Olson Hitting Her Stride

Minnesota State senior Morgan Olson was earned
All-America honors last year after racking up 468 kills

Minnesota State volleyball senior Morgan Olson has accomplished about as much as any Maverick has in program history. 

She came to MSU as a freshman eager to get started. “It was a different atmosphere than going to different schools,” said Olson. “I was really excited to play with the girls and excited to play for Lori too.” Lori being now-fifth year Maverick head coach Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth.

Olson came to the Mavericks having played at Annandale High School, along with two and half years of experience at the club level. “When she first started, she was pretty raw, pretty green to the game,” said Rittenhouse-Wollmuth. Olson agreed with her coach’s assessment. “I didn’t really know much about the knowledge and much about the game itself” she said. “Coming in I was really open to anything.”

It was that mentality that changed everything for Olson. When Rittenhouse-Wollmuth approached her about a position change before her junior year, she was all for it. Olson played on the outside her first couple of years, but when Olson was moved to the right side, the Mavericks had struck gold. “It became real apparent that she could be an even greater player on the right side,” said Rittenhouse-Wollmuth. She cited not only her vertical, but also the quickness of it along with her arm swing. “She brings the thunder with her arm swing.”

Olson proceeded to register 468 kills, averaging 4.33 a set in her junior season and the accolades rolled in AVCA All-America Third Team, NSIC All-NSIC First Team honors and CCA All-Region Second Team.

Olson attributed her junior year success to higher confidence. “I didn’t let outside factors affect it” she said. “I just played for my teammates, forgot about all outside factors, and just went and tried to make my teammates better while making myself better at the same time.”

This summer, Olson, along with teammate Mara Quam, were selected to take part in the USA D-2 Volleyball Brazil Tour. “I just went in there and played and it was really fun getting to know the girls and playing different teams,” said Olson of the experience. “The coaches there didn’t know me before, the players didn’t know me before so showing them who I was, was really exciting and fun.” Olson said her biggest takeaway from the experience was the importance of playing free.

It was that takeaway that has allowed her to continue her success, including joining MSU’s 1,000-kill club, into her senior season. She admitted that having been an All-American last season was something that brought on a lot of pressure. “Once I start thinking ‘so what I did it last season, prove to them I should get it this season too’ or playing like I didn’t know I got it last season that kind of helped me play free and really focus on encouraging my teammates and cheering for them and doing it for my teammates rather than for myself.” 

Her selfless attitude has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. “She’s a great role model,” said Rittenhouse-Wollmuth. “She’s a great listener. She’s someone that players know they can go to and she’ll give them an honest response, but one that’s supportive. She takes good care of her teammates.” 

Olson has accomplished many things in her career, but what will the biggest thing she’ll be remembered for? “I think never giving up, and always having a positive attitude because obviously there’s going to be hard times but knowing that I always came out with a smile,” said Olson. “She’ll walk out of here as one of the best Mavericks that ever played” said Rittenhouse-Wollmuth. “She will be missed, and her impact will last far longer than just her time here.”

A three-time NSIC All-Academic honoree, Olson carries a 3.67 grade point average and is majoring in math education.  She will graduate in the spring of 2021.

                   contributed by Minnesota State athletic communications intern Jason Backman

That's the Goal

Abbey Levy was named All-WCHA Second Team
as a freshman in 20018-19

Minnesota State goaltender Abigail Levy completed her first career collegiate start with a win and a shutout in last year's season opener, a 2-0 home win over Rensselaer on September 29th, 2018.  

The win was the first of five shutouts for Levy, which tied the school record for most shutouts in a single season at Minnesota State. As well as being named to the All-WCHA Second team and the All-WCHA Rookie Team, Levy also earned Co-Rookie of the year and Most Valuable Player for the Mavericks. To say Levy’s first collegiate year was anything shy of impressive would be an understatement.  

A native of the Big Apple, Levy emigrated to the Land of 10,000 Lakes where the hockey-focused environment at prep power Shattuck-St, Mary's helped to develop her game under the tutelage of goaltending coach Des Christopher, a former Minnesota netminder in his own right. Before beginning her collegiate career at Minnesota State, Levy helped backstop the Sabres to three national championships.

 

Levy, who went 9-18-7 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average in 34 appearances last year, had the second best goals-against average (on Minnesota State's single-season list), tied for second best save percentage, tied for fifth most wins and had the seventh most saves in a single season at Minnesota State.

