Future Gophers, Wayzata’s Swenson sisters lead Trojans team with state title hopes

The Wayzata girls volleyball team is once again one of the top teams in the state, and a set of twin sisters are leading the charge for the Trojans in a repeat attempt to be the Class 4A champions.

Wayzata juniors Stella and Olivia Swenson have played volleyball together all of their lives, now it’s translated to success at the varsity level.

“Stella is at the center of everything with our setter. Gatorade Player of The Year and she’s a fantastic player,” said Scott Jackson, Wayzata’s head coach. “Having her sister back in the lineup, Olivia is fantastic. We’ve seen here get a lot of kills and plays all over the court. As she finds her full game, look out.

The Swenson sisters were part of a miraculous Wayzata volleyball run of 65 straight wins that dated back to 2019. That run came to an end this season, now the Trojans are after an even bigger run of their third state championship in the last four seasons. (2019, 2021)

Stella and Olivia won’t travel far for their college careers. The Swensons are committed to play for the Gophers, following in their older sister Samantha Seliger-Swenson’s All American footsteps. A journey they knew they have always wanted to make.

“We always looked up to the Tapp twins that played at Minnesota, Paige and Hannah. They played with my sister and it was like wow, that could be us,” said Olivia. “We’re twins we love volleyball, play at Minnesota.”

Stella added, “when I think of the Gophers I think of my sister, Sarah Wilhite, and the Tapps, like those are the Gophers in my mind and growing up watching them play I was like holy crap I want to do the same thing she did.”

The Swenson volleyball bloodline at Wayzata doesn’t end with Stella and Olivia, they have a younger sister Eva, who is a freshman on the court for the Trojans.