Sydney Schnichels

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Position:
Outside/Opposite
Height:
6-4
High School:
Willmar
Hometown:
Willmar, Minn.
Major:
Undecided

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2024)

FEATURES
Get to Know Sydney Schnichels

2024 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON:
Appeared in eight matches in 2024, recording 0.75 kills, 0.38 blocks and 0.25 digs per set • made her Gophers debut on Sept. 10 vs. St. Thomas • totaled her first three career kills vs. LIU (Sept. 12) • had a block against North Dakota (Sept. 20) • tallied a kill and an assist vs. Chicago St. (Sept. 21) • had one kill vs. NU (Oct. 23).

2023 • FRESHMAN SEASON:
Schnichels redshirted during her first season in 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB:
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 a 2023 Under Armour Next All-America game invitee and 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 • 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.

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.

WHY MINNESOTA:
"I chose Minnesota because it has been my dream to be a Gopher volleyball player since I was a little girl. 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!"