Following her outstanding debut in 2018-19, the Congers, N.Y., native had the opportunity to travel back home in the summer of 2019 for two weeks in Lake Placid, participating in the 2019 USA Hockey Women's National Festival. This opportunity, which served as a training camp for the U.S.'s top-level players, was utilized to choose both U18 and U22 Select Teams which compete against Canada in the annual U18 and U22 Series. “This was an insane experience that I wish a lot of others could experience as well,” said Levy. “It's something that was a huge step in my athletic career.” 

Levy hopes to continue to move forward from last year's season, building on the work she put in during the summer with the goal of “being a leader for the team and work on being someone who others can look up to even with the upperclassman looking up to me.” 

More importantly, her goals for the team are key for a successful season, which is “coming together better as a family.” Given family plays such an important role in Levy’s life. Whatever the distance may be, her parents work to make it to over 85% of all-season games wherever they are playing. Although being away from family has caused some homesickness to occur over the years; it’s the continuous support she receives from them that drives her motivation on and off the ice. 

Minnesota State head coach John Harrington, who is in his  fifth year in charge of the Mavericks, describes Levy as someone who is “happy go lucky” individual both on and off the ice.  

"She is someone who “doesn’t take things with her, she doesn’t let things build up on her, she learns from things but she doesn’t carry things on," said Harrington. "She’s good with the what’s next approach.” Which are key attributes to have as a player who can than lead with these skills to both mentor and grow the teammates she plays alongside."

Contributed by Schaelly Hildebrandt, Minnesota State Athletic Communications Intern 

Something in the Water

Shane Zylstra holds the Minnesota State record for career
touchdown receptions

Minnesota State senior wide receiver Shane Zylstra has had a decorated career with the Maverick football program. 

Through 44 career games, the Spicer, Minn., native has reeled in 171 catches for 3,154 yards receiving and 42 touchdowns. Those 42 touchdowns are a school record. The previous record for career receiving touchdowns at Minnesota State was 36, held by former Maverick wide receiver Josh Nelsen (1991-94). The record is something Zylstra takes great pride in. 

“It means a lot,” Zylstra said. “Just being able compete at a high level each and every day at such a great institution, it’s just nice to be able to contribute to the team and win games because that’s what I came here to do. To not only contribute but to play at a high level,” he said.  

Named to the All-NSIC First Team and and AFCA Second Team All-American last year, Zylstra totaled 66 catches for 1,261 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior in 2018 in helping lead the Mavericks to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Shane Zylstra (right) with
his older brother Brandon

Zylstra’s football success is obvious. But what isn’t known is that Zylstra was a competitive water skier long before he became an elite college wide receiver. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Zylstra grew up near a private lake called Green Lake in Spicer and attended New London-Spicer High School. One of the family traditions was to water ski.

“Every weekend we were out on that lake water skiing barefoot and just hanging out,” Zylstra said. “My dad and grandpa used to ski a lot, so that’s who got us into that, and it just built off from there,” he said.  

He started water skiing at age five and barefooting at age seven. Water skiing is one thing, but barefooting is a whole different required skillset. It’s similar to traditional water skiing, except you don’t use any water skis at all, just your feet, as you perform jumps and tricks behind a boat. Unlike traditional water skiing, barefooting requires faster boat speeds that reach up to 40 mph, which is required for the athlete to plane on his bare feet. The barefoot events of wake slalom, tricks and jumping are also similar to traditional water skiing. One may wonder, how does this help with being an elite receiver?

“It definitely helps with balance,” Zylstra said. “You constantly have to worry about balance when you’re on the water. There’s a lot of times when you’re basically balancing on one foot, so it’s just a huge part. And then on the mental side you have a constant challenge of improving on new tricks and new styles,” he said.

Zylstra, along with his three brothers Justin Zylstra, Brandon Zylstra, a wide receiver who plays for the Carolina Panthers, and Jaden Zylstra, joined the Little Crow Ski Team of New London, Minn.. He competed for ten years with the ski team, where he had weekly tournaments in the summer all around the Midwest.

“Every Friday, you host a show for public attendance, and then we traveled to different cities around us for public shows for Water Days events and things like that. And then we often traveled the Midwest doing competitions against other teams in the Midwest,” Zylstra said.  

From there, the water ski teams and individuals compete in regional tournaments for a shot to compete at the national level.

“Growing up we were always really successful at regionals, so we always went to nationals and competed at that next level,” he said.

Looking back at is water skiing days, Zylstra isn’t shy about who the best in the family is.

