RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's volleyball coaching staff has had a very successful recruiting season as they prepare for the 2019 campaign and Hardrocker volleyball head coach Lauren Torvi is pleased to announce one of the most talented incoming class of the NCAA Div. II era with the addition of seven volleyball players to the 2019 roster.

"We've been working diligently on this recruiting class since we got started here in June," Torvi said. "It's been very exciting and we've gotten a lot of young women on campus that have been able to see the value in our institution and the members of our program"

 
Anna Thomas – 5-feet-5-inches - Defensive Specialist
Major: Applied Biological Sciences
Thomas is a 5-5 defensive specialist from Fort Worth, Texas. This season Thomas was named the District Defensive MVP, First Team All-District; a Dale Hanson Scholar Athlete of the Week; and was voted one of the Top 5 Liberos in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area by Dallas News. On top of her many athletic accolades, she also ranks No. 1 in her graduating class.
 
"I am proud to be a part of the Hardrocker Volleyball program because not only does the volleyball team value athletics and competitiveness, but academics are also held at a very high standard as a major component of the positive atmosphere," Thomas said.

 
Chelsea Brewster – 5-feet-11-inches – Outside Hitter
Major: Pre-Health
Brewster is a 5-11 outside hitter from Mitchell, South Dakota. This season Brewster was named Under Amor All American Honorable Mention; Max Preps Player of the Week; First Team All-State; Argus Super Six Second Team; All-State Tournament Team; ESD All-Conference First Team; South Dakota All-Star Team; Republic Player of the Year; and was a finalist for Miss South Dakota Volleyball.
 
"I am proud to be a member of the Hardrocker Volleyball Program because of its culture and hardworking athletes," Brewster said.

 
Dejah Behrend – 5-feet-11-inches – Middle Hitter
Major: Chemical Engineering
Behrend is a 5-11 middle hitter from Surprise, Arizona. This season Behrend was named First Team All-Region; and Second Team All-District. She was also a Team Captain; and First Team All-Conference 1st team.
 
"Before I even visited it was so easy to talk to Coach Torvi and Coach Cox and it made me feel like I was already a part of the team," Behrend said. "When I got there, the girls were really straight up with me and everyone had such a great attitude and they were so easy to talk to and hang around. The choice was an easy one to make."

 
Kassie Luce – 5-feet-7-inches – Defensive Specialist / Setter
Major: Interdisciplinary Sciences
Kassie is a 5-7 defensive specialist/ setter from Meeker, Colorado. This season Kassie was a First Team All-State; All-Conference; and CCGS All-State selection. On top of a great indoor career, Kassie also competed at the USAV National Beach Championships in 2018.
 
"I'm proud to be a Hardrocker because I have always wanted to play college volleyball ever since I began playing the sport, and now I'm able to do so, not to mention I get to play with some girls I have already played with before," Kassie said.
Krissie Luce – 5-feet-7-inches – Defensive Specialist
Major: Interdisciplinary Sciences
Krissie is a 5-7 defensive specialist from Meeker, Colorado and sister to Kassie. This season Krissie was named First Team All-State, All-Conference; and CCGS All-State. On top of a notable indoor season, Krissie took first place at the King of the Mountain Outdoor Tournament and placed 17th at the USAV National Beach Championships.
 
"I'm proud to be a member of the Hardrocker Volleyball program because I've always wanted to play college volleyball and I get to build myself academically and athletically," Krissie said.

 
Lily Bartling – 6-feet-1-inch – Outside Hitter
Major: Pre-Health
Bartling is a 6-1 outside hitter from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This season Lily was named Adrenaline Player of the Year; Argus Super Six First Team; First Team All-State, State All-Tournament Team; SD All-Star Team; was a finalist for Miss South Dakota Volleyball; and is up for Gatorade Player of the Year. Along with this long list of accolades, Lily also broke Sioux Falls Washington's career kills record.
 
"I'm proud to be part of the Hardrockers women's volleyball program because it's a place where a student-athlete is able to succeed academically while still having the opportunity to be a great athlete."

 
Victoria Zagorski – 6-feet-1-inch – Right Side Hitter
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Zagorski is a 6-1 right side hitter from Germantown, Wisconsin. This season Victoria was a D1 Greater Metro Conference Honorable Mention; a Hawk-Eye Award Recipient; and was named to the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
 
"I am proud to be part of the Hardrocker family because I will be surrounded by likeminded people who love to work hard to achieve greatness," Zagorski said. 
 
Torvi added that the Hardrocker volleyball program is looking to add additional student athletes but feel the current commits are the cream of the crop.

"I'm really excited about this class. One of the biggest goals of Coach (Savannah) Cox and I was to find young women that are incredibly talented that play for championship level programs and want to greatly impact the world through an SD Mines degree," Torvi said. "We feel we've found seven of those types of young women. We are all very excited about the future of Hardrocker Volleyball"