Bulldogs add five to 2012-13 class, raising incoming group to 10
University of Concordia, Nebraska head volleyball coach Scott Mattera has announced five additional recruits for the 2012-13 season signing Kelsey Dinkel, Kendra Dinkel, Taylor Gager, Brianna Hughes and Samantha McConnell to letters of intent this spring. The new quintet joins Tiffany Patrick, Katelyn Peterson, Naomi Pfeil, Kayla Sombke and Elizabeth Zagel as the class of 2012-13.
Kelsey Dinkel is a 5' 9'' outside hitter from Norfolk, Neb. A decorated athlete, Dinkel earned a combined 10 letters in volleyball, basketball, soccer and track. Dinkel earned all-state honorable mention following both her junior and senior seasons.
Kendra Dinkel is a 5' 4'' libero from Norfolk, Neb. The sister of fellow signee, Kelsey, Kendra collected 11 athletic letters at Lutheran Northeast High in volleyball (four), basketball (four), soccer (two) and track (one). Individually, Kendra was named to the C2 All-State First Team last season and will be playing with the Northeast Nebraska All-Star volleyball team this June.
The Dinkel sisters combined to lead the Eagles to an astounding 34-1 record in 2011, capping their high school career by leading the Eagles to back-to-back Nebraska C-2 State Championships. Over the final three seasons at Lutheran Northeast, the Dinkels and the Eagles posted a combined record of 101-4 record.
A 5' 5'' setter and libero, Gager comes to Concordia from Arvada, Colo. As a Lion at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo., Gager raked in a combined nine athletic letters in volleyball (three), basketball (four) and track (two). A Colorado All-State selection last season, Gager is a two time Academic All-Conference First Team member and nabbed all-conference second team honors as a junior. Last season, Gager led the Lions to the Colorado 2A State Championship.
Hughes is a 5' 11'' outside hitter/middle blocker from San Diego, Calif. Hughes comes to Concordia, Nebraska after spending the 2011-12 season at Concordia, Irvine. With the Eagles, Hughes appeared in 39 matches, collecting 159 kills and a .308 hitting percentage. She attended Lutheran High School in San Diego, Calif., earning 10 letters in volleyball (four), basketball (four) and softball (two). In her final season with the Knights, Hughes earned all-conference first team honors and was named the team MVP.
Rounding out the Bulldogs' new additions is McConnell, a 6' 0'' middle blocker from Atlantic, Iowa. McConnel joins Concordia from Atlantic High School, where she collected seven athletic letters in volleyball (one), basketball (three) and track (three). As a senior, McConnell earned all-conference honorable mention and earned the Hawkeye Ten Academic All-Conference award.
“When you start looking into the resumes of this class you see a lot of team championships and individual honors," said Mattera. "These ladies come from winning programs and are used to success. I think they will bring a level of expectation and confidence to our program.”
"I’m very grateful to [former head coach] Miller and [graduate assistant coach Szalawiga] for their work before I arrived. They’ve brought in a great class and I’m excited to begin building relationships with all of the new members of the Bulldog family," said Mattera. "It’s not just quality volleyball here, it’s quality people that will enhance who we are both on and off the court!”