“Best water skier in the family, I have to give it to myself. Brandon’s great and all, but he’s even said it too, in college at least, that I’m a little bit ahead of him. We all have our own unique talents that make us all great, but I have to stick with myself,” he said.  

All four of the Zylstra brothers, Justin, 27, Brandon, 26, Shane, 22, and Jaden, 16, found success in water skiing at the national level. Brandon and Shane ultimately chose football over water skiing, but Jaden plans to pursue water skiing in college.

“Water skiing is probably my younger brother’s favorite sport. He’s working on pursuing it down in the southern states,” Zylstra said. “You can go to college for it, and that’s what he’s thinking about doing,” he said.

Fast-forward to today, Zylstra and the Mavericks are 5-0 and hold a No. 3 overall national ranking in the American Football Coaches Association Coaches Poll. He has one goal in mind for this season, and it’s to win a NCAA Division II national championship.

“It’d be really nice to finish that senior year with a National Championship,” Zylstra said. “It’s one last go-around, and I think we have the talent to do it. It’s just a matter of getting it done at the end of the day,” he said.  

              contributed by Collin Wilmes, Athletic Communications intern

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Hockey Dads

The old saying goes “like father, like son.”

In the case of a quintet of current Minnesota State men’s hockey players this certainly is the case.

Connor Mackey, Dryden McKay, Riese Zmolek, Jaxson Stauber and Ryan Sandelin are unique in the fact that they all have had fathers who played in the National Hockey League.

Connor Mackey, a junior defenseman for the Mavericks, is the son of Dave Mackey. The elder Mackey played in 126 National Hockey League games as a forward with Chicago, Minnesota and St. Louis.

Dave coached Connor from a young age up until he was about 14 years old.

“He has helped me a lot,” said Connor, noting his father’s impact on his game. “We talk through things still today after games and what he saw and his take on the game. He knows so much about the game with how he played at the highest level so it’s great to hear what he has to say.

“What I have learned most from him, is playing the game the right way. Both ends of the ice and just to always work hard, even if you’re not having the best game you can always control how hard you work. Just staying with it.”  Connor said.

Dryden McKay is a sophomore netminder who enjoyed a stellar first year of college hockey and was named 2018-19 CHN National Rookie of the Year last year after logging a 24-7-2 record in 32 starts in 2018-19.  He is the son of former Hartford Whalers goaltender Ross McKay.

Dryden’s father was his goalie coach he had until he was 16 years old and today Ross helps Dryden with the mental side of his game more than the physical. The mental side of the game is a major part when being a goaltender.

“My dad is very humble and quiet about the fact that he played in the NHL. Growing up he was a goalie coach at the junior level so the reason I became a goalie was to hang out with him. I saw playing goalie as a way to spend time with my dad and I think that’s ultimately what drew me to the position. As I got older I began to understand just how good my dad was when he played and that he knew so much about hockey and goaltending.” Said Dryden.

 “He basically shaped me into the goalie I am today. He always had a huge focus on skating and positioning and I believe those two aspects of my game are the biggest reason I am where I am today. Now that I am older I still call him after every game and it’s always nice to talk to someone who understands everything I am going through, both good and bad.”

Riese Zmolek, a junior defenseman whose father Doug was a rugged defenseman with San Jose, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago, had an opportunity to go the rink when his dad was still playing. Doug would take Riese to the ice when he was little and that is how he got introduced to hockey.

“Just being around hockey and seeing it at such a young age impacted me a lot. I think it started growing my love for it right away” Riese said. Riese had his father as a coach every year growing up during youth hockey.When Riese went to high school Doug helped coach his hockey team as well.

“I think he’s had a huge impact on me and my game. For the most part, once I got old enough he let me be and let me try to learn on my own unless I reached out to him for help on something with my game. He has taught me many things and without him helping and teaching me things there’s no way I’d be where I am today. He taught me how to play the game, and what he thought I needed to work on to keep playing past high school.”

Jaxon Stauber is a freshman goaltender for the Mavericks and his father, Robb, had a lengthy professional career that saw him tend nets in the NHL with Los Angeles and Buffalo.  Another freshman, forward Ryan Sandelin, is the son of Scott Sandelin, who saw action in the NHL with Philadelphia, Montreal and the Minnesota North Stars.

Along with Connor Mackey, Dryden McKay and Riese Zmolek, three Maverick veterans, the two newcomers to the squad in Stauber and Sandelin, another adage comes to mind in that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

          - contributed by Morgan Keim-Wolfe, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern.