Stella Swenson is a freshman setter from Plymouth, Minn. She's a four-time all-state selection, six-time all-conference honoree and a three-time Minnesota state champion with Wayzata H.S. The consensus top-10 recruit in the class of 2024 was named a Third Team All-American by VolleyballMag.com in December.
GS: Growing up in the Swenson family, how soon did you know you wanted to play volleyball? SS: I knew the second I first saw a volleyball match I needed to play. Growing up in a volleyball home is a special thing. My mom talked about it all the time. Right after she gave birth to me and Olivia [twin sister] she went and coached a tournament. There are so many pictures of my and Liv when we were little in volleyball uniforms. It's all we did.
GS: How old were you the first time you played? SS: The first team I was on, I was eight years old. There are pictures of me putzing around with volleyballs when I was around five. Probably younger than that honestly. My mom coaches a high school team and I would go there and take a ball and just pepper to myself off the wall. Me and Olivia would walk over from the elementary school every day to my mom's practices and just play the whole time together.
Olivia (L) and Stella (R) listening to music before a matchGS: Did you and Olivia go and watch your older sister Samantha's (played at Minnesota from 2015-18) games when you were younger? Talk about the support you and your sisters have for each other when it comes to volleyball. SS: We were always in the gym watching Samantha. We'd go to Florida for her AAU tournaments and obviously her games in Minnesota. There's a bunch of pictures of me Liv and a couple other siblings at the games. We'd wear our jerseys and hang out all day, playing Minecraft. It was a lot of fun. I go to [younger sister] Eva's games too. It's not that were forced to, we just want to support each other and go watch each other's games.
GS: When you were younger, did you try any other sports? SS: Nope, not at all. I knew it was only volleyball. I didn't want to waste my time on anything else. I just had no interest in other sports. My school required us to play an instrument in middle school, so I played the flute for two years. But that wasn't by choice.
GS: What's your best volleyball memory at this point of your life? SS: My 14's year, we made a crazy run at AAU's when we finished in the top four nationally. We were the underdogs and just got hot. We were all best friends and were so connected. The dads dressed up and our families provided a ton of support. It was so much fun.
Stella refused to go anywhere without her volleyball growing upGS: When did you start hearing from colleges? SS: I remember I started getting emails and camp invites in seventh and eighth grade. That's when I played at Hopkins [High School], me and Liv were on varsity in seventh grade. That's when it was like 'oh my gosh, the Swenson twins.' I honestly think my first college letter was from Minnesota.
GS: What was going through your mind when you first heard from Minnesota? SS: I was so excited that they were showing some interest. All the girls around me were talking about schools they got letters from. I just wanted to see what was going to happen for me. My mom got me a box that I put every single letter I've ever gotten in. I'm sure I still have it somewhere.
GS: Tell me about your recruitment to Minnesota. What was the process like? SS: It was super easy. I committed like three weeks after I was able to commit. When I learned about the offer, I was just like 'I am taking that.' I ended up going on an official visit after I committed, and it was a blast. I just felt so comfortable with Minnesota. I've known a lot of the girls for such a long time. I played club with Sydney Schnichels and I have relationships with many others.
GS: Did you always know Minnesota was where you wanted to go? Or did you ever have an inkling that you wanted to go and see something else? SS: When I went to camp at Minnesota and I met the girls, I just said 'this is where I want to be.' Just the whole culture. I know everyone here at Minnesota, like there's not one person I couldn't name. I love Minnesota, I love the team. I love the culture of the program – how many people go to the games is huge for me. It was always so exciting to watch when there's thousands of fans at the game. It was what I wanted to do. When the starters would run out and throw the balls into the stands, I was like 'I need to do that.'
Olivia and Stella on their official visit to MinnesotaGS: When you step out onto the court at the Pav for the first time and hear 'Number One, Stella Swenson, Plymouth, Minnesota,' how is that going to make you feel? SS: My heart is going to be so full. Not only pride, but just knowing 'I did this.' This is my life and what I've been looking forward to for so long. I'm just so excited I can't even put it into words. I have to figure out who I'm going to throw the ball to. It'll be a heat of the moment type decision.
GS: In the fall of 2022, former head coach Hugh McCutcheon announced he'd be retiring at the end of the season. What was going through your mind when you heard that? SS: I just hung in there. I knew Minnesota would get somebody great and they exceeded my expectations with Keegan, Kristen, Pedro and Crissy. They're amazing coaches. Shoutout to [former assistants] Eric and Ky, they were great as well. There was never a doubt they would hire someone perfect for Minnesota, and that's Keegan.
GS: Having a twin sister to experience life with, and now college with, is something not everyone gets to do. What's it been like having Olivia by your side the whole way? SS: Being a twin is having a built-in best friend. Whenever we would go to camps, we would always be each other's pepper partner. We did everything together, it's a really special thing. You can't explain it, but you can definitely feel it. There's so much love between the two of us, like obviously we bicker, she took my hair brush and I took her shirt. But at the end of the day, we love and support each other so much. I'm so glad to be doing this with her.
