ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern volleyball program is thrilled to welcome an eight-member recruiting class to the Eagle roster this fall. Northwestern, coming off its eighth straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season title, has high hopes for the 2019 season set to begin Friday, Aug. 30. The Eagles will host the annual Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational as the following eight players are set to make their collegiate debut.

Head Coach Beth Wilmeth, who has led UNW to 12 UMAC Championships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances, will begin her 16th season at the helm. Coach Wilmeth weighed in about each of her incoming recruits.
 
Talia Gruthusen (5'10 Outside/Middle / Dyer, IN)

• 2018 Honorable-Mention Post-Tribune All-Area
• Three-Year Starter; Academic All-State
• MAJOR – Nursing

We're looking forward to welcoming Talia to our program and having her in our gym. Earning her team's "Heart, Hustle, and Desire Award" holds a lot of weight with us, as work ethic is one of the top criteria in our recruiting evaluation process. Talia has experience at multiple positions, so it will be fun to discover where she excels at the college level.
 
Kendra Hardy (5'10 Opposite / Alexandria, MN)

• Two-Time All-Conference Player; All-Section Team
• Will also join Northwestern's softball program
• MAJOR – Accounting and Business Data Analysis

 As a lefty, Kendra is a powerful attacker on the right pin. Her resilience is seen in her steady and consistent nature on the court, which is only punctuated when she terminates the ball. She will be a double-major two-sport athlete here at UNW, which says a lot about Kendra's ambition and commitment.
 
Emily Moin (5'7 Setter/Defensive Specialist / Blaine, MN)

• Team MVP; Team Captain
• Four-Year Academic Honors
• MAJOR – Undecided

 Emily has numerous family connections to Northwestern, which makes it especially fun to have her join our team. She will be training at a new position than what she played in high school, and we are looking forward to watching her grow as she adjusts to the college game. Emily is a team-first player, something we highly value in our program.
 
Soleil Newland (6'1 Middle Blocker / Sauk Rapids, MN)

• Three-Time All-Conference Player; All-Area Team
• Top 10 in Minnesota for Kills; Top 3 in Minnesota for Hitting Percentage
• MAJOR – Nursing

 We're thrilled about Soleil's decision to continue her volleyball career at Northwestern! Soleil has a strong presence as a middle blocker along with the ability to hit a wide variety of shots picking apart opponent defenses. Her competitive fire and knack for infusing energy into her teammates is going to benefit our program greatly over the next four years.
 
Lucy Pelzel (5'8 Outside/Middle / St. Joseph, MN)

• All-Granite Ridge HM; St. Cloud Times All-Area HM
• 2018 State Tournament Participant
• MAJOR – Biochemistry

Lucy is an athletic player who, in our opinion, has flown under the recruiting radar. She can play multiple positions and has a quiet strength about her that complements her character and integrity. Beyond her skill and athleticism, we are excited about the ways that she will be an impact player in our team's culture.
 
Kate Rogers (5'8 Outside/Libero / Woodbury, MN)

• Two-Time All-Conference Player, Three-Year Starter
• 2017, 2018 State Tournament Participant
• MAJOR – Pre-Physical Therapy

 Kate is someone we've had our eye on for a long time. On the court, she brings a lot to the table. But we're especially impressed with how clearly she understands and aligns with our program's culture. With an analytical bent, Kate is a great court communicator and knows how to bring out the best in those around her. We're so excited that she chose Northwestern!
 
Marylyn Schroyer (5'3 Defensive Specialist/Libero / Fort Collins, CO)

• 2017, 2018 State Tournament Participant
• Already owns an Associate's Degree in Business
• MAJOR – Business Administration

 Marylyn fit in the moment she stepped onto campus. During her first visit, I remember wishing we could plug her into our team right away. On the court, she's a fearless defender, able to dig hard shots. Her consistent ball control and defensive athleticism will be an asset to our program, filling in some of the gaps we've lost to graduation over the past two seasons.
 
Gabrielle Straub (5'9 Outside Hitter / Le Sueur, MN)

• Three-Time All-Conference Player
• All-Time Kills and Blocks Leader at Le Sueur-Henderson High School
• MAJOR – Sport Management

 Gabby impressed us right from the start with her grit and drive on the court. She can fire away offensively and plays just as hard in the backrow, making great reads on the ball. Her work ethic is outstanding, and she has a volleyball IQ to match. We could not be more excited that she is joining our volleyball program!
 
Follow Northwestern volleyball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwvb. To view the complete 2019 volleyball schedule, click here.