The Howard Lake WW Lakers have advanced to the state volleyball tournament for the first time in school history! The Lakers will take on Albany on Thursday afternoon at 3 PM at the Grand Casino Arena. You can hear this game at AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. Pregame beginning at 2:45 PM. Below is a look at all the teams that have qualified for the state tournament in Class AA, and below the preview is a link to the mshsl and the 2025 Class AA Girls Volleyball bracket. Good luck to the Lakers!
The teams:
#1 Seed: Hawley Nuggets, 29-2, Defeated Wadena Deer Creek, 3-0 in 8AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 3rd, 2024 Champs.
Players to watch: Annaka Johnson, 267 kills, Katie Vetter, 265 kills and 297 digs, and Sella Fleming, 10.3 A/S.
Did you know? In only their second ever state appearance the Nuggets defeated SW Christian, 3-1 last year to win state. Katie Vetter who is back this year, had 16 kills in title game.
Josey Schneck, from Hawley, above, goes for a dig against WDC in Section final.
#2 Seed: Albany Huskies, 27-3, defeated Minnewaska, 3-1 in section finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 6th.
Players to watch: Brynn Panek, 292 kills, Kelsey Lobitz, 262 kills and 297 digs, and Lillie Van Heel, 845 assists.
Did you know? The Huskies enter the state tournament, winners of 17 straight.
Brynn Panek, above, #10 in purple, goes up for a kill.
#3 Seed: Chatfield Gophers, 25-7, defeated Caledonia, 3-1 in 1AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 2nd.
Players to watch: Cora Bicknese, 394 kills, Trindy Barkeim, 365 kills, and Harper Goldsmith, 825 assists.
Did you know? If the Gophers play Albany in the semifinals, they already played this season, with Albany winning a close one, 2-1.
Cora Bicknese, above, has led the Gophers to the state tournament the last two years.
#4 Seed: Southwest Christian Stars, 17-14, defeated Belle Plaine, 3-0 in 2AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 7th. 2013 Champs.
Players to watch: Claire Lemkuil, OH, Avery Bickering, OH and Lauren Paradise, OH.
Did you know? The Stars lost to Hawley in last year’s state championship match and are the only other team besides Hawley with a state title in the AA field.
Southwest Christian, above, celebrates a point at last year’s state tournament.
#5 Seed: New Life Eagles, 26-4, defeated St. Croix Lutheran, 3-0 in 4AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 6th.
Players to watch: Ryleigh Schelhaus, 294 kills, Van Jensen, 807 assists, and Ella Servais, 253 digs.
Did you know? Kara Stenerson who graduated in 2014, who helped build the Eagles program is 4th all time in state history in digs.
Ryleigh Schelhaus, above, led the Eagles in kills this fall.
Random Seed: Esko Eskimos, 24-4, defeated Rush City, 3-2 in 7AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 4th.
Players to watch: Maren Bailey, leader in kills, Maya Johnson, leader in assists, and Clara Swanson.
Did you know? This will be the first state tournament appearance for the Eskimos since 2011.
Esko, above in blue, is headed to state for the first time since 2011.
Random Seed: Howard Lake WW Lakers, 20-8, defeated Watertown-Mayer, 3-1 in 5AA finals.
State Tournament Appearance: 1st.
Players to watch: Isabelle Seuch, 6’2 Jr., MH, Alaina Koch, 5’9 Sr., OH, and Kamryn Stueven, 5’5 Sr., DS.
Did you know? The Lakers were swept 3-0 by Watertown Mayer in the regular season, and dropped the first set at the section final, but roared back to win the final three to advance to state for the first time.
Howard Lake WW, above, is headed to the state tournament for the first time in school history.
Random Seed: New London-Spicer Wildcats, 17-9, defeated Jackson CC, 3-2 in 3AA final.
State Tournament Appearance: 4th.
Players to watch: Katelyn Delzer, 176 kills, Ezri Boelter, 562 assists, and Brooke Barney, 262 digs.
Did you know? After losing five straight in late September, the Wildcats have won seven straight coming into state.
New London Spicer, above, celebrates its section final win over Jackson CC last week.
2025 MSHSL Class AA State Girls Volleyball Bracket:
