Kellie McNeil, a 5-11 setter for Lakeville North, is one of 41 finalists for prepvolleyball.com's national player of the year award for seniors.

The web site honors one player in each class as its national player. Kellie's younger sister Taylr is one of the finalists for player of the year armong freshmen. Both McNeils are bound for the University of Minnesota. Kellie signed with the Gophers last November and has already enrolled for the spring semester. She will play with the team during its short spring season.

Here is what prepvolleyball.com writes around Kellie: The No. 1 rated setter nationally in the senior class had a senior year that lived up to the hype. McNeil, a very athletic setter who has signed with the Golden Gophers of Minnesota, led Lakeville North to a 31-1 record, top 20 national ranking and its first large-class state title.

She led the Twin Cities metro area in assists per game (1,172 total) and blocks (147) while adding 66 aces and 122 kills. McNeill swept all the postseason awards in her state. In addition to being first team all-state, she was named Ms. Baden Minnesota Volleyball Player of the Year and Gatorade's Minnesota player of the year as well as metro player of the year by the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. ... End of blurb on McNeil.

McNeil joins an already talented Gophers team which reached the NCAA Sweet 16 last fall. Outgoing coach Mike Hebert predicted Minnesota would start next season in the top 10 in the preseason national polls.

Hebert retired after last season, prompting university officials to conduct a national search for his successor. According to at least one university source, the search is close to being over and a new coach might be named as soon as next week.