2023 Season History
2023 Teams
US Junior National Championships | June 28 – July 6, 2023 | Chicago, Illinois | Girls 14’s – 17’s
Northern Lights placed 3 of our 9 teams into the Gold Championship Brackets at the US Junior National Championships in Chicago, Illinois and medaled 1 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 |
Maddy Dombeck | Northern Lights 17-1 |
Reese Ptacek | Northern Lights 17-1 |
Mesiaya Bettis | Northern Lights 16-1 |
Ava Ball | Northern Lights 16-1 |
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Final Finishes
Team | Final Finish | Division |
17-1 | 3rd | 17 National |
17-2 | 29th | 17 USA |
16-1 | 5th | 16 Open |
16-2 | 13th | 16 Liberty |
16-Red | 19th | 16 American |
15-1 | 19th | 15 National |
15-2 | 35th | 15 American |
14-1 | 5th | 14 National |
14-2 | 23rd | 14 Liberty |
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Northern Lights 17-1 | 3rd Place
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US Junior National Championships | June 17 – June 17, 2023 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Girls 11’s – 13’s
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Team | Final Finish | Division |
13-1 | 19th | 13 National |
13-2 | 55th | 13 American |
13-Black | 9th | 13 Patriot |
12-1 | 35th | 12 National |
12-2 | 35th | 12 American |
11-1 | 27th | 11 National |
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AAU National Championships Trip (11s – 17s) | June 12 – 30, 2023
Northern Lights placed 14 of our 23 teams into the Gold Championship Brackets at the AAU National Championships and medaled 4 of them. Three teams were in their division finals and all three won their championship match! NL had 13 AAU All Tournament selections. It was an amazing run at AAU Nationals for Northern Lights!
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15 Northern Lights AAU All Tournament & MVP Selections
Player Name | Team |
Brynlee Opland | Northern Lights 13-1 |
Gabrielle Weidemann – MVP | Northern Lights 13-1 |
Ella Zieske | Northern Lights 13-1 |
Kaelyn Bjorklund | Northern Lights 14-1 |
Clara Christ | Northern Lights 14-1 |
Ellie Utecht – MVP | Northern Lights 14-1 |
Clara Keaveny | Northern Lights 15-2 |
Izzy Keaveny |
Northern Lights 15-2
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Anna Johannson | Northern Lights 16-Red |
Avery Klein | Northern Lights 17-2 |
Lola Beck | Northern Lights 17-Red |
Cassie Gospodarek – MVP | Northern Lights 17-Red |
Molly Klembarsky | Northern Lights 17-Red |
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Final Finishes
Team | Final Finish | Division |
17-1 | 9th | 17 Open |
17-2 | 5th | 17 Premier |
17-Black | 71st | 17 Club |
17-Red | 1st | 17 Aspire |
16-1 | 9th | 16 Open |
16-2 | 9th | 16 Premier |
16-Black | 19th | 16 Club |
16-Red | 5th | 16 Aspire |
16-White | 9th | 16 Spirit |
16-Xenon | 9th | 16 Classic |
15-1 | 27th | 15 Open |
15-2 | 3rd | 15 Club |
15-Black | 27th | 15 Aspire |
15-Red | 75th | 15 Aspire |
15-White | 126th | 15 Spirit |
15-Xenon | 45th | 15 Classic |
14-1 | 1st | 14 Open |
14-2 | 9th | 14 Club |
14-Black | 19th | 14 Aspire |
13-1 | 1st | 13 Premier |
13-2 | 50th | 13 Club |
12-1 | 5th | 12 Premier |
11-1 | 9th | 11 Club |
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Northern Lights 13-1 | 1st Place
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Northern Lights 14-1 | 1st Place
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Northern Lights 17-Red | 1st Place
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Northern Lights 15-2 | 3rd Place
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Northern Lights Banquet
The Banquet was an amazing event with close to 900 people in attendance. It was the second year of the Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence (which replaces the Maurice Batie Award from previous years).
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Congratulations to our Northern Lights Coach, Lisa Slinde, on receiving the Marlon Johnson Award of Coach Excellence! You are so deserving and we appreciate you!
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Congratulations to our player, Teagan Timperley, on receiving the Marlon Johnson Award of Player Excellence! You are such a great person on and off the court, Teagan!
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Prep Dig Gauntlet 2023 | Milwaukee, WI
We had seven teams compete in the Prep Dig Gauntlet in Milwaukee, WI over Memorial Day Weekend! Our teams faced some great competition and four of our teams placed in their divisions.
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Molten Cup 2023
A big congratulations to our teams that competed in the Molten Cup; Northern Lights had 8 teams medal!
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AAU Super Regional








NL Annual Ice Cream Social 2023
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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May Freebie 2023
Our Northern Lights May Freebie was a full and successful tournament! We had 12 Northern Lights teams medal!
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18’s USA Girls Junior National Championships 2023
Our 18-1’s traveled to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the USA Girls Junior National Championships. They were they highest finish from Minnesota placing 19th overall in 18 Open!
