APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University volleyball team gets a major makeover this fall with 10 new faces on the court, Vikings coach Matt Schoultz announced today.
Cyra Bammer of Zionsville, Ind., Arianna Cohen of Bayside, Wis., Noelle Hele of Apple Valley, Calif., Paige Pohlad of Chicago, Ill., Sydney Nelson of Crystal Lake, Ill., Colleen Nowlan of Arlington Heights, Ill., Lauren Ray of Hales Corners, Wis., Sara Schliesman of Juneau, Wis., Kendra Thomas of Bellingham, Wash., and Rachael Wuensch of Reedsburg, Wis., will join the team for the 2014 season.
“The 2014 class has talent and numbers,” Schoultz said. “This class will help us with all phases of the game. I am extremely excited about this group and how they will fit into our team for the 2014 season.”
Cyra Bammer (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville), 5-8, Defensive Specialist/Libero
Bammer was a two-year varsity player and two-year letter winner for Zionsville High School. A team captain as a senior, Bammer led her team in digs and aces. Bammer was a two-time All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection. She earned first-team honors as a senior and received honorable mention as a junior. Bammer earned the serving, passing and mental attitude team awards as a senior. Bammer also competed in four years of basketball and earned two varsity letters. Bammer earned the Eagle Scholar Award for having a grade point average of 4.0-plus in her junior and senior years. Bammer has played club volleyball for Indy Juniors Volleyball Club. The daughter of Scott and D’Lee Bammer, Bammer plans to major in biology (pre-veterinary).
Arianna Cohen (Bayside, Wis./Nicolet), 6-3, Middle/Outside Hitter
Cohen was a two-year varsity player and two-year letter winner for Nicolet High School. A team captain as a senior, Cohen led her team in blocks and hitting percentage. Her team also won a North Shore Conference championship and WIAA regional championship in 2013. Cohen was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior and earned honorable mention as a junior. Cohen is a Merit Award recipient and a member of the Dean’s List. Cohen has played club volleyball for North Shore Milwaukee Volleyball Club and Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club. The daughter of Lawrence alumni Robert and Karen Cohen, she plans to major in psychology.
Noelle Hele (Apple Valley, Calif./Granite Hills), 5-9, Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist
Hele was a four-year varsity player and two-year letter winner for Granite Hills High School, where she served as team captain as a senior. Noelle earned All-Grossmont-Hills Conference honors and the team in 2013. Hele also competed in cross country, soccer and track and field. She earned all-conference honors in cross country and track and was a state meet qualifier in cross country and track. Hele, who plans on competing in track at Lawrence, received the Distinguished Scholar Award, Top 20, Principal’s Award and AP Scholar Award. Hele has played club volleyball for Horizon Volleyball Club. The daughter of Christopher and Lisa Hele, she plans on majoring in art history.
Paige Pohlad (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), 5-11, Middle/Rightside Hitter
Pohlad was a three-year varsity player and three-year letter winner for Whitney Young High School. Pohlad helped her volleyball team earn City League Championships in all three years of her competing at the varsity. Academically, Pohlad was named a Illinois State Scholar. Pohlad has played club volleyball for Powerhouse Volleyball Club. The daughter of Mark and Teresa Pohlad, Paige is undecided for her major.
Sydney Nelson (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central), 5-8, Setter
Nelson was a three-year varsity player and three-year letter winner for Crystal Lake Central High School. Nelson, a team captain, helped her team earn three Fox Valley Conference championships. Nelson received the Best Attitude team award in her junior year and the Hardest Worker award as a senior. Academically, Nelson is an Illinois State Scholar, in the top 5 percent of her high school class and received High Honors. Nelson has played club volleyball for Sky High Volleyball Club and Fusion Volleyball Club. The daughter of Scott and Jackie Nelson, she plans on majoring in biology.
Colleen Nowlan (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove), 6-0, Middle Hitter
Nowlan was a two-year varsity player and two-year letter winner for Buffalo Grove High School and played one season of softball. Academically, Nowlan was a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and received high honors in high school. Nowlan has played club volleyball for Top Flight Volleyball Club and has been named Top Flight player of the week. The daughter of Regina Nowlan, she plans on majoring in psychology.
Lauren Ray (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall), 5-8, Setter/Rightside Hitter
Ray was a three-year varsity player and three-year letter winner for Whitnall High School, where she served as team captain in both her junior and senior seasons. Ray was an All-Woodland Conference second-team pick in 2013. Academically, Ray was a member of the National Honor Society and received academic all-conference honors. Ray has played club volleyball for Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club and Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club. The daughter of Collin and Nadine Ray, she plans on majoring in biology.
Sara Schliesman (Juneau, Wis./Dodgeland), 5-4, Defensive Specialist/Libero
Schliesman was a three-year varsity player and three-year letter winner for Dodgeland High School. Schliesman, who led her prep team in digs in 2013, received Academic All-Trailways Conference honors, High Honors, was a forensics state bronze medalist, State Visual Arts Classic gold and silver medalist and is a part of the Honors Choir. Schliesman has played club volleyball for Wisconsin Power Dodge County Volleyball Club. The daughter of Troy and Michelle Schliesman, she plans on majoring in mathematics.
Kendra Thomas (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome), 5-6, Defensive Specialist/Libero
Thomas was a four-year varsity player and four-year letter winner for Sehome High School, where she served as team captain in both her junior and senior seasons. Thomas was a second-team all-conference selection as both a junior and senior. Thomas helped her high school team to three Washington state tournament appearances in the last three years, and Sehome finished fourth in 2013. Also a four-year letter winner in track and field, Thomas is a Washington state champion. Thomas ran a leg on Sehome’s winning 800-meter relay team. She also ran on the 400 relay team that finished second at the state meet. Academically, Thomas has received the Citizenship Award and the Good Samaritan Award. Thomas has played club volleyball for Whatcom Volleyball Club. The daughter of Karl and Karen Thomas, Thomas plans to major in biology.
Rachael Wuensch (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg), 5-10, Outside/Rightside Hitter
Wuensch was a four-year varsity player and four-year letter winner for Reedsburg High School, where she served as team captain as a junior and senior. Wuensch earned All-Badger Conference second-team honors as a sophomore and junior. Wuensch earned the MVP and Offensive MVP team awards as a junior and the Coaches Award (missed most of her senior season due to a knee injury) as a senior. Wuensch, who led her team in digs as a junior, also competed in three years of softball and earned two letters. Academically, Wuensch was a member of the National Honor Society, received High Honors and was on the Principal’s List. Wuensch has played club volleyball for Wisconsin Power Sauk County Volleyball Club, Just A Game Volleyball Club and Wisconsin Select Volleyball Club. The daughter of John and Cindy Wuensch, she plans to major in psychology.
Lawrence open its season Aug. 29 when the Vikings travel to compete in the University of Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio.