Stella Swenson

Photo by: Claudia Staut

Photo by: Claudia Staut

Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Position:
Setter
Height:
6-1
High School:
Wayzata
Hometown:
Minnetonka, Minn.
Major:
Undecided

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2025)
All-Big Ten Second Team (2025)
AVCA All-Northwest Region (2025)
AVCA Player of the Year Watch List (Oct. 2, 2025)
Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025)
Big Ten Setter of the Week (Sept. 1, 2025)
CSC Academic All-District (2025)
Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team (2025)
Golden Gopher Invitational All-Tournament Team (2025)

FEATURE STORIES
Get to Know Stella
BTN at the Net Feature

2025 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON:
All-Big Ten Second Team • AVCA All-Northwest Region • Big Ten All-Freshman Team • AVCA Player of the Year Watch List • Golden Gopher Invitational All-Tournament Team • CSC Academic All-District • started all 34 matches and averaged 9.77 assists, 2.14 digs, 0.62 blocks, 0.59 kills and 0.30 aces per set • 39 assists, four digs, five blocks vs. A&M (Aug. 25) • had her first double-double with 48 assists and 14 digs vs. Cal Poly (Aug. 29) • 37 assists, 11 digs vs. UST (Aug. 31) • 30 assists at Vandy (Sept. 5) • 27 assists and seven digs at Lipscomb (Sept. 6) • 36 assists, eight digs and five kills vs. Dayton (Sept. 13) • went for 36 assists, 15 digs, six blocks and five kills vs. SDSU (Sept. 14) • went for 42 assists and seven digs at Marquette (Sept. 21) • had 28 assists and a career-best four aces vs. RU (Sept. 28) • 19 assists and seven digs at Michigan (Oct. 1) • 41 assists and 14 digs at NU (Oct. 5) • 31 assists and 11 digs at Washington (Oct. 18) • career-highs of 49 assists and five aces at Indiana (Oct. 24) • 45 assists at Purdue (Oct. 26) • 44 assists and 14 digs vs. No. 22 USC (Nov. 1) • 41 assists vs. UW (Nov. 5) • career-high 58 assists with 10 digs at Iowa (Nov. 16) • 31 assists, eight digs, two aces at Maryland (Nov. 21) • 40 assists, 11 digs vs. Purdue (Nov. 26) • 35 assists and eight digs vs. Iowa St. (Dec. 6) • 28 assists, three blocks and three aces at Pitt (Dec. 11).

2024 • FRESHMAN SEASON:
Swenson enrolled at Minnesota in January of 2024 for her first season as a Gopher. She redshirted to focus on development for 2025.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB:
A 6-foot-1 setter from Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata H.S.), Stella signed with Minnesota after one of the most decorated prep careers in state history • a four-time all-state selection, Swenson has been named all-conference six times and First Team All-Metro three times • she led Wayzata H.S. to threee consecutive state titles from 2021-23 • twice she has been named to the MSHSL All-State Tournament team • Wayzata has been ranked as the No. 7 and No. 8 high school team in the country in her junior and senior years, respectively • the 2023 Ms. Baden Award Winner (top senior player in Minnesota) is the three-time Star Tribune Player of the Year and a three-time Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year • in her career at Wayzata, she's totaled 3,017 assists, 203 blocks, 184 service aces and 632 digs • she has led the Trojans in assists and aces in each of the last three seasons • during her high school career, Wayzata has accumulated a record of 108-4 • on the club circuit for Minnesota Select Volleyball Club, Swenson was named an All-American on both the 16-Open and 17-Open levels • she helped her team to a National Runner-Up finish at the 17-Open USA GJCN's and a third place finish at the 14-Open USA GJNC's • an AVCA, MaxPreps and JVCA All-American honoree, Swenson was the No. 9 overall recruit in 2024 (No. 1 in Minnesota) according to Prep Volleyball and No. 8 according to Prep Dig • she is also a U.S. National Team Development Program member • Swenson was named a Third Team All-American by VolleyballMag.com in December of 2023.

PERSONAL:
The daughter of Erik Swenson and Vicki Seliger Swenson, she's joined in her family by older sister Samantha Seliger Swenson and brother-in-law Eric Loeppky in addition to her twin sister Olivia (younger by 21 minutes) and younger sister Eva • her dad, Erik, played football for the University of North Dakota • her, mom, Vicki, played volleyball for Iowa State University • her older sister Samantha played volleyball for University of Minnesota and was one of two four-time All-Americans in program history • academically, Stella was a member of Wayzata High School's honor roll • she intends to major in mechanical engineering at Minnesota.

WHY MINNESOTA:
"I chose Minnesota because it felt like home. I knew when I first entered the Pav, I wanted to be a Golden Gopher. I love the atmosphere and the support is amazing. When I met with Coach Cook and his staff, immediately knew I wanted to play for them. I know they care about me as a person and will help me be the best I can be. I love the team and making the choice to come to Minnesota was an easy one. I can't wait to get there in January and start competing."

GOALS:
"Academics are important to me and I know I will receive an incredible education from the University of Minnesota. As for volleyball, I want to be the best I can be. Also, I want to win. I will do whatever it takes to help the team win multiple Big Ten championships. I also want to be a part of the first Gopher team to win a national championship. I watched my sister compete in two Final Fours and it was an amazing experience. I want our team to get there again and then win it all."