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Team | Finish | Division |
18-1 | 19th | 18 Open |
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MNL April Freebie (Elite Scrimmage)
The Northern Lights April Freebie was an invite-only elite scrimmage this year! It was a fun and successful weekend for our 12 teams that participated.
Congratulations to our teams on their successful weekend:
Team | Finish | Division |
13-1 | 4th | 14’s Division |
14-1 | 1st | 14’s Division |
14-2 | 5th | 14’s Division |
15-1 | 1st | 15’s Division |
15-2 | 6th | 15’s Division |
16-1 | 2nd | 16’s Division |
16-2 | 1st | 16’s Division |
17-1 | 1st | 17’s Division |
17-2 | 2nd | 17’s Division |
18-2 | 1st | 18’s Division |
18-Black | 2nd | 18’s Division |
18-Red | 3rd | 18’s Division |
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Northern Lights 14-1 | 1st Place
Northern Lights 15-1 | 1st Place
Northern Lights 16-2 | 1st Place
Northern Lights 17-1 | 2nd Place
Northern Lights 18-2, 18-Black, 18-Red
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14th 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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LoneStar Qualifier 2023 | Dallas, TX
Our 15-1, 15-2, 16-1, 16-2, 17-1 and 17-2 teams attended the LoneStar Qualifier in Dallas, TX. All teams faced great competition; only our 16-1 team competed in gold on Championship Sunday and placed in the top 10!
Final Finishes:
15-1 finished 21st
15-2 finished 49th
16-1 finished 7th
16-2 finished 23rd
17-1 finished 15th
17-2 finished 19th
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18’s Italy Trip 2023
Our 18’s finally returned to Italy for competition and adventure! All four teams started in Rome, competing in a scrimmage against local teams, but then ventured off to their own tournaments in the following cities…
Show Me Qualifier 2023 | Week 1 & 2
Congratulations to our Northern Lights Teams that competed in the Show Me Qualifier at Kansas City, MO!
In Week One our 15-1, 15-2, 16’s and 17’s competed in the Qualifier. Our 15-2, 16-1, 16-2, 16-Red, 16-White, and 17-2 teams competed in GOLD on Championship Day!
In Week Two, our 14-1 team and 15-Black team competed in the Qualifier.
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Final Finishes:


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Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier 2023 | Week 2
Northern Lights had 20 teams play in Week 2 of the 2023 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier!
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Final Finishes:
Team |
Finish |
Division |
15-1 | 20th | 15 Open |
15-2 | 15th | 15 USA |
15-Black | 15th | 15 Liberty |
15-Red | 51st | 15 American |
15-White | 47th | 15 American |
15-Xenon | 65th | 15 American |
16-1 | 5th | 16 Open |
16-2 | 1st | 16 Liberty |
16-Black | 5th | 16 Liberty |
16-Red | 1st | 16 American |
16-White | 9th | 16 American |
16-Xenon | 23rd | 16 American |
17-1 | 13th | 18 Elite |
17-2 | 1st | 17 Elite |
17-Black | 3rd | 17 Elite |
17-Red | 2nd | 17 Elite |
18-1 | 2nd | 18 Elite |
18-2 | 9th | 18 Elite |
18-Black | 15th | 18 Elite |
18-Red | 18th | 18 Elite |
16-Red | 1st Place in 16 American
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17-2 | 1st Place in 17 Elite
MNL Challenge 2023







Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier 2023 | Week 1
Northern Lights had 15 teams play in Week 1 of the 2023 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier! Our 11-1 team placed 3rd in 11 National and our 14-2 team won the championship in gold in 14 Liberty! We are so #MNLproud!
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Team |
Place |
Division |
10-1 | 17th | 11 National |
11-1 | 3rd | 11 National |
11-2 | 17th | 11 National |
12-1 | 9th | 12 National |
12-2 | 10th | 12 American |
12-Black | 25th | 12 American |
13-1 | 6th | 13 Open |
13-2 | 21st | 13 USA |
13-Black | 13th | 13 Liberty |
13-Red | 25th | 13 American |
14-1 | 17th | 14 Open |
14-2 | 1st | 14 Liberty |
14-Black | 9th | 14 Liberty |
14-Red | 68th | 14 American |
14-White | 46th | 14 American |
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14-2 | 1st Place
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11-1 | 3rd Place
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NCR-USAV Regional Qualifier 2023
Congratulations to our teams that competed in the NCR-USAV Regional Qualifier 2023 and earned bids to the USAV Girls Junior National Championship 2023 in Minneapolis, MN and Chicago, IL!
National Invitational Tournament (NIT 2023)
Our 14-1, 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 ten in their divisions, it was a great experience. It was the first year our 14-1 team has attended the NIT and they placed 19th!
