
14-2 | 13th | 14 USA |
14-Black | 11th | 14 Liberty |
14-Red | 33rd | 14 American |
14-White | 49th | 14 American |
Nike Mideast Qualifier 2022
Team |
Finish |
Division |
17-1 | 5th | 17 Open |
18-1 | 15th | 18 Open |
18-2 | 25th | 18 Open |
18-Black | 2nd | 18 Liberty |
13th Annual Mizuno Northern Lights 12’s Cup
Six of our Northern Lights teams competed in the annual 12’s Cup tournament! Congratulations to our 12-1’s for placing 1st in the Open Division! And to our 12-Black team for placing 2nd in the Club Division!
Final Finishes:




12-1 | 1st Place in Open
12-Black | 2nd Place in Club
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Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier 2022 | Week 1
Northern Lights had 26 teams play in Week 1 of the 2022 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier! On Championship Sunday, we had four teams competing in Gold and three of those teams competed in Championship Matches! We are so #MNLproud!
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Team |
Place |
Division |
10-1 | 11th | 11 National |
11-1 | 7th | 11 National |
11-2 | 15th | 11 National |
12-1 | 5th | 12 National |
12-2 | 10th | 12 American |
12-Black | 14th | 12 American |
15-1 | 4th | 15 Open |
15-2 | 5th | 15 USA |
15-Black | 1st | 15 Liberty |
15-Red | 3rd | 15 American |
15-White | 34th | 15 American |
15-Xenon | 18th | 15 American |
15-Zinc | 27th | 15 American |
16-1 | 13th | 16 Open |
16-2 | 24th | 16 USA |
16-Black | 2nd | 16 Liberty |
16-Red | 21st | 16 American |
16-White | 9th | 16 American |
17-1 | 7th | 18 Elite |
17-2 | 7th | 17 Elite |
17-Black | 2nd | 17 Elite |
17-Red | 8th | 17 Elite |
17-White | 14th | 17 Elite |
18-1 | 2nd | 18 Elite |
18-2 | 5th | 18 Elite |
18-Black | 9th | 18 Elite |
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15-Black | 1st Place
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NCR-USAV Regional Qualifier 2022
Congratulations to our teams that competed in the NCR-USAV Regional Qualifier 2022 and earned bids to the USAV Girls Junior National Championship 2022!
National Invitational Tournament (NIT 2022)
Our 15-1, 16-1, 17-1 and 18-1 teams traveled to Kansas City, Missouri for the NIT to compete against the best in the country.
Although our teams did not place in the top three in their divisions, it was a great experience.
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Omaha Presidents’ Day Classic 2022
Northern Lights sent 29 teams to Omaha, Nebraska for the 2022 ASICS Omaha Presidents’ Day tournament. Congratulations to the 4 teams that placed 1st in their division, the 2 teams that placed 2nd in their divisions, and the 6 teams that placed 3rd in their divisions. Thank you to the athletes, coaches, chaperones, and parents for a great weekend! Our teams SHOWED UP!
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Team |
Place |
Division |
18-2 | 3rd | 18 Open |
18-Black | 5th | 18 Club |
17-2 | 6th | 17 Open |
17-Black | 1st | 17 Club |
17-Red | 26th | 17 Club |
17-White | 9th | 17 Club |
16-2 | 3rd | 16 Open |
16-Black | 29th | 16 Club |
16-Red | 3rd | 16 Club |
16-White | 3rd | 16 Select |
15-2 | 3rd | 15 Open |
15-Black | 13th | 15 Club |
15-Red | 2nd | 15 Select |
15-White | 1st | 15 Select |
15-Xenon | 3rd | 15 Select |
15-Zinc | 5th | 15 Select |
14-1 | 1st | 14 Open |
14-2 | 2nd | 14 Club |
14-Black | 27th | 14 Club |
14-Red | 9th | 14 Select |
14-White | 15th | 14 Select |
13-1 | 1st | 13 Open |
13-2 | 19th | 13 Club |
13-Black | 23rd | 13 Club |
13-Red | 14th | 13 Select |
12-1 | 2nd | 12 Open |
12-2 | 2nd | 12 Club |
12-Black | 7th | 12 Select |
11-1 | 14th | 12 Club |
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2022 Northstar Presidents’ Day Challenge
Congratulations to our 10-1 team for placing 1st place in the 12 Classic division and to our 11-2 team for placing 2nd in the 12 Classic division at the NorthStar Presidents’ Day Challenge! #MNLproud
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10-1 Team placed 1st in 12 Classic
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Our 10-1 Team & 11-2 Team celebrating together!
