RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines Volleyball team has announced the signing of 8 incoming freshmen and 2 transfers with head coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka announcing the addition of Rachel Mau, Ivy Vindivich, Josey Wickersham, Joy Aburto, Louisa Battin, Alessandra Meoni, Ellison Spencer, Annelise Larson, Jenna Curtis, Madison Smith who are set to become Hardrockers next fall.

"We are extremely excited to welcome our new Hardrockers to this program," said head volleyball coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka. "With seven graduating seniors, we had to get to work to make sure we brought talent and character to this team, but also players who wanted to win." Torvi Prochazka added, "These young women come from some of the best programs and clubs in the country and we know they want to win as bad as we do, and I am excited to get to work."

From Erie, Colorado, Rachel Mau is a DS/Libero, hailing from Silver Creek High School.  A 3-year varsity player, who also competed in track & field, had a great senior year playing 81 sets and recording 332 digs (4.1 per set), and 402 receptions (5.0 per set). Mau was a team captain and named All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2022-23. In the classroom, Mau earned Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State. Rachel competed for NORCO Volleyball Club in Windsor, Colorado.

"Rachel is a dynamic defensive player whose speed will elevate our defensive game immediately with a solid platform and she will bring great energy to our back row," said Torvi Prochazka. "We love her experience at the club level and know that she will be prepared to come into our program and make a difference."

Native of Puyallup, Washington, Ivy Vindivich joins the fold as an outside hitter from Puyallup High School. Throughout her high school career, she recorded 945 kills with a hitting percentage of .287 and was named all-conference her senior year. In Vindivich's final season, she recorded 392 kills on a hitting percentage of .287. Pullyup was a powerhouse in those seasons, going 15-0 and ranked 9th in the state in her sophomore year, 20-6, and 14th in the state in her junior season, and 36-1 and 1st in state in her senior season. Ivy competed for Dakine Volleyball Club out of University Place, Washington.

"Ivy is a terminating arm who will impact us on the pin right away because she is smart, controlled, and aggressive," commented Torvi Prochazka. "Ivy's potential as an outside is endless and we are really excited to get her in a Hardrocker jersey."

Josey Wickersham joins South Dakota Mines after graduating from Brandon Valley High School. Josey is no stranger to South Dakota Mines, hailing from a family of Hardrockers (parents Scott and Abbie are graduates and brother Luke is currently a Junior at Mines). Wickersham is a 5'8'' utility player. She was a three-year performer at Brandon Valley, becoming a major contributor in her junior season, recording 170 kills in 91 sets played and receiving 422 serves while making just 35 errors. Wickersham also recorded 281 digs that year with 0 errors. Wickersham was a team captain and named Academic All-State. Josey competed for Kairos Volleyball Club out of Sioux Falls.

Torvi Prochazka stated the following, "Josey has been someone near and dear to our program for years and has proven to us that she is as hard-working and competitive as they come." "We know she is going to be a great player in our gym in any position and her athleticism and strength are going to make us better right away."

Joy Aburto is an outside hitter from Aurora, Colorado, and Vista Peak Preparatory. A two-sport athlete who also participated in tennis, Aburto was a four-year member of the volleyball team in high school. She played in a total of 258 sets across four years, tallying 891 kills, with a hitting percentage of .245. During her career, she was named All-Conference twice, All-State, team MVP and team captain. Joy competed for Elevation Volleyball Club out of Centennial, Colorado.

"Joy has a heavy arm and is exploding with potential," said Torvi Prochazka. "Her growth over the past two years has shown us she is ready to make an impact at this level and add a ton of power to our gym."

Louisa Battin is a 6'1" setter from Kildeer, Illinois, and St. Viator High School. In her senior year, Battin played 92 sets, recording 433 assists in her only season as a full-time setter. She received an AAU academic all-american award this past season. Louisa competed for Top Flight Volleyball Club out of Elgin, Illinois.

"Louisa is tall, long, and going to be a great asset in our fast offense along with experience as both a setter and a hitter making her a very versatile player," stated Torvi Prochazka. "She will be a great addition to our setter position and I look forward to her growing under Kiley."

