Minnesota Volleyball: National Signing Day 2018

Minnesota is already reaping the benefits from last year’s recruiting class and this year’s class looks to also have some high impact players. Today the Gophers signed Shea Rubright and Ellie Husemann. Rachel Kilkelly who is also a member of this year’s signing class did not sign today but is included in this post.

The leading recruit in this year’s class is 6’5, middle blocker Shea Rubright from Yakima Washington. Rubright comes in at 12 on PrepVolleyball’s Top 100 and is the 7th ranked middle blocker. She also is an Under Armour First-Team All-American. Rubright is tremendously skilled offensively as this season she has averaged 4.2 kills per set and hit .529 for the West Valley Rams. She’s no slouch as a blocker either posting one per set this season. Rubright’s team is still alive in the Washington State Tournament, but looking ahead she will enroll early this spring.

Ellie Husemann from Eagan also signed today; Husemann is a 6’4 middle blocker. This season she averaged 2.7 kills and 1.3 blocks per set while hitting .377. She was made the Class AAA First-Team All-State as she helpd her team to their fourth straight finals appearance. Nationally, she was named an Honorable Mention Under Armour All-American and was ranked 86th in this year’s senior class by PrepVolleyball.

Rounding out this year’s class is Rachel Kilkelly. The 5’9 outside hitter/defensive specialist just wrapped up a successful career at Shakopee. Like Husemann she was named to the Class AAA All-State First-Team. This past season she posted 339 kills, 4.2 per set, 287 digs, 3.6 per set, and 28 aces. She made PrepVolleyball’s “150” Seniors list.

Looking at the roster for next season none of these recruits will necessarily jump right into the lineup, but instead, add even more depth. Only one departing senior is a starter and the other two don’t see very much action so there aren’t really holes to fill in the lineup. After waiting three years Taylor Morgan has commanded her middle block spot in the lineup and will likely hold on to it. We could see Rubright redshirt next season before moving into a starting spot.

Looking ahead the Gophers have a handful of commitments from future classes.

Class of 2020

Cami Appiani 5’9 OH/DS Torry Pines HS, CA

Taylor Landfair 6’5 OH Plainfield Central HS, IL

Melani Shaffmaster 6’3 S New Castle HS, IN

Class of 2021

Skylar Gray 5’10 OH/DS Maple Grove SH, MN

Anna Wolf 6’3 MB River Falls HS, WI

Class of 2022

Carter Booth 6’7 MB Benilde-St. Margaret, MN

McKenna Wucherer 6’1 OH Brookfield Central HS, WI