Rochester, Mn-
St. Cloud Technical & Community College outlasted a highly competitive Southern Division field over the course of a roller-coaster 2017 season and their success has earned a trip to the NJCAA Division III National Championships. Upon conclusion of the 2017 MCAC Volleyball regular season and NJCAA Region XIIIA tournament play, the All-Southern Division teams, Coach-of-the-Year and Sportsmanship Team have been named in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference.
Kalli Mathiasen the top vote-getter in the Southern Division, and her SCTCC teammates had a memorable year in 2017. The Cyclones had to navigate a tough Southern Division schedule full of quality teams to earn their championship; so tough, in fact, that Minnesota West and M State Fergus Falls had to engage in a play-in contest to complete the Region bracket after finishing the season tied on record and having each defeated the other 3-2 over the course of the season. Co-Coach of the Year, Marie Johnson, and her Lady Jay squad fell 3-0 in the play-in contest and fellow Co-Coach of the Year Heidi Smith's team beat M State Fergus Falls and Ridgewater to claim the Region XIIIA crown.
On Tuesday, NJCAA National Tournament information including participating teams and ticket information, as well as the MCAC All-State Team, will be available at www.mcacsports.org. The Cyclones will enjoy the shortest commute of any of the participating eight teams at the National Championships, as the event is held in Rochester, Minnesota on November 10-11, hosted by RCTC and the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission. The MCAC All-State team will reflect the combined top vote-getters in both the Northern & Southern Division of Minnesota College Athletic Conference volleyball ranks.
Click on player name for statistical bio
MCAC All-Southern Division First Team
| Kalli Mathiasen | St. Cloud Technical & Community College |
| Kalie Jergens | St. Cloud Technical & Community College |
| Cami Sletta | Ridgewater College |
| Jamie Goblirsch | Ridgewater College |
| Tara Rogers | Rochester Technical & Community College |
| Brooke Wendland | Rochester Technical & Community College |
| Lindsey Dierks | M State Fergus Falls |
| Andrea Hinkeldey | Minnesota West Community & Technical College |
| Chelsea Schroeder | St. Cloud Technical & Community College |
MCAC All-Southern Division Second Team
| Kiana Johnson | Ridgewater College |
| Elly Buck | Riverland Community College |
| Sam Siskow | Riverland Community College |
| Kazlin Thompson | Rochester Community & Technical College |
| Claire Mathiesen | M State Fergus Falls |
| Anastasia Larson | St. Cloud Technical & Community College |
| Jessica Lemke | Ridgewater College |
| Maddeson Hintz | Rochester Community & Technical College |
| Mackenzie Swanson | M State Fergus Falls |
Co-Coaches of-the-Year: Heidi Smith, SCTCC & Marie Johnson, Minnesota West
Sportsmanship Team: Rochester CTC
St. Cloud Technical & Community College (23-6 Overall / 11-3 MCAC) worked their through the regular season Southern Division schedule, earning an 11-3 record in a Division that featured as many as four Nationally ranked teams during the fall. In 2016, Ridgewater finished as the runner-up in the National Tournament as the Region XIIIA representative.
The Cyclones will be joined at the National Tournament by Central Lakes College, who claimed the 2017 Northern Division regular season title and won the the Region XIIIB tournament in front of their home fans over the weekend in Brainerd.
Photo courtesy of St. Cloud Technical & Community College
For full MCAC Volleyball Stats, Standings and more, visit: http://www.mcacsports.org/sports/wvball/index
To Follow Minnesota College Athletic Conference sports in 2017, please go to: www.mcacsports.org
Up-to-date information at Twitter & Facebook. Join our Social Media Feeds Today!
This release sponsored in part by Gopher Sport.
Gopher Sport, based in Owatonna, is an industry leader in Physical Education, sports and fitness equipment. Gopher Sport is dedicated to providing programs and departments with the products to improve fitness, develop skills, create fun and reach a high standard of learning and living. Gopher Sport has diligently served teachers, coaches and athletic directors around the world for over 65 years.
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.