Rochester, MN-
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) Women's Basketball season has seen some incredible competition throughout the non-conference portion of the 2021-22 season, and now the 13 teams lace up for MCAC action this week. Coaches from around the MCAC took time to share their thoughts on the 2021-22 season.
Minnesota College Athletic Conference Women's Basketball competes at the NJCAA Division III level and is divided into two divisions, North and South.
MCAC Women's Basketball is seeing success from its rookie and second year coaches. Jessica Pelzel is in her first season as the head coach of Anoka-Ramsey Community College after serving as an assistant coach in the program for the previous four seasons, and she has her team off to a 9-1 record. Jodi Holleman (M State), Jason Bonde (Rochester CTC), Matt Callahan (SCTCC), and Brent Thill (Western Tech) all have their teams starting the season successfully.
Carrie Ogdahl (Ridgewater) in her 21st season, Shannon Nelson (Northland) in her 11th season, and Dieter Humbert (Rainy River) in his 28th year, are the veteran coaches in the conference. Ogdahl is seeking her 300th win this season, while Nelson is nearing her 250th and Humbert is appraoching win number 400.
Read on for additional information about the MCAC Women's Basketball teams. Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAABasketball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college basketball news, rankings and season information.
For the MCAC Women's Basketball home page, click here or go to: https://mcacsports.org/sports/wbkb/index
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2021-22 South Division Women's Basketball Preview
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Jessica Pelzel, 1st year as the head coach at ARCC Overall Coaching Record at ARCC: 9-1 Assistant Coaching Staff: Samantha Doucette, Caitlyn McKernon, and Abby Howe 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 9-1 Top returning players: Hailey Babcock, Blaine, MN, Guard Piper Flemming, St. Paul, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Mikayla Kanenwisher, Elk River, MN, Point Guard Demiyah Hill, Coon Rapids, MN, Guard CeCe Bell, St. Paul, MN, Guard Coach Pelzel on her 2021-22 team: "I am excited to take over a program I have been with the past 4 seasons. I look forward to working with our young and talented group this season. We have made some good progress early in the season!"
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Minnesota State Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Jodi Holleman, 2nd year as head coach at M State Overall Coaching Record at M State: 13-11 Assistant Coaching Staff: Kayla Feldhake 2020-21 Record: 5-5 in the MCAC, 7-7 overall, Region XIII Champions Current 2021-22 Record: 6-4 Top returning players: Jayna Gronewold, Rothsay, MN, Guard Lindsey Kurz, Climax, MN, Post Abby Tysdal, Fergus Falls, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Nyssa Vogel, Prinsburg, MN, Guard Alyssa Romberg, Sleepy Eye, MN, Guard Emily Dehler, Pierz, MN, Forward Mackenzie Foss, Battle Lake, MN, Guard Coach Holleman on her 2021-22 team: "We will be looking for a lot of leadership from our three returning players from last season. Jayna Gronewold had an outstanding season averaging 18.4 ppg. Abby Tysdal was our 3-point threat, and Lindsey Kurz dominated in the paint. We will need the newcomers to step up immediately. We are hitting the fundamentals hard and hope to be very competitive in the MCAC."
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Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Rosalie Hayenga, 7th year as head coach at Minnesota West Overall Coaching Record at MN West: 88-72 Assistant Coaching Staff: Avery Van Roekel 2020-21 Record: 3-5 in the MCAC, 3-11 overall Current 2021-22 Record: 4-9 Top returning players: Hunter Garcia, Santa Fe, NM, Guard Top incoming/new players: Tia Murray, Elkhorn, NE, Forward MacKensie Post, George, IA, Guard Jayden Lessman, Tracy, MN, Forward Madisyn Huisman, Worthington, MN, Guard Coach Hayenga on her 2021-22 team: "With 10 freshmen on this year's roster, there will definitely be a learning curve. How quickly they adjust to the college game will be a big factor on our success this season." 2020-21 Student-Athletes competing at a 4-year college this year: Justine Bernazeau - Penn State Hazelton Natasha Diaz - Penn State Hazelton Jeny Rivera - Penn State Hazelton
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Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Carrie Ogdahl, 21st year as head coach at Ridgewater Overall Coaching Record at Ridgewater: 276-240 Assistant Coaching Staff: Brooke Meyer 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 2-4 Top returning players: None Top incoming/new players: Abby Berskow, Willmar, MN, Guard
Coach Ogdahl on her 2021-22 team: "We will be very competitive once we have a full team." |
Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Andrew Kaiser, 3rd year as head coach at Riverland Overall Coaching Record at Riverland: 14-27 Assistant Coaching Staff: Anna Meyer 2020-21 Record: 2-8 in the MCAC, 5-9 overall Current 2021-22 Record: 6-0 Top returning players: Imani Colon, Milwaukee, WI, Guard Cayli Miles, Grand Canyon, AZ, Guard Top incoming/new players: Camryn McQuery, Waseca, MN, Forward Elyse Hebrink, Austin, MN, Guard Trinity Simpson, Milwaukee, WI, Guard Nora Mecoleta, Hondarribia, Spain, Forward Coach Kaiser on his 2021-22 team: "Good blend of returning and new incoming talent. Trying to continue to build off of positives from last season. Looking forward to being competitive on a game by game basis." 2020-21 Student-Athletes competing at a 4-year college this year: Megan Shanahan - Bethany Lutheran College Noteworthy Information: Anna (Hebrink) Meyer, a former NJCAA All-American (2007-2009) and Blue Devil alumnus joins the coaching staff.
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Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jason Bonde, 2nd year as head coach at RCTC Overall Coaching Record at Rochester: 23-5 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2020-21 Record: 8-0 in the MCAC, 16-1 overall, MCAC Champions Current 2021-22 Record: 7-4 Top returning players: Olivia Christianson, Lyle, MN, Guard Ravyn Miles, St. Paul, MN, Point Guard Kandace Sikkink, Preston, MN, Forward Myia Ruzek, Altura, MN, Guard Lexi Hugeback, Kasson, MN, Forward Top incoming/new players: Danika Jones, Parawon, UT, Forward Elecia Brown, Hayfield, MN, Guard Coach Bonde on his 2021-22 team: "We were fortunate to have a season last year. We will look to build on that success going into this season."
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St. Cloud Technical and Community College
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Head Coach: Matt Callahan, 2nd year as head coach at SCTCC Overall Coaching Record at St. Cloud Tech: 7-1 Assistant Coaching Staff: Abby Notch 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 7-1 Top returning players: Camryn Patten, Dassel-Cokato, MN, Guard Alayna Manning, Monticello, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Jackie Lindsay, Belgrade, MN, Guard Erin Knisley, New London-Spicer, MN, Post Allison Fritz, Norwood Young-America, MN, Guard Sadie Hopman, Pillager, MN, Post Coach Callahan on his 2021-22 team: "We are excited to be back on the floor for this upcoming season and looking forward to setting a standard of play that we and SCTCC will be proud of."
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Western Technical College
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Head Coach: Brent Thill, 2nd year as head coach at WTC Overall Coaching Record at Western Tech: 21-11 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 4-6 Top returning players: Emily Manske, Waupaca, WI, Shooting Guard Top incoming/new players: N/A Coach Thill on his 2021-22 team: "We hope to work towards continual improvement throughout the year. We have a very charismatic group of young ladies which should make this season fun."
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2021-22 North Division Women's Basketball Preview
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Hibbing Community College
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Head Coach: Kasey Palmer, 3rd year as head coach at HCC Overall Coaching Record at Hibbing: 15-12 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 0-2 Top returning players: Athena Dunham, Palisade, MN, Small Forward Top incoming/new players: Sofie Anderson, Chisholm, MN, Guard Madi Owens, Keewatin, MN, Guard Coach Palmer on her 2021-22 team: "With only one returning sophomore, Hibbing will be a young team with little experience and a lot of room for growth throughout the season." Noteworthy Information: Hibbing women's basketball will not begin their season until the spring semester, but when they do, the athletes will have a new gym floor to compete on.
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Itasca Community College
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Head Coach: Amber Olson, 3rd year as head coach at ICC Overall Coaching Record at Itasca: 1-32 Assistant Coaching Staff: Beka Weller 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 0-10 Top returning players: Haley Muarry, Blackduck, MN, Guard Maddi Taylor, Thornton, CO, Forward Top incoming/new players: Mya Roberts, Grand Rapids, MN, Guard Coach Olson on her 2021-22 team: "With hard work and dedication, anything is possible."
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Mesabi Range College
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Head Coach: Brad Matuszak, 4th year as the head coach at MRC Overall Coaching Record at Mesabi Range: 13-35 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 2-7 Top returning players: Christianna Monger, St. Louis, MO, Guard Top incoming/new players: Alani Pettis, Minneapolis, MN, Guard Sakhia Howards-Reynolds, Columbia Heights, MN Coach Matuszak on his 2021-22 team: "Hopefully we can compete with perennial top dogs in our league. With only 8 girls, we will have to stay out of foul trouble and hopefully stay healthy for the whole season."
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Northland Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Shannon Nelson, 11th year as the head coach at NCTC Overall Coaching Record at Northland: 244-63 Assistant Coaching Staff: Beth Tvedt and Alicia Backer 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 7-7 Top returning players: Macy Skyberg, East Grand Forks, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Jackie Lynn Taflin, Clearbrook, MN, Guard Kasey Stegman, Drayton, ND, Forward Nicole Swedberg, Ogema, MN, Center Keylee Dahl, Newfolden, MN, Forward Coach Nelson on her 2021-22 team: "We are looking forward to being back on the court competing again after winter sports at Northland were canceled during 2020-21. We are excited about having some good size and hope to balance that with a deep backcourt. We'd like to be competitive again in the North Division and secure a spot in the Region XIII Tournament." 2020-21 Student-Athletes competing at a 4-year college this year: Carly Mekash - Northern State University Janie Wunderlich - Minot State University Noteworthy Information: During the 2019-20 season, Northland went 13-1 in MCAC action and qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament, where they finished 2nd. The team will look to repeat that journey as they compete on their newly refinished gym floor.
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Rainy River Community College
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Head Coach: Dieter Humbert, 28th year as head coach at RRCC Overall Coaching Record at Rainy River: 366-309 Assistant Coaching Staff: Stuart Nordquist (assistant) and Kristin Sampson (statistician) 2020-21 Record: Did not compete Current 2021-22 Record: 5-7 Top returning players: Arcadya Conway, Houston, TX, Guard Top incoming/new players: Marlandria Hebert, Orange, TX, Forward B'jne Arvie, Orange, TX, Forward Peyton Robb, Trinity, TX, Forward Shamiyah Bradford, Senatobia, MS, Guard Coach Humbert on his 2021-22 team: "We have a high ceiling but how hard we are willing to achieve it remains to be answered." Noteworthy Information: Mel Millerbernd, the longtime Voyageurs' athletic director, is retiring following this year and the team would love to send her out with a successful season.
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.