Concordia head volleyball coach Scott Mattera will welcome nine additions (see list below) as part of the recruiting class of 2013 this fall. That number could soon swell into double digits as Mattera continues to improve the roster for his second season at the helm of the program.
Read on as Mattera provides his take on each of the student-athletes in the class. Five of the nine prospects come from the state of Nebraska, including three from nearby Lincoln and one apiece from Omaha and Malcolm. Two players hail from Colorado and the remaining two come from Illinois and Kansas, respectively.
The class is long on height and athleticism. Seven of the nine recruits are 5-foot-10 or taller with Naomi Quigg and Taylor Workman both standing at 6-foot. The group also contains plenty of attackers with six players listed as either outside or right side hitters.
Bulldog volleyball recruiting class of 2013:
Paige Getz – 5-11 ● OH ● Paola, Kan.
Mattera: “Paige is a huge get for us. I coached her at the UNL team camp last summer and thought she was the best pure athlete in the gym. She is one of the top players in Kansas, playing in multiple state all-star matches. She has the versatility and athleticism to play any hitting position and with her drive, could be a force for us very early in her career. She’s also a 5’ 4” high jumper for her track team.”
Alayna Kavanaugh – 5-10 ● S/U ● Lincoln, Neb.
Mattera: “Alayna is a fantastic all-around volleyball player. We recruited her as a setter based on her maturity and fantastic release but she can play just about any position on the floor. A key component of Lincoln Christian’s third-place state run this year, she brings depth to a variety of roles and will push our current crop of setters every day.”
Hannah Oberle – 5-7 ● S ● Lincoln, Neb.
Mattera: “Hannah was a starting setter on state qualifier Lincoln Lutheran’s team this year. A perfect fit for Concordia, Hannah will provide depth at the setter and DS positions and adds a nice serve weapon to Bulldog JV program.”
Naomi Quigg – 6-0 ● OH/RS ● Springfield, Ill.
Mattera: “Springfield Lutheran’s MVP for a team that went 29-9, Naomi brings height and solid technique to the table. She still has a lot of upside athletically as she has the frame and fitness level to add at least six more inches to her vertical. If she does, Naomi could do BIG things in her Bulldog career.”
Beth Rasmussen – 5-11 ● S/RS ● Omaha, Neb.
Mattera: “This Concordia Omaha prospect is very intriguing in the she is a 5-11 setter with huge intangibles and a great release. She is currently showing amazing positivity as she battles back from a knee injury during basketball season. If she continues to grow into her body while developing consistency with that great release, she has the potential to be the ‘steal’ of the class.”
Tiegen Skains – 5-10 ● OH/RS ● Colorado Springs, Colo.
Mattera: “Tiegen is a girl I found through a connection with the director of one of the top clubs in the country – Colorado Juniors. She has played on elite level teams both with and against some of best competition in the United States. Another versatile, long hitter with fantastic technical training, she will compete to see the floor right away.”
Jordyn Sturms – 5-10 ● OH/DS ● Parker, Colo.
Mattera: “Jordyn was a starting outside on Parker Lutheran’s last two state championship teams and was invited to play in the Colorado state all-star match. We are bringing her in as a future DS but if her vertical continues to increase she could become a hitter for us if needed. A superb natural athlete, she’s just coming into her own and could end up being a special talent.”
Allison Wiebe – 5-6 ● DS ● Malcolm, Neb.
Mattera: “A starting outside hitter for a competitive Malcolm team, Allison is a camp kid with awesome intangibles and a wicked serve. She will train as a DS on JV and has the potential to develop into a serve specialist in the coming years. ‘Al’ as we call her, will also see action for the track team, throwing for coach Ed McLaughlin.”
Taylor Workman – 6-0 ● M/RS ● Lincoln, Neb.
Mattera: “Taylor was our first commit for the class. She was second team all-state for Lincoln Christian’s third-place finisher this year. A legit six-footer with solid lateral movement skills, Workman should help early on as a blocker and shows huge potential offensively as well.”
Paige Getz (middle) is one of the top high school players in the state of Kansas according to Concordia head volleyball coach Scott Mattera.
Taylor Workman (second from left) and Alayna Kavanaugh (second from right) will both come to Concordia this fall by way of Lincoln Christian High School.
Naomi Quigg earned team MVP honors as a high school senior at Springfield Lutheran High School in Illinois.