NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Head coach
Emily Foster and the St. Olaf College volleyball program are excited to announce the addition of six newcomers to the program for the 2019 season.
Five of the six hail from the state of Minnesota, while one comes to the Hill from Utah. The incoming class consists of two middle blockers, two defensive specialists, one outside hitter and one outside hitter/defensive specialist.
Nicole Banitt (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) - MB
Banitt comes to St. Olaf after helping Lakeville South to a pair of third-place finishes at the state tournament in her high school career. As a senior, she earned All-Conference and Academic All-State honors, while leading the team in hitting percentage (.362), as the Cougars won conference and section championships and placed third at state. Lakeville South also won a conference title in Banitt's junior season and finished as the section champion and took third at state in her sophomore year. While playing club volleyball for Minnesota One 18-1s, she was named to the JVA Watch List in both 2018 and 2019.
Cloe Bentz (Holladay, Utah/Juan Diego Catholic) - OH
Bentz was a four-year letterwinner at Juan Diego Catholic High School and was a Second Team All-State and First Team All-Region selection in her senior season. As a senior captain, she ranked third in the region in hitting percentage, eighth in aces and 10th in kills to help lead the Soaring Eagles to second place in the region for the second-straight season. Bentz was a part of four state tournament teams and was an Honorable Mention All-State and Third Team All-Region choice as a junior. She was a High Honor Roll student throughout high school and played club volleyball for Club V Volleyball.
Christina Cheng (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) - OH/DS
Cheng played four years of volleyball for the Redhawks and was a First Team All-Conference selection in her senior season after leading the team in kills, aces and digs as a team captain. As a sophomore, she was an Honorable Mention All-Conference choice and helped Minnehaha Academy to a conference title. An Honor Roll student and National Merit Finalist, Cheng played her club volleyball for Vital Volleyball.
Kaya Gendreau (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) - DS
Gendreau earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a senior at Minnetonka High School, while helping the Skippers to a conference championship and leading the team in serve percentage. She was named the Team MVP in her first season of high school volleyball, as Minnetonka went undefeated. Gendreau earned four academic letters, was an Academic All-State selection and received the Minnetonka Scholar Student Achievement Award. She played her club volleyball for Vital Volleyball Club and was a team captain of her 16s team.
Maddie Knupp (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) - MB
Knupp was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball at East Ridge High School and was an Honorable Mention All-Conference and Academic All-State selection in her senior season while leading the team in blocks. As a junior, she was part of East Ridge's conference championship and section runner-up team. Knupp earned four academic letters, was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and graduated summa cum laude with distinction. Her Northern Lights 16s team won the club national championship at AAU's in Orlando.
Selena Rodriguez (St. Paul, Minn./North) - DS
Rodriguez played four years of volleyball and softball for the Polars and was a two-time First Team All-Conference choice in volleyball. She was a member of three conference championship volleyball teams and North was the section runner-up each of her final two seasons. The two-time team captain finished second on her team in kills as a senior. Rodriguez played her club volleyball for Minnesota Volleyball Academy.
The group of six join a St. Olaf program that finished 2018 with a 23-7 overall record and made its second-straight appearance in the MIAC Playoffs. The Oles have won 45 matches over the last two seasons and open 2019 with a four-match trip to California on Aug. 30-31.
