New Rockford-Sheyenne’s Ava Peterson listed on Optimist Volleyball All-Star rosters

The 2026 Optimist Volleyball All-Star rosters were released Tuesday by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association.

The annual event unites the top senior volleyball players in North Dakota. Similar to the Lions basketball series, an exhibition game will be played June 15 at West Fargo High School and June 16 at Bismarck Century. The rosters are divided into a “Blue Team” and a “Red Team.”

The Lake Region is represented by New Rockford-Sheyenne’s Ava Peterson on the Blue Team. The left-handed Peterson was one of the top hitters in Division B this past season, en route to being named the Region 2B Senior Athlete of the Year. She’s listed on the roster as a setter, outside hitter and right-side hitter. She reached the 1,000 milestone in kills, assists and digs during her high school career.

Peterson is set to continue her athletic career in volleyball and track and field at the University of Jamestown this fall.

Unlike the Lions basketball rosters, the matchups are not class vs. class. Each roster has players from all three volleyball classes. There are 12 players on each roster for 24 total.

Peterson and the Blue Team will be coached by Medina-Pingree/Buchanan’s Jacie Connell and Central Cass’s Dana Stansbery.

Peterson is the only representative from Region 2B on either roster.

The full rosters:

Blue Team

Aspyn Prien, MB, Central Cass

Madi Wegleitner, MB, Dickinson Trinity

Carly Hulstein, MH/OH, Fargo Shanley

Brooklyn Roedecker, MB/RS, Our Redeemer’s

Karleigh Kadoun, MB/OH, Sargent County

Jenna Nelson, OH, Dickinson

Izzy Thompson, OH, Central Cass

Brynn Sorenson, OH, Medina-Pingree/Buchanan

Ellee McIntosh, OH/RS/MH, West Fargo

Aspen Roaldson, S, Bismarck

Jetta Peterson, DS/L, Jamestown

Ava Peterson, S/OH/RS, New Rockford-Sheyenne

Blue Team Coaches: Jacie Connell, Medina-Pingree/Buchnanan and Dana Stansbery, Central Cass

Red Team

Alexis Heinle, MB, Bismarck Century

Abby Mikkelson, MB, South Prairie

Chaskee Schmidt, MB/RS, Flasher

Cora Metcalf, RS, West Fargo Sheyenne

Lizzy Kunz, OH/RS, Grand Forks Red River

Sylvia Taylor, OH, Bismarck Century

Audrey Rydell, OH, Fargo North

Kadie Kocka, OH, Valley City

Brooklyn Schumacher, OH, Linton/HMB

Sophia Heringer, S, Shiloh

Kiaza Carlson, S/OH/RS, May-Port-C-G

Hudson Zerface, DS/L, May-Port-C-G

Red Team Coaches: Stephanie Oliver, Fargo Davies and Stacy Hanson, May-Port-C-G