SAINT PAUL, Minn. — MLV Minnesota General Manager and Head Coach Pedro Mendes today announced that the team has signed Marie Schölzel to a contract beginning with the 2027 season.
Schölzel, 28, recently completed her first season with Queenseis Kariya of Japan’s SV.League, where she ranked among the league’s top attackers with 372 points, including 79 block points. Prior to playing in Japan, Schölzel competed professionally in Poland, Italy, and Germany, where she was a three-time Bundesliga champion.
“Marie brings extensive international experience, including 11 seasons with the German national team and several seasons playing in top volleyball leagues such as Japan and Italy,” Mendes said. “What really stood out to me during the process was her volleyball IQ and genuine curiosity for the game. Those are especially important qualities for her position. She’s a complete middle blocker who can attack in multiple ways, brings flexibility to our offense, and excels as a read blocker. We are extremely excited to welcome a player with her experience and versatility to Minnesota, and we look forward to seeing the impact she will have on our team and community.”
The 6-foot-3 middle blocker has been a member of the German national team since she was 18 and reached the 200-match milestone this season. Next week, she will compete in her seventh Volleyball Nations League tournament.
“I am excited by the challenge of playing in MLV and for the opportunity to play for Coach Mendes,” Schölzel said. “He has a great reputation for coaching middle blockers, and I look forward to growing as a player under his leadership. I have heard great things about the volleyball culture in Minnesota, and I can’t wait to experience it.”
A native of Berlin, Germany, Schölzel is considered a leading candidate to play for the German national team at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
MLV Minnesota will begin league play in January 2027. To place a season ticket deposit for MLV Minnesota and for more information on the team, please visit MLVMinnesota.com and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.