accordThe Minnesota volleyball team has signed Rachel Hartmann, Kyla Roehrig, Kelly Schmidt and Katie Vatterrodt to national letters of intent for the early signing period according to an announcement made by Minnesota head coach Mike Hebert on Thursday, Nov. 11. All four student-athletes will be eligible to compete for Minnesota in the 2005 season.

Three of Minnesota's recruits are ranked in the prepvolleyball.com top 20 seniors, and all four of them are among the top 35 graduating high school seniors in the nation.

Hartmann is a 5-11 setter out of St. Charles, Ill. who attends Rosary High School. She is the 11th-ranked high school senior in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com. Hartmann was named Chicago Sun Times First-Team All- Area in 2004 and to the Daily Herald All-Area team in 2003. She also broke the school record for assists. In her senior season, Hartmann led Rosary High School to its first ever conference championship. Rosary was also ranked No. 42 in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com. She also helped her basketball team to its first ever conference championship in her sophomore season.

In the summer of 2004, Hartmann played for the U.S. A-2 National Team. She also played club volleyball for Club Fusion Volleyball the last three seasons. Her team finished ninth in the Junior National Championships in 2004.

"Rachel is, in my opinion, the top setter available in the class of the 2005," said Hebert. "Her combination of setting ability, blocking skills and court generalship set her apart from the others on the list."

Roehrig is a 6-4 outside hitter out of Papillion, Neb. who attends Papillion LaVista High School. She is the 20th-ranked high school senior in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com. Roehrig was named All-State, All-City and All-Conference in her sophomore and junior seasons. She was also named Super State in 2002 and 2003, and was a 2003 prepvolleyball.com All- American. Roehrig was also a 2003 Finalist for "National Class Player of the Year".

She helped lead her team to runner-up in the State Championship in 2003, and to state titles in 2001 and 2002. Roehrig also broke the state's single- season kill record with 812 in her junior season. She was named to the All- Metro team in basketball as well in 2004. Roehrig also played club volleyball for the Nebraska Juniors Volleyball Club. Her team finished fifth at the Junior National Championships in 2004.

"Kyla is the real deal," said Hebert. "She will likely play on the left side at Minnesota. She brings a powerful right arm and has all the shots necessary to be a great scorer as an outside hitter. Her blocking and jump serving skills are already at an elite level."

Schmidt is a 6-3 middle blocker/right side from Champaign Ill. who attends Centennial High School. She is the 31st-ranked high school senior in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com. Schmidt was named Second-Team All-State in 2003 and Honorable Mention All-State in 2002.

She was also named First-Team All-Conference and All-Area in 2003 and 2004. Schmidt was named the conference's Blocker of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. She set her high school's record in blocks and kills. Schmidt also played five years for the Illini Elite Volleyball Club.

"Kelly is one of the real prizes of our recruiting class," said Hebert. "At 6-3 she can play multiple positions, but will probably be trained to play on the right side to utilize her significant blocking skills."

Vatterodt is a 6-2 outside hitter from Bloomington, Ill. who attends Normal County West High School. She is the 18th-ranked high school senior in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com. Vatterodt was named All-Area and All-City in 2003 and 2004 and All-Conference in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She set the single-season school record for kills. Vatterodt was also the team MVP in 2003 and 2004 and was named a Big 12 Scholar Athlete.

She also played on the U.S. A-2 National team in the summer of the 2004. Vatterodt has played for the Illini Elite club team for the last six years.

"Athletic ability, this is what comes to my mind when I think about Katie," said Hebert. "She is a very physical outside hitter who is on the verge of becoming a great serve receiver as well. I like everything I see in her game. She just needs some time to refine her considerable skills."

With four players in the class ranking among the top 100 seniors on prepvolleyball.com, Minnesota has now had seven players who have ranked in the top 35 or better and six who have been in the top 20 on the prepvolleyball.com top seniors list the past three years.

"When you add Madelaynne Montano, who signed with our program last spring, this should be the best recruiting class to ever be assembled at Minnesota," said Hebert. They will bring a blend of talent, experience, and size that will impress everyone. We have met all of our recruiting needs and then some."

Player Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School) prepvolleyball.com rank Rachel Hartmann S 5-11 St. Charles, Ill. (Rosary) #11 Kyla Roehrig MB 6-4 Papillion, Neb. (Papillion LaVista) #20 Kelly Schmidt MB/RS 6-2 Champaign, Ill. (Centennial) #31 Katie Vatterodt OH 6-2 Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Count West) #18