University of Minnesota Athletics
Minatee, Schnichels Sign with Gophers for 2023 Class
11/9/2022 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Both will enroll at Minnesota in January
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota volleyball program has announced two signees to its 2023 recruiting class. The Golden Gophers welcome middle blocker Calissa Minatee (Kansas City, Mo.) and outside/opposite hitter Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) to the program.
"We are extremely excited about this incoming class," said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "They are great students, great volleyball players and they'll be great Gophers."
A 6-foot-1 middle blocker out of Kansas City, Mo. (North Kansas City H.S.), Minatee is a two-time all-conference and a two-time all-district selection who was also selected as an Under Armour All-American. The three-time North Kansas City H.S. Team MVP was a USA Indoor Volleyball National Training Development Team attendee and as a freshman in high school held the highest hitting percentage in the entire state of Missouri.
As of October, Minatee had tallied 208 kills (.422) hitting with 138 digs, 50 blocks and 35 aces during her senior year. That follows up a junior year that saw her tally 248 kills (.347) with 184 digs, 66 blocks and 37 aces. Minatee registered more than 200 kills and 50 blocks in each of her first two high school seasons as well. Minatee ranks as the No. 56 player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She was named an AVCA Second Team All-American after her senior year performance in November of 2022.
"Calissa is an extremely talented, physical and hard-working athlete and her character is beyond compare," McCutcheon said. "We are extremely excited to have her join our program."
Off the court, Minatee has been a National Honor Society Member since April 2021. She's a three-time Academic All-State honoree and a four-time academic letterwinner at North Kansas City High. In April of 2022, she was awarded as her school's 'Student of the Month.'
In club volleyball, Minatee led her team to first place at the 2022 Sunshine 17U Open and second place at the NEQ 17U open.
Why Minnesota: "Minnesota has a family-like environment that really attracted me," said Minatee. "Their holistic development of the student-athletes stood out for me. I can't wait to get to Minnesota in January."
Personal: The daughter of Jacinthia Prater-Minatee and Lester Minatee, Calissa has two sisters, Chandler and Camryn. Chandler currently plays college basketball at the University of Kansas, where she was a 2021-22 First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection. Calissa plans to major in architecture at the University of Minnesota.
Goals: "I want to help my team win both Big Ten and national championships and improve as a player each year, with a focus on a high hitting percentage and a more aggressive serving style. Off the court, I hope to positively impact the university and community, living a balanced athletic and personal life."
A 6-foot-4 outside/opposite hitter from Willmar, Minn. (Willmar Senior H.S.), Sydney Schnichels is a two-time Minnesota All-State selection, a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time first team all-area selection. The 2022 Minnesota Ms. Baden Award winner is Willmar High School's all-time career kills record holder. She also set her schools single-game kills record and holds the freshman, junior and senior records at Willmar for most kills in a season. The two-time CLC Conference Player of the Week was the 2022 Max Preps Minnesota Player of the Week (Sept. 5-11). She's also a 2023 Under Armour Next All-America game invitee. In November 2022, Sydney was named a First Team All-American by the AVCA.
Schnichels ranks as the No. 20 overall player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She comes in as the No. 1 overall recruit in Minnesota and the No. 22 player in the country on PrepDig for the senior class and VBallRecruiter lists her as a five-star recruit. For her career at Willmar, she's tallied 1,324 kills (.288 hitting) with 170 blocks, 697 digs, 106 aces and 38 assists. As a senior, Schnichels registered 490 kills (.318) with 28 blocks, 232 digs, 51 aces and 28 assists.
"Sydney is a great volleyball talent and we are so glad she chose to stay close to home," McCutcheon said. "She knows how to work hard and she makes those around her better. She's a great addition to our program."
On the club circuit, she played for the JVA All-National Team and made the USAV GJNC 17-Open All-Tournament Team. She led her USAV GJNC-Open team to a silver medal in 2022 after leading the 16-Open team to a fifth-place finish in 2021. In 2019, she played for the 14-Open team, helping them accomplish a bronze medal. Schnichels was also a USA Volleyball National Team Development program participant last year.
Off the court, Schnichels earned 2022 AAU Volleyball Academic All-American status. She was also a 2022 AVCA Best and Brightest First Team selection and is a four-year honor student at Willmar High School.
Why Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because it has been my dream to be a Gopher volleyball player since I was a little girl," Schnichels said. "The program has a long tradition of success and excellence. I could not be more excited to play for my home state in front of my family, friends, and all of the wonderful Gopher fans!"
Personal: The daughter of Kelli and Justin Schnichels, Sydney has four younger siblings. She has two brothers, Jackson and Cooper, and two sisters, Brooklyn and Bailey. Her mom played volleyball and her dad played college football at Augustana College. She's undecided on what her major will be at Minnesota.
