Other Gopher Sports
McNeil, an excellent leaper and blocker, has helped lead the Panthers to a 25-1 mark this 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, which moved them back up to the Class AAA #1 ranking.
McNeil, an excellent student with a 3.9 GPA, plans to major in sports management at Minnesota. She leads the Metro area in set assists with 890 and is second in blocks with 119. McNeil has 54 services aces. Her sister, Taylr, has committed to Minnesota as a ninth grader. She is second in the Metro area with 417 kills and has 57 service aces.
The Panthers’ march to the Class AAA playoffs begin next week. They have made the tournament 14 times under head coach Milan Mader, who is 801-239 in his career. The Panthers have finished runner-up five times, but have never won the title. They will receive a first round bye Wednesday and play Friday.
GH: The season is almost over and you have had a great year. How pleased are you with your team’s play?
KM: I’m very pleased. It has gone very well. We just put our hearts out on the floor and we’ve been able to pull out a 25-1 record. It is going pretty good.
GH: High expectations every year at North as you always have a great program year in and year out. Unfortunately, Lakeville has never won a state title in school history. Is that one of your goals to win that elusive state title?
KM: That is our goal for this year. Just making it to the state tournament is a great accomplishment, but we want to go all the way.
GH: Have you taken your official visit to Minnesota yet?
KM: I haven’t taken my official visit yet, but I’ve been there many, many times. I go to a lot of volleyball games and I am going to go to a football game soon, so that should be fun.
GH: How do you feel that you are going to fit in at Minnesota, which is having another outstanding season?
KM: They are practically family to me already, because I have talked to all of them personally and we are buddies already, so I feel like it is going to mesh pretty good.
GH: What other schools did you consider beside Minnesota?
KM: Nebraska. It was a tough choice. Minnesota was a lot closer to home and I feel like I should be here.
GH: You are ranked as the eighth best player in the country. That has to make you feel pretty proud?
KM: I was surprised that I was ranked that high.
GH: You play for M1 (AAU program) during the summer. Did you play in a lot of national tournaments?
KM: We played in about four big tournaments. We played in Chicago, Wisconsin, the AAUs in Orlando and here in Minnesota.
GH: Your sister, Taylr, who is an ninth grader, has already committed to Minnesota. Is that a nice feeling, knowing that you are going to be playing together in college?
KM: I’m really excited. When she committed, I was like “œOh my gosh, we get to play together for a year.” It will be a lot of fun.
GH: How about playing together in high school?
KM: It is a lot of fun. I love it.
GH: Do you play another other sports?
KM: I used to do track, but it got in the way with volleyball.
GH: What types of things are you going to be working on once the season is over?
KM: I’m actually not doing offseason this coming offseason, because I am going to be graduating early. I’ll be training and lifting weights. The earlier I get there (Minnesota), the more practice I get and the more I am around the team. If they need me, I’ll be there.
The Gophers are hoping that her early arrival can help them continue their outstanding success next fall.