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Big City Luau 2022


14-Red Team placed 2nd in 14 Pinnacle
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14-White Team placed 2nd in 14 Club
2022 January Thaw and 17’s/18’s Mizuno Northern Lights National Qualifier
Congratulations to the 23 Northern Lights teams that participated in our annual January Thaw and the 17’s/18’s Northern Lights National Qualifier in Omaha! All three of our 18’s teams medaled and earned a bid to the USA Girls Junior Nationals in their divisions! Our 17-Black placed 2nd and earned a bid to Nationals, too! In the January Thaw, our 15-1 team placed 2nd in the 15 Club division! #MNLproud
Team |
Place |
Division |
18-1 | 1st | 18 Open |
18-2 | 3rd | 18 USA |
18-Black | 2nd | 18 Liberty |
17-1 | 18th | 17 Open |
17-2 | 9th | 17 USA |
17-Black | 2nd | 17 Liberty |
17-Red | 9th | 17 American |
17-White | 5th | 17 American |
16-1 | 3rd | 16 Club |
16-2 | 8th | 16 Club |
16-Black | 7th | 16 Club |
16-Red | 9th | 16 Club |
16-White | 11th | 16 Club |
15-1 | 2nd | 15 Club |
15-2 | 5th | 15 Club |
15-Black | 5th | 15 Club |
15-Red | 11th | 15 Club |
15-White | 8th | 15 Club |
15-Xenon | 15th | 15 Club |
15-Zinc | 17th | 15 Club |
14-1 | 3rd | 14 Club |
14-2 | 5th | 14 Club |
13-1 | 6th | 14 Club |
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The 15-1 Team placed 2nd in the January Thaw
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The 18-2 team took 3rd in 18 USA and earned a bid to Nationals
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The 18-Black team took 2nd in 18 Liberty and earned a bid to Nationals
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The 18-1 team took 1st in 18 Open and earned a bid to Nationals
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The 17-Black team took 2nd in 18 17 Liberty and earned a bid to Nationals
2022 Kansas City MLK Qualifier
Congratulations 2021 All-State Players
Northern Lights would like to extend our congratulations to all of the High School Players in Minnesota who were selected for the MN Coaches Association All State teams. 17 players from Northern Lights were selected:
Class AAAA:
Britt Carlson | East Ridge
Camryn Greenwald | East Ridge
Julia Hanson | Prior Lake
Sienna Ifill | Eagan
Sydney Jaynes | Northfield
Kendall Kemp | Eagan
Maddie Lipetzky | Shakopee
Teagan Timperley | Northfield
Class AAA:
Maddie Converse | Kasson-Mantorville
Allison Elliott | Stewartville
Gabrielle Gartner | Byron
Class AA:
Samantha Ball | Nova Classical Academy
Jayna Bredenberg | Southwest Christian
Estelle Haugen | Southwest Christian
Ella Kiebel | Maple Lake
Kaija Kunze-Hoeg | Mounds Park Academy
Class A:
Gabby Wachholz | Mayer Lutheran
Congratulations to Julia Hanson, 2021 Ms. Baden Volleyball
Congratulations to Northern Lights player Julia Hanson on being named Ms. Baden Volleyball for 2021!
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Congratulations to Julia Hanson, 2021 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year
Congratulations to Northern Lights player Julia Hanson on being named the Star Tribune 2021 Metro Player of the Year!
Congrats All-Metro Players
Congratulations to our 9 Northern Lights players that made the 2021 Star Tribune All-Metro Volleyball Teams:


