Dec. 2—CARRINGTON — While she was driving to school last week, Harper Kollman was listening to the radio.
Suddenly, the Carrington junior heard her name spoken over the airwaves.
Kollman's was one of the names the radio announcer listed when announcing the 24 athletes who had been named to the 2025 NDHSCA Division A Volleyball All-State Team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I was very excited," Kollman said. "I couldn't have got this award without my amazing teammates and coaches. They all push me to do my best and allow me to succeed."
Kollman led the Cardinals in total kills this season with 319. In the back row she popped up more than 500 digs and delivered 35 aces. She made 27 stops at the net. Carrington head coach Kadyn Mehring described Kollman as "a dedicated three-year varsity player." The outside hitter surpassed 1,000 career digs this season.
"There is a lot of talent in the state, however there are only so many selections made," Kollman said. "Being a very versatile, uplifting, and hardworking player are qualities that allow you to make the team. I feel that these three qualities could describe me as a player."
Kollman has been on the Cardinals' varsity roster since her freshman year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I always knew I wanted to play volleyball because I enjoyed watching my older cousins play," Kollman said. "The first year I got to play in school, was sixth grade due to the COVID year falling over my fifth grade season. My first memory of playing volleyball was how much fun I had playing with my classmates and best friends. I like playing in Carrington because we are all really close friends and the fans and coaches are really good support systems."
One of Kollman's really close friends also was named to the All-State Team.
"It's an honor to be recognized," Aniston Hoornaert said. "I was happy and very appreciative. It honestly was not a goal. I wanted myself and our team to do well and being recognized for my part in that is an honor."
Hoornaert recorded a whopping 1,130 assists in just 37 matches.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Aniston stepped into her first year as our varsity setter and immediately made an impact — surpassing 1,100 career assists in one season and breaking the school single season assist record — a record previously held by her sister, Addison," Carrington head coach Kadyn Mehring said.
From the back line Hoornaert was credited with 44 aces and made 311 digs. The sophomore also proved versatile at the net accumulating 70 kills and 36 blocks.
"Volleyball in Carrington starts in fifth grade, but I'd pepper with my sisters and friends well before that," Hoornaert said. "I have three older sisters so my earliest volleyball memory is playing with them."
This fall marked Hoornaert's second season on the Cardinals' varsity team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"This season challenged me physically and mentally," Hoornaert said. "I learned from every practice, every game, every win, every loss. I think if you continue to learn, you're going to get better. I work extremely hard in and out of season to improve myself. I think (to be named All-State) you need to be coachable and adaptable. I think being a good teammate is important. and I am blessed to play with the best teammates. Volleyball is a team sport. Pass, Set, Hit — it takes all three, and we have a coach who helps guide and bring out the best in each player."
The Cardinals' ended the year at a perfect 8-0 record in Division A, Region 2 play. Overall, the team finished at 23-5. Carrington's season officially concluded with a game against Valley City in the Division A volleyball state qualifying round of the 2025 NDHSAA Division A State Tournament. Valley City, the 2025 state runners-up, topped Carrington 3-1.
"We came together as a team and proved to ourselves we could compete with the best. We won the Valley City and Des Lacs tournaments and I feel we all learned and developed so much as players and teammates with Coach Mehring," Hoornaert said. "Being able to win (so many) games with a very young team and very different lineup from last year was a great accomplishment."
Both Kollman and Hoornaert are new to the state's All-State roster. The pair were named to the second-team roster.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Both athletes embodied hard work, competitiveness, and true team-first attitudes," Mehring said. "Their leadership and consistency made them invaluable to our team and a joy to coach. I'm so excited to see what next season brings for the both of them."
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