Schnichels leads the way for Cards

Willmar freshman Gretchen Volk (14) goes up for the attack during a Central Lakes Conference match against Rocori on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Willmar High School.

Willmar senior outside hitter is a U of M recruit forwhat could be a special team

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — Led by second-year head coach Leah (Ruter) Brogdon, the Willmar Cardinals lost some key players due to graduation but will return one of the top high school volleyball players in the nation in senior Sydney Schnichels.

A 6-foot-4 outside hitter, Schnichels tallied a Willmar school record 386 kills last season, adding 276 digs, 39 total blocks and 33 service aces. She has verbally committed to the University of Minnesota.

“Sydney is reliable,” Brogdon said. “I think the girls feed off of her confidence. She just makes everyone around her better and more confident in themselves.” The Cardinals will be without four key players — Mackenzie Knofczynski, Lydia Larson, Marissa Rosen and Isabella Mulder — that helped them tie for the Central Lake Conference title with a 10-1 record and fuel them to a 22-8 overall record in ‘21.

Willmar junior Sydney Schnichels tries to get the ball between a pair of Marshall blockers during a non-conference game on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2021 at Marshall High School.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Knofczynski led Willmar in total blocks (66) and service aces (48), and ranked third in kills (229) in ‘21. Larson was the team’s setter, accounting for 94% of the Cardinals’ assists. Rosen ranked second in kills (251) and third in digs (183). Mulder ranked third in blocks (34) and fourth in kills (128).

Alongside Schnichels, two other Cardinals starters that return to the lineup in ‘22: defensive specialists Allie Rosendahl and Hannah Stark. The duo combined for 397 digs and 79 service aces in ‘21.

With the exit of Larson, sophomore outside hitter/ setter Gretchen Volk and eighth-grader Ellery DeBoer will be tasked with filling her void this season. Volk had 88 digs, 20 service aces, 12 kills and five assists in ‘21.

“We’re really excited for this season,” Brogdon said. “We lost a few key players from last year, but have some great athletes coming up that will fill in those spots.”

Willmar junior Dena Mathison lobs the ball up near the net during a non-conference match against New London-Spicer Tuesday at New London.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune