NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Head volleyball coach Emily Foster has announced the addition of Emma Samson, Morgan Marxer, Laura Butka, Summer Reid, Alexi (Lexi) Wall, Katherine Hensley and Jordan Melz to the 2017 roster.

"I am thrilled to welcome the class of 2017 Ole volleyball players," Foster stated. "I am confident they will bring positive things to the St. Olaf community on and off the volleyball court. They are an impressive group of competitive, athletic young women and I will be lucky to coach them. I cant wait to see what they will accomplish during their career as Ole volleyball players." 

Emma Samson, RS
Hailing from Deerfield, Ill., Samson will fill the role as a right side hitter for the Oles. She earned three varsity volleyball letters, was named to the CSL All-Conference team and was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player at Deerfield High School. Samson is apart of the Deerfield High School Honors Society and is an Illinois State Scholar, as well as a CSL Scholar Athlete.

Morgan Marxer, MB
Marxer is a middle blocker from Orono, Minn. She captained the Orono High School volleyball team her senior season and was named All-Conference Honorable Mention her junior and senior years. Marxer is a Tri-M Honors Music Society member and editor of the Orono High School Newspaper.

Laura Butka, DS
Butka comes to St. Olaf from John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, Missouri as a defensive specialist. She was named team captain at John Burroughs her junior and senior seasons and was named All League Metro League her senior season. 

Summer Reid, OH
Reid is an outside hitter from Spokane, Wash. She was a first-team All-Greater Spokane League pick and Most Valuable Player her senior year at Ferris High School. She is also an AP+PLTW Scholar and the 2017 Spokane Lilac Festival Princess.

Alexi (Lexi) Wall, S
Wall is a setter from Chanhassen, Minn. Wall earned four letters in volleyball and is a 2014 AAU All-American, as well as a two-time All-Conference pick. She captained the Chanhassen High School volleyball team her last three years and lettered all four. She also lettered three years in basketball, was named All-Conference Honorable Mention and captained the team her senior season. She earned Academic All-America honors in 2016 and 2017, is a member of the national Honor Society and has been named to the Dean's List A all four years.

Katy Hensley, OH
Coming to Northfield from Spring Lake, N.C., Hensley is an outside hitter who was named Conference Player of the Year for Overhills High School. She was a two-time All-Conference pick, named the team's Most Valuable Player and was team captain her senior year. Hensley is a member of the BETA Club, a community outreach club. 

Jordan Melz, DS
Melz is a defensive specialist who hails from Minnetonka, Minn. She earned three letters in both volleyball and softball. She was a All-Conference Honorable Mention pick and captain for the softball team at Minnetonka High School. She also earned the Minnetonka Volleyball Defense Award. Melz is an AP Scholar, four-time academic letter winner, a member of the honor roll and will graduate Summa Cum Laude this summer.

The Oles will host North Central University (Minn.) for their 2017 season opener.