GS: Olivia mentioned how competitive you are towards one another. Where does that drive to compete come from? SS: I have no idea, but I've always been that way. When we were little and play tag, I'd never be it. I have a strong desire to be the best I can be and if that's better than other people or worse than other people, so be it. But I'm going to be the best I can be personally. We would race to the car for shotgun with my mom, and I would always sprint there to beat her.
GS: How has your adjustment to college been since arriving in January? SS: It's gone well so far. The only thing that's rocked me to the core is lifts. I woke up after that first day of workouts and there wasn't a single muscle under my neck that wasn't sore. It was crazy. But the adjustment has been good. The girls have been super supportive. I've had to learn all new footwork and obviously I'm struggling, but that's part of the process. Sydney, Calissa [Minatee] and Zeynep [Palabiyik] always come over and make sure we're not alone and we hang out together. It's nice going through things with Liv too because we're truly in it together.
GS: What growth do you hope to see in yourself between now and when the first match comes in September? SS: I want to get stronger. I put in a lot of time in the weight room and I workout on off days. I need to be as strong as I can be with peak athleticism. I want to be able to get everything down and feel comfortable with what I'm being asked to do. The setting, the defense, the blocking, just everything. I'm going to put in the work to be as good as I can be by that first game.
GS: For someone that hasn't seen you play before, how would you describe yourself as a player? SS: As a setter, I'd consider myself as very assertive and very competitive. I will run down any ball, love to reverse the ball and I love to set my middles. Even in unconventional settings, I love to hit the middles. There's nothing better than launching it to one of the middles and they just crush it into the floor. My quick backset is one of my favorite things to do. I love to dump the ball, but I need to get better at that. Mel [Shaffmaster] is so good at that, I want to be able to do that like her. Intangible wise, I feel like I'm a calming presence. I can feel when someone is struggling but I want to let them know I'm coming to them again, so be ready. If they mess up, it's okay, I got your back. I have a lot of faith in my teammates and I hope they have that in me.
GS: Your older sister Sam led the Gophers to two Final Fours and two Sweet 16's during her time at the 'U'. She is up there in the record books for many assist records and was a four-time All-American. How much do you two talk about volleyball, setting and what it's like being a Golden Gopher? SS: I know I have some big shoes to fill, but I'm ready for it and am super excited. She helps me a ton. At the same time, we're our own setters. She was very creative and smart. She could read a pass off a girls hands and that's something I want to be able to replicate. I've given myself a month to get here and see if I can understand it, but I've texted her about what it was like for her when she first got to college. She's been a huge part of my life, and she Facetimes us all the time. She just tells us to 'take it slow, and there are no little things.' We have to see the big picture and take every drill, every rep seriously.
Stella and her older sister SamanthaGS: Which teams are you most excited to play in college? SS: Wisconsin. Samantha didn't lose to them once in her four years of college (8-0). They're really good, so that will be tough to replicate. But the rivalry between the schools is so fun. But I also want to play Florida, Pitt and Creighton, because I have friends on all those teams.
GS: Is there anything that makes you nervous about starting your college career? SS: That's a good question. I'd say just that people can be very negative. I'm a confident person, I know what I can do and do not let anyone affect me. But people online just say whatever they want and the things that say can be hurtful. Comparisons freak me out too. I'm going to do my best and I'm not anyone but myself.
GS: Who are some of the Gopher volleyball players you grew up watching that you idolized? SS: Sarah Wilhite, Lexi Hart, Hannah and Paige Tapp, Taylor Morgan, Daly Santana, obviously my sister. That group was my first big memory of Gopher volleyball. The way they played, how fluid they played – that's what I want to do. They all seemed like best friends, and they clearly enjoyed being out there together. I idolized all of them. That was such a special group.
GS: Did you go to the 2015 and 2016 Final Fours when Sam played? What was that like being there? SS: It was so fun and is a memory that will always stick with me. Being just a little girl who was a fan of the game, it was amazing to me. We were all the way up in nosebleeds and I was just screaming and showing my Gopher pride.
GS: Individually, what goals do you have for your career? SS: I really want to get Big Ten Setter of the Week. I know Samantha got plenty of those. I just want to earn whatever I can get. I want to go out there and ball out. If awards come of that, so be it. If not, it's not the end of the world.
GS: How about the team goals? SS: We always talk about our commitment not being conditional, being loyal to those not present and effort making us eligible to play. We want to stay true to our values and do whatever we can to get better every day. We want to work through our struggles, stay together no matter what and have a ton of fun.
GS: What do you like to do off the court? SS: I am going to sound nerdy, but I love reading. If you recommend me a book, I will read it immediately. My mom used to always say, if you're looking for Stella, she's either playing volleyball or reading. I also like to sew, I learned to knit. I also like puzzles and really like chess as well. Me and Liv were in chess club from 1st through 6th grade. My dad and I play a lot too, but I've yet to beat him. I got invited to nationals in chess in Chicago when I was in sixth grade.
Stella with her mohawk as a babyRapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Fun Fact: I was born with a Mohawk
Hidden Talent: I'm really good at doing nails
Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Pro Sports Teams: Omaha Supernovas
Favorite Vacation Spot: Greece
TV Shows: Adventure Time, Bridgerton, Outlander
Biggest Inspirations: My mom
