ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul head volleyball coach Brady Starkey has announced the additions of six prep athletes for the 2019 season.
 
The 2019 Golden Bear freshman class features three outside hitters, two middle blockers and a libero with five of the six coming from Minnesota. The six-player class is the largest freshman class since 2007 under Starkey.
 
Starkey on the class: "We are really excited to announce our incoming freshman class. We feel that we have some high quality student athletes and hardworking people that will build on the success of the athletes before them. This is one of the more athletic classes that we have ever had and we can't wait to get working with them this season."
 
#2 Makenna Berger (OH, 5-10, Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS)
Eden Prairie High School: Earned two letters in volleyball for the Eagles … All-Lake Conference as a junior … team captain … collected 369 kills while helping the team to a conference title in her junior season … missed her senior season due to injury.
 
Personal: Has a younger brother and sister … plans to major in psychology and minor in Spanish at Concordia … her mother played volleyball at Gustavus and her father played club volleyball at the University of Minnesota.
 
Starkey on Berger: "Makenna is a prototypical six rotation athlete with strong ball skills and good court awareness. She is also a strong player in the front row with an effortless jump and a live arm. Makenna is an exceptionally good blocker, which is rare for most kids coming in as high school players. She has been with us in the spring and has shown early that she will be a dominant player for us."
 
#3 Riley Decker (Lib., 5-5, Fr., Morris, Minn. / Morris Area HS)
Morris Area High School: Lettered 14 times for the Tigers, including five in volleyball, three in basketball and two in softball … three-time West Central Conference Defensive MVP and three-time All-Conference pick … All-Area First Team as a junior and twice named All-Area honorable mention … reached 1,000 career digs in her sophomore season, finishing with 1,924 in her career … twice named team captain … MN Breakdown Top 75 Juniors and Top 100 Seniors … helped the team to the MSHSL State Tournament in 2015 and 2016 … also named All-Conference in basketball and softball.
 
Personal: Has a younger brother … majoring in business administration and minoring in sales and business development at Concordia.
 
Starkey on Decker: "Riley is a phenomenal defensive player with an incredible knack for keeping the ball off the floor. She is a tireless worker in the back row and is someone that is going to add a much needed defensive presence with the loss of Hope and Taylor. Her work ethic is second to none and we are excited to get her in our gym."
 
#4 Evie Harrington (MB, 5-10, Fr., St. Michael, Minn. / St. Michael-Albertville HS)
St. Michael-Albertville High School: Lettered three times in volleyball for the Knights … two-time All-Mississippi 8 Conference pick … team captain as a senior … helped the team win back-to-back conference championships … hit .308 with 177 kills while also compiling 53 blocks during her senior season … helped her club team to top-five finishes at the national tournament three years in a row.
 
Personal: Has an older sister, an older brother and a younger brother … plans to major in exercise science and criminal justice at Concordia … her mother played volleyball at Winona State and St. Thomas.
 
Starkey on Harrington: "Evie is undersized middle blocker who has an explosive arm and has the ability to terminate in multiple positions. We are excited about her versatility being able to swing out of the middle as well as on the right side. She has an outgoing personality and someone that will bring energy to help with the culture of our program."
 
#8 Jasmine Mulvihill (OH/RS, 5-11, Fr., Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South HS)
Lakeville South High School: Lettered in volleyball and track & field for the Cougars … named All-State and All-Metro Second Team … earned All-South Suburban Conference honors … two-time team captain … helped the team to two conference titles and two trips to the MSHSL State Tournament … finished with 1,176 career kills, 375 career digs and 228 career blocks.
 
Personal: Has an older sister and a younger brother … plans to major in exercise science at Concordia … her father played football at Northern State.
 
Starkey on Mulvihill: "Jasmine is a dynamic athlete with a heavy arm and someone that we think will be a very terminal player for us. She is a no-nonsense player who has a great work ethic and a strong desire to compete and get better. She comes from a winning tradition on both her high school and club volleyball teams and we are hopeful that she continues her success with us."
 
#9 Katie Mattson (OH/RS, 5-10, Fr., St. Croix Falls, Wis. / Luck HS)
Luck High School: Lettered six times for the Cardinals with four in volleyball and two in track & field … WVCA All-State as a senior and All-State honorable mention as a junior … two-time All-West Lakeland Conference selection … team captain as a senior … helped the team to two straight conference titles … reached the 1,000 career kills mark, including 490 (5.70 per set) as a senior … also added 348 digs (4.00 per set) in her senior season … was also named All-Conference in multiple events in track & field.
 
Personal: Has a brother and a sister … plans to pursue a degree in a health-related field.
 
Starkey on Mattson: "Katie is a dynamic athlete who has an effortless jump which gives her the potential of playing above the competition. She has experience playing every position in the front row and we are excited to have that versatility in our gym. Katie has a ton of potential for growth as a player and she really has the potential to be a future dominant player for us."
 
#20 Jamie Guptill (MB, 6-0, Fr., Rush City, Minn. / Rush City HS)
Rush City High School: Lettered in volleyball, basketball and track & field for the Tigers … twice named All-State … two-time Conference MVP and four-time All-Conference … team captain as a senior … also named All-Conference in basketball and track & field … Conference Champion in discus.
 
Personal: Plans to major in physical therapy at Concordia.
 
Starkey on Guptill: "Jamie is a high academic and successful three sport athlete who has only tapped into the potential she has as a volleyball player. She is a great hitter who has the ability to score from multiple positions on the court. Jamie is also a relentless blocker and someone that we expect to dominate at the net for us during her time at Concordia."