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Omaha Presidents’ Day Classic 2023
Northern Lights sent 28 teams to Omaha, Nebraska for the 2023 ASICS Omaha Presidents’ Day tournament. Congratulations to the 5 teams that placed 1st in their division and the 6 teams that placed 3rd in their divisions. Thank you to the athletes, coaches, chaperones, and parents for a great weekend! It was a very successful weekend!
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Team |
Place |
Division |
18-2 | 6th | 18 Open |
18-Black | 1st | 18 Club |
18-Red | 21st | 18 Club |
17-2 | 1st | 17 Open |
17-Black | 9th | 17 Club |
17-Red | 3rd | 17 Club |
16-2 | 1st | 16 Open |
16-Black | 3rd | 16 Club |
16-Red | 5th | 16 Club |
16-White | 3rd | 16 Select |
16-Xenon | 5th | 16 Select |
15-2 | 5th | 15 Open |
15-Black | 5th | 15 Club |
15-Red | 29th | 15 Club |
15-White | 9th | 15 Select |
15-Xenon | 12th | 15 Select |
14-2 | 5th | 14 Open |
14-Black | 9th | 14 Club |
14-Red | 51st | 14 Club |
14-White | 3rd | 14 Select |
13-1 | 1st | 13 Open |
13-2 | 15th | 13 Club |
13-Black | 5th | 13 Select |
13-Red | 7th | 13 Select |
12-1 | 1st | 12 Open |
12-2 | 1st | 12 Club |
12-Black | 3rd | 12 Select |
11-1 | 3rd | 12 Select |
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2023 Northstar Presidents’ Day Challenge
Congratulations to our 12-1 team for placing 1st place in the 12 Premier division at the NorthStar Presidents’ Day Challenge! #MNLproud
Our 10-1 team placed 12th in 12 Aspire and our 11-2 team placed 10th in 12 Pinnacle.
Big City Luau 2023
Team |
Place |
Division |
10-1 | 7th | 12 Classic |
11-1 | 8th | 12 Premier |
11-2 | 15th | 12 Club |
12-1 | 1st | 12 Premier |
12-2 | 5th | 12 Premier |
12-Black | 2nd | 12 Club |
2023 January Thaw and 17’s/18’s Mizuno Northern Lights National Qualifier
Congratulations to the 29 Northern Lights teams that participated in our annual January Thaw and the 17’s/18’s Northern Lights National Qualifier in Minneapolis! Our 18-1 team placed 3rd in 18 Open and earned a bid to the USA Girls Junior Nationals! Our 17-Red placed 2nd in 17 American and six of our teams medaled in the January Thaw. #MNLproud
Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier
Team |
Place |
Division |
18-1 | 3rd | 18 Open |
18-2 | 11th | 18 USA |
18-Black | 11th | 18 Liberty |
18-Red | 14th | 18 American |
17-1 | 9th | 17 Open |
17-2 | 4th | 17 USA |
17-Black | 15th | 17 Liberty |
17-Red | 2nd | 17 American |
January Thaw
Team |
Place |
Division |
16-1 | 1st | 16 Club |
16-2 | 5th | 16 Club |
16-Black | 3rd | 16 Club |
16-Red | 5th | 16 Club |
16-White | 14th | 16 Club |
16-Xenon | 17th | 16 Club |
15-1 | 2nd | 15 Club |
15-2 | 7th | 15 Club |
15-Black | 9th | 15 Club |
15-Red | 13th | 15 Club |
15-White | 15th | 15 Club |
15-Xenon | 19th | 15 Club |
14-1 | 1st | 14 Club |
14-2 | 3rd | 14 Club |
14-Black | 17th | 14 Club |
14-Red | 22nd | 14 Club |
14-White | 9th | 14 Club |
13-1 | 3rd | 14 Club |
13-2 | 13th | 14 Club |
13-Black | 21st | 14 Club |
13-Red | 19th | 14 Club |
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The 18-1 Team placed 3rd | MNLQ
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The 17-Red Team placed 2nd | MNLQ
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NL Amsterdam / Innsbruck Trip 2023
From December 25 – January 6 2023 our Northern Lights 16-1 and 16-2 teams competed in Amsterdam. Pictures are posted on the Northern Lights Facebook page and videos can be found on the Northern Lights YouTube site!
- Day 1 – USA to Amsterdam & Apeldoorn
- Day 2 – Apeldoorn & First Day of Competition
- Day 3 – Apeldoorn & Party Time
- Day 4 – Apeldoorn & Final Competition
- Day 5 – Travel Day to Amsterdam
- Day 6 & 7 – New Years in Innsbruck
- Day 8 & 9 – Competition Day in Innsbruck
- Day 10 – Innsbruck
- Day 11 – Final Day in Europe
Congratulations 2022 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. The MNVBCA sponsors All-State teams for the top players in each class (1st team and honorable mention). 20 players from Northern Lights were selected:
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Congrats All-Metro Players
Congratulations to our Northern Lights players that made the 2022 Star Tribune All-Metro Volleyball Teams:


