By Joe Vanden Acker
For Lawrence University Athletics

APPLETON, Wis. -- It's not often in the world of NCAA Division III that you get to rub elbows with the collegiate elites of your sport, but sometimes it helps to know the right people.

The connection between Lawrence University head coach Jeff Van Lannen and legendary Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield is playing a role in a unique opportunity for the Vikings.

"Kelly has always inspired me with his 'big, gnarly goals concept,' and coming to Lawrence, I wanted to carry that same ambition forward," said Van Lannen, the 2025 Midwest Conference Coach of the Year.

Lawrence will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday as part of the Frozen Phoenix Invite at the Kress Events Center. Lawrence will take on defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Oshkosh in an exhibition match at 10:30 a.m., and UWGB then faces Wisconsin, which is fresh off an appearance in the Final Four, in another exhibition match at 1 p.m.

"We've set out to do something incredible here — not just to win matches, but to build an elite program defined by excellence," Van Lannen said of the Vikings. "This event is a direct reflection of that vision. What began as a bold, gnarly idea is now just 24 hours away from the first serve at the Kress Center."

Van Lannen knew all about excellence after decades of success coaching prep and club volleyball, but he got a look at the elite collegiate level when he joined the Wisconsin staff in 2023.

"Late in my club coaching career I began to know Kelly on a deeper level, and when I was ready to leap into coaching full-time he was there with the opportunity of a lifetime," Van Lannen said. "Kelly brought an eager volleyball lifer on to his staff and allowed me to do what many dream of doing — create a career out of a passion. I turned 50 years old in the midst of working with one of the greatest collegiate volleyball teams in the nation. The greater gift was sharing a court with some of the best young women I've ever met. These young women were not only talented athletically but individually impressive people. I loved so much of my time at Wisconsin but nothing compares to the relationships I was able to share with the Badgers."
 
Van Lannen took over a Lawrence program that was struggling mightily. The Vikings had won just 11 matches in the previous three seasons before Van Lannen arrived. Lawrence won 11 times in his first campaign in 2024 and more than doubled that victory total last fall.

Lawrence is coming off the best season in program history. The Vikings went 23-11 to set a school record for victories in a season. Lawrence finished second in the Midwest Conference regular season and reached the championship match of the MWC Tournament.

Included in the 2025 win total was a victory over the No. 20 University of Chicago, and that marked just the second time in school history the Vikings had defeated a ranked opponent. 

Lawrence brings a stellar squad into Saturday's match that includes MWC Newcomer of the Year Audrey Weier and fellow first-team all-conference selection Ally Corrente, a first-year setter. The Vikings also have all-conference picks Hazel Cook and Aria Wessel.

Van Lannen said the tight-knit volleyball community in the state, along with a helping of friendship, got the ball rolling for this event.
 
"We started chatting as coaches about getting the Badgers up here and compete at a local high school as is the 'thing to do' lately in the spring for top DI teams," Van Lannen said. "As conversations among the four schools continued, the feeling of what this could be and the opportunity to make it special had us settling on the Kress Center, one of the premiere venues in Northeast Wisconsin. A few text messages later and a contact between friends from GB and Wisconsin and the plan was solidified."

Tickets, which include admission to both matches, may be purchased at https://tickets.uwgb.edu/athletics/Online/default.asp. Group tickets may be purchased by contacting the UWGB Ticket Office at (920) 465-2625, emailing phoenixtickets@uwgb.edu, or visiting the Kress Center at 2358 Leon Bond Dr., Green Bay.