From a rural community of Sauk Prairie, Wis. Ellery Apel looked towards taking the next step of her volleyball journey. She looked through multiple division one and division two programs for collegiate start. She looked towards the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), one of the premiere leagues of D2, and found a home in Winona. This decision would guide her towards a leadership role for not only volleyball, but for student athletes at Winona State University.
During her first year with the Warriors, Apel appeared in 22 matches, picking up plenty of opportunities to get more experience and reps. Her most notable appearance was her penultimate match of the season against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Nov. 16, 2024. She recorded seven assists and 19 digs in three sets to help pull the Warriors in a 3-1 match victory over the Bulldogs. The Warriors went on to finish season 18-12 with an 11-7 NSIC record. Apel learned a lot from the graduating class of players from her first season.
Apel talked about the influence some of the players had on her this season.
“That entire senior class was filled with some amazing people, especially Sydney Paulson and Kylie Welch. They played a huge role in what steps I needed to take as a player.”
Paulson was the top scorer for Winona State with 392 points and 342 kills throughout the 2024 season. Welch led the team in digs with 561 throughout this year. These players paved the newest path in Apel’s volleyball story.
In her second year, Apel unfortunately had her season shortened due to injury. In her six match appearances, she recorded a season high in assists, aces and saves against Northern State University on Sept. 19. In another notable mark for her season, she picked up 12 digs and a block against Minot State University on Sept. 27. Progressing through a long road to recovery, Apel looks towards what great skills she brings to this new season.
Apel mentioned one of her best skills as a volleyball player, bringing a positive influence.
“I’m excited to come back and help be someone who can be a vocal leader during our matches. I feel like that’s one of my best traits when I am in a game mindset.”
Volleyball is not the only place where Apel is an advocate for her fellow student athletes. The Winona State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a selected group of athletes from sports across Winona that collaborate with university representees on decisions regarding current and future rules and provide insight from the athletes’ perspective. Apel joined the group after her first season as a representative for the volleyball team, and she swiftly rose up to the position of president. With this job, she advocates Warrior athletes and implores positive changes for Winona State athletics.
As part of Apel’s guide for the best interests of athletes across the college, she wants to see relationships being built between the athletes and the student body. One major goal the SAAC president has for her tenure is to connect Winona State students with every athletic program. She hopes to see an increase in participating in athletic events as well as strengthening the connection between the Warriors and the university’s competitors. Apel is excited to see the future of Winona State athletes.
Apel, when asked about her potential legacy she wants to leave at Winona State, said,
“To me, it’s not about if people remember my name or my accomplishments. I want to remember my time at Winona State as someone who worked to be the best possible person and leader I could be.”