Goals: "My goals for when I get to Minnesota are to win a Big Ten and a national title in addition to becoming the best player and person I can be. I also want to be named an All-American."
Both Minatee and Schnichels will enroll at Minnesota in January and compete in spring practice.
"We are extremely excited about this incoming class," said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "They are great students, great volleyball players and they'll be great Gophers."
A 6-foot-1 middle blocker out of Kansas City, Mo. (North Kansas City H.S.), Minatee is a two-time all-conference and a two-time all-district selection who was also selected as an Under Armour All-American. The three-time North Kansas City H.S. Team MVP was a USA Indoor Volleyball National Training Development Team attendee and as a freshman in high school held the highest hitting percentage in the entire state of Missouri.
As of October, Minatee had tallied 208 kills (.422) hitting with 138 digs, 50 blocks and 35 aces during her senior year. That follows up a junior year that saw her tally 248 kills (.347) with 184 digs, 66 blocks and 37 aces. Minatee registered more than 200 kills and 50 blocks in each of her first two high school seasons as well. Minatee ranks as the No. 56 player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She was named an AVCA Second Team All-American after her senior year performance in November of 2022.
"Calissa is an extremely talented, physical and hard-working athlete and her character is beyond compare," McCutcheon said. "We are extremely excited to have her join our program."
Off the court, Minatee has been a National Honor Society Member since April 2021. She's a three-time Academic All-State honoree and a four-time academic letterwinner at North Kansas City High. In April of 2022, she was awarded as her school's 'Student of the Month.'
In club volleyball, Minatee led her team to first place at the 2022 Sunshine 17U Open and second place at the NEQ 17U open.
Why Minnesota: "Minnesota has a family-like environment that really attracted me," said Minatee. "Their holistic development of the student-athletes stood out for me. I can't wait to get to Minnesota in January."
Personal: The daughter of Jacinthia Prater-Minatee and Lester Minatee, Calissa has two sisters, Chandler and Camryn. Chandler currently plays college basketball at the University of Kansas, where she was a 2021-22 First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection. Calissa plans to major in architecture at the University of Minnesota.
Goals: "I want to help my team win both Big Ten and national championships and improve as a player each year, with a focus on a high hitting percentage and a more aggressive serving style. Off the court, I hope to positively impact the university and community, living a balanced athletic and personal life."
A 6-foot-4 outside/opposite hitter from Willmar, Minn. (Willmar Senior H.S.), Sydney Schnichels is a two-time Minnesota All-State selection, a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time first team all-area selection. The 2022 Minnesota Ms. Baden Award winner is Willmar High School's all-time career kills record holder. She also set her schools single-game kills record and holds the freshman, junior and senior records at Willmar for most kills in a season. The two-time CLC Conference Player of the Week was the 2022 Max Preps Minnesota Player of the Week (Sept. 5-11). She's also a 2023 Under Armour Next All-America game invitee. In November 2022, Sydney was named a First Team All-American by the AVCA.
Schnichels ranks as the No. 20 overall player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She comes in as the No. 1 overall recruit in Minnesota and the No. 22 player in the country on PrepDig for the senior class and VBallRecruiter lists her as a five-star recruit. For her career at Willmar, she's tallied 1,324 kills (.288 hitting) with 170 blocks, 697 digs, 106 aces and 38 assists. As a senior, Schnichels registered 490 kills (.318) with 28 blocks, 232 digs, 51 aces and 28 assists.
"Sydney is a great volleyball talent and we are so glad she chose to stay close to home," McCutcheon said. "She knows how to work hard and she makes those around her better. She's a great addition to our program."
On the club circuit, she played for the JVA All-National Team and made the USAV GJNC 17-Open All-Tournament Team. She led her USAV GJNC-Open team to a silver medal in 2022 after leading the 16-Open team to a fifth-place finish in 2021. In 2019, she played for the 14-Open team, helping them accomplish a bronze medal. Schnichels was also a USA Volleyball National Team Development program participant last year.
Off the court, Schnichels earned 2022 AAU Volleyball Academic All-American status. She was also a 2022 AVCA Best and Brightest First Team selection and is a four-year honor student at Willmar High School.
Why Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because it has been my dream to be a Gopher volleyball player since I was a little girl," Schnichels said. "The program has a long tradition of success and excellence. I could not be more excited to play for my home state in front of my family, friends, and all of the wonderful Gopher fans!"
Personal: The daughter of Kelli and Justin Schnichels, Sydney has four younger siblings. She has two brothers, Jackson and Cooper, and two sisters, Brooklyn and Bailey. Her mom played volleyball and her dad played college football at Augustana College. She's undecided on what her major will be at Minnesota.
Goals: "My goals for when I get to Minnesota are to win a Big Ten and a national title in addition to becoming the best player and person I can be. I also want to be named an All-American."
Both Minatee and Schnichels will enroll at Minnesota in January and compete in spring practice.
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