Alessandra Meoni is a right side, initially from Padova, Italy who attended Friendswood High School in Texas before spending the last two years at Western Nebraska Community College. Meoni played in 77 matches over the last two years at WNCC, recording a hitting percentage of .249.

In two years at WNCC, Meoni earned the following honors: 2022 Region IX All-Tournament Team, 2022 NJCAA Region IX MVP, 2022 NJCAA National All-Tournament Team, 2021-22 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team, NJCAA 2021 First Team All-Region IX.

While on the team at Friendswood High School, Meoni earned the following honors:
GHVCA 5A Pre-Season Team 2020, 2020 Under Armour All-America Watch List, AVCA High School All-Region Team 2020, District 22-5A 1st team All-District 2020, District 22-5A Academic All-District 2020, TGCA 5A All-State Team 2020, VYPE All-Greater Houston Team, Austin TGCA Academic All-State Team, All-Galveston County 1st Team, GHVCA 5A Post-Season Team 2020, GHVCA 2020 Academic Team, TSWA 5A Honorable Mention Outside Hitter, District 22-5A Academic All-District 2019, District 22-5A Newcomer of the Year 2019, VYPE 5A All-State Honorable Mention 2019, TAVC 5A All-Texas Team 2019, All-Galveston County Second Team 2019, TGCA 5A All-State Team 2019, GHVCA 5A Post-Season Team 2019.

Meoni also comes from strong bloodlines as her father was the starting setter for the Italian National team when they took home a silver medal in 1996 and a bronze medal in 2000.

Torvi Prochazka is excited to add Meoni, saying, "Ale is aggressive, smart, and sees the court so well." "Being able to watch Ale compete at such a high level with WNCC this past season was impressive, and we can't wait to have her bring her game to Rapid City."

Ellison Spencer, from Olympia, Washington, and North Thurston High School joins the program as a setter. In high school, Spencer was named team captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State, and Academic All-Conference. Ellie competed for Puyallup Juniors out of Puyallup, Washington.

Torvi Prochazka spoke of Spencer, stating, "Ellie is going to bring speed, tempo, and energy to our gym, along with fast hands and play-making ability." "We love her work ethic and desire to get better and are excited to watch her lead in this position while learning from Kiley."

Annelise Larson joins as a middle blocker from Northfield, Minnesota. She played for Northfield High School which was ranked as high as #14 nationally this past season. Larson played in 270 sets over four years in high school, tallying 354 kills and a hitting percentage of .382 and recording 182 blocks. Larson was named All-Conference twice as well as an Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State selection. During the 2021 club season, Annelise and her Northern Lights club team placed third at the AAU National Championships.

The first commit of the class, Larson played with and against high-level competition. "She's going to come to South Dakota Mines full of high-level experience at both the HS and club level, playing with and against some of the best players in the country," said Torvi Prochazka. "We see her adding great termination in the middle, and contributing heavily to our slide offense."

Jenna Curtis is an outside hitter who was a teammate of Alessandra Meoni, playing at Western Nebraska Community College after attending Ogallala High School and hailing from Ogallala, Nebraska. Curtis was named to the NJCAA Region IX Tournament Team. In two years at Western Nebraska Community College, she recorded 758 kills and 505 digs. During Curtis' high school career, she was named All-Conference twice, Team MVP, All-State as well as Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State.

"Jenna can jump out of the gym and terminate in so many ways and had a great career at WNCC as a 6 rotation outside hitter who can do it all," said Torvi Prochazka. "Jenna is going to bring power and athleticism to our outside position immediately."

Madison Smith is the final addition for 2023, joining the team as a middle blocker. The 6'1" Boonville, Missouri product was named All-Conference, earned Academic All-Conference, and three-time Academic All-State. Over the last two years, Smith recorded 459 kills and a hitting percentage of .220. Madison competed for 417 Juniors out of Columbia, Missouri. 

"Madison is a tall, strong, and smart middle who we are lucky to have picked up," commented Torvi Prochazka. "She has a great block, will bring size and power to our middles and we really feel like the sky is the limit for Madison, and are excited to get her in our gym."

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.