Lakeville North Volleyball Star Kellie McNeil Hopes To Shine As Freshman For Golden Gophers

Kellie McNeil, a 5-foot-11 setter from , helped lead the Panthers to their first ever state volleyball title last fall. She graduated early to enroll at Minnesota, where she is expected to make an immediate impact as a freshman for the Golden Gophers, who are ranked No. 12 in the country in the preseason polls.

McNeil was the top volleyball player in the state and ranked as the nation’s top setter and No. 8 player in the country by prepvolleyball.com. She was named the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year, the Ms. Baden- Minnesota Volleyball Player of the Year and Star Tribune Player of the Year. McNeil talked to Lakeville Patch at the Gopher Volleyball media day about her high school career, graduating early and her expectations for her freshman season.

McNeil, an excellent leaper and blocker, helped lead the Panthers to a 31-1 mark last season. Their lone loss was to Wayzata in the Apple Valley Tournament finals. They got revenge on the Trojans, defeating them 3-0 at home and 3-0 in the Class AAA title game. The Panthers were dominant throughout the year, winning 82 of 89 sets and all nine sets in the state tournament. 

McNeil, an excellent student with a 3.9 GPA, plans to major in sports management at Minnesota. She led the Metro area in set assists with 1172 and blocks with 119 as a senior. McNeil has 66 services aces. Her sister, Taylr, committed to Minnesota as a ninth grader. She led the Metro area in kills.

McNeil will play for interim head coach Laura Bush  this season. She replaces long-time head coach Mike Hebert, who retired after leading the Gophers to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Hugh McCutheon, the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volley Coach, will take over for the 2012 season. McCutheon is married to former Lakeville standout Wiz Bachman.  

Lakeville Patch: You graduate early in enrolled at Minnesota in January. Do you think that was a big advantage for you to get accustomed to college and also allow you to get used to the new coaching staff?

Kellie McNeil: I thought that it was a very good decision and I don’t regret leaving high school early at all. Coming here early allowed me to adapt to the new environment, college-wise, with homework, school and class and volleyball-wise in getting to know the team and coaches.

Lakeville Patch: Has the change in the new coaching staff had much of an impact with you?

Kellie McNeil: I think that it pretty much had the same affect for all the players. Just having a few new coaches changes things up a little bit, but having Laura here still is a little bit of stability for everyone.

Lakeville Patch: What was your reaction when you heard that Hugh McCutheon, the U.S. Olympic Coach, will become the Gopher volleyball coach after 2012 London Olympic Games?

Kellie McNeil: I was really excited. It would be really hard to find a good replacement for Mike Hebert. I am glad that they picked Hugh. I think that he is a great choice for the program and will help us succeed.

Lakeville Patch: What are your expectations for playing time and contributing to a team that has a lot of talent, but also lost some good players to graduation and transfers.

Kellie McNeil: Whatever the coaches want me to do. Wherever they put me is, where I am going to play. I’m not sure, it’s all up to them.

Lakeville Patch: How much do you think enrolling early has helped you academically?

Kellie McNeil: Managing volleyball and school is easier for me now than it was in the beginning. I’m better at managing my time with that.

Lakeville Patch: What are your top highlights of your time at Lakeville North?

Kellie McNeil: Definitely, state. My freshman year, we actually made it to state, too and that was a pretty big experience. Also in my senior year, we played Jefferson in the section finals, which was a very memorable game (They won 3-2 to advance to the state tournament). They were a great team. 

Lakeville Patch: You are not playing with your sister, Taylr, this season. Is that something you miss?

Kellie McNeil: We did have a really good connection, on and off the court, so that helped us a lot. I’m OK with her not being by my side right now and she has work to do and I have work to do and I think that once we go our separate ways right now, we can eventually meet up and be on the same team again.

Lakeville Patch: What were the main things you worked on this summer to improve yourself as a player and get as much playing time as possible as a freshman?

Kellie McNeil: I worked a lot on setting and that was mostly footwork. Just the basics, getting down to business.

Lakeville Patch: Your sister, Taylor, committed to Minnesota as a freshman. She will be playing at Eagan this season. Did your family move there?

Kellie McNeil: We’re in the process of moving to Eagan now.
 
Lakeville Patch: Is that going to be weird seeing her in Eagan’s Blue and Green?

Kellie McNeil: It will be weird. ‘Once a Panther, always a Panther.’ I love Lakeville and Taylr does, too. It is hard to switch schools, but sometimes we got to do what we got to do

Lakeville Patch: You played Eagan, who is also in the South Suburban Conference. Does she know some of the players already? Is that going to make it an easier adjustment having played against or maybe with some of those girls?

Kellie McNeil: She played with one of the girls on the team in the offseason at M1 (Minnesota One club team), so she has already kind of bonded with the team through her. They are getting along pretty well so far.

Lakeville Patch: Lakeville North had a couple of other good freshmen last year besides your sister. What do you expect from them?

Kellie McNeil: I think that they are going to be really good still, though. There were only three of us that left. Whether that is going to change what they do there, I’m not sure, but they still have two good freshmen, which are now going to be sophomores and many, many other good players that are well-rounded. They should do good.

Lakeville Patch: Besides you, Lakeville North will have a much different look this season as long-time head coach Milan Mader has retired. You played for him for a long time. How much does he mean to you as a player?

Kellie McNeil: He meant the world to me. I think that he meant everything to all of us and when we got to the state championship game, we really just wanted to do it for him, not just for ourselves. He just loved the sport so much and is just a great guy.

Lakeville Patch: That had to make you feel pretty good because Lakeville North had made the tournament 14 times and finished runner-up five times, but had never won the title before last season.

Kellie McNeil: Yes. Very proud. It felt really good. He starting tearing up after we won and he couldn’t get out of his chair for a second because he couldn’t believe it.