By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Cougar Volleyball is excited to announce the addition of five incoming freshman to their 2025 roster.
"In 2025, USF volleyball welcomes five new players in four different positions: a setter, an outside hitter, a middle blocker, and two liberos. I've known this group for almost two years now, and we've already established incredible relationships within the group and among the team," stated head coach Dan Mathews. "We have been waiting a long time to have them in our gym, so we are more than ready for them to be here. They already feel like a part of our team! What excites me most about this group is their maturity as people, their belief in USF, their desire to compete, their willingness to learn and improve, and the natural talent that they already possess. I look forward to the immediate impact they will have on our program. Our fans are going to enjoy getting to know these new faces!"
Jadyn Hofmeyer – Outside Hitter | Orange City, Iowa | Unity Christian HS
Standing at 5'11", Hofmeyer has demonstrated exceptional talent as an outside hitter, earning accolades such as First Team All-Conference in both 2023 and 2024. Her impressive high school career stats include 788 kills, a kill efficiency of 39.4%, 97 blocks, 636 digs, and 103 aces.
Beyond her athletic prowess, Hofmeyer excels academically with a GPA of 3.9 and has been recognized as an Academic All-American and Academic All-Conference honoree in 2024. A two-time national champion and a member of the prestigious JVA Watch List in 2023 and 2024, she brings a well-rounded skill set and competitive spirit to USF's volleyball program. Jadyn plans to major in nursing while continuing to shine on and off the court as a Cougar.
Coach Mathews on Hofmeyer
"Jadyn is the prototypical excellent NSIC Outside Hitter in her athleticism and skill. She is fast to the ball, jumps well, and can hit hard with a lot of range. A natural competitor, Jadyn is not afraid of a challenge and is motivated to train and win. She also has the benefit of an established connection with our incoming 2025 setter, Hollie Peterson, because they have been club teammates."
Maci Lerseth – Libero | Indianola, Iowa | Indianola HS
Known for her defensive prowess, Lerseth tallied 391 digs, 45 aces, and 123 assists during her senior season, showcasing her versatility and leadership on the court. She has been an integral part of the Iowa Powerplex club team, where she further honed her skills.
An exceptional student as well, Lerseth maintains a GPA of 3.89 and has been recognized as a member of the National Honor Society and an Academic All-Conference honoree. While she is currently undecided about her major, her dedication to excellence both academically and athletically makes her a valuable addition to USF's volleyball program.
Coach Mathews on Lerseth
"Maci has a natural feel for the game that is hard to teach but easy to recognize. She's the type of player who younger players should watch and learn from. Her defensive toolkit and second-ball contacts are elite, and her command of serve receive will allow our attackers more freedom to focus on point scoring. Moreover, she has the dispositional traits every coach wants in their ball control players: acute focus, first-step quickness, and fiery competitiveness balanced with poise."
Hollie Peterson – Setter | Sioux City, Iowa | Sioux City East HS
Standing at 6'0", Peterson brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Cougars, highlighted by her impressive high school stats, which include 1,024 assists, 698 kills, and 597 digs. A key member of the MVP club team, she has honed her craft under top-tier coaching and competitive play.
Off the court, Peterson has maintained a strong academic record with a 3.56 GPA and has been on the honor roll throughout her high school career. With plans to pursue a degree in business or elementary education, Hollie exemplifies the balance of athletic and academic dedication.
Coach Mathews on Peterson
"Hollie is the right player to inherit the USF setting legacy. She enters the program just as our current setters are departing and she is ready to maintain a high level in that position. At six feet tall, her size makes her an offensive and defensive threat in the front row. Mentally, she has the right skills for a setter; she is collected and unrattled even in the midst of chaos. Finally, she has experience setting excellent hitters throughout her club career and therefore knows how to operate at that level."
Lillian Vitera – Middle Blocker | LaVista, Neb. | Papillion LaVista HS
A 4-year varsity starter for the Monarchs, Vitera joins The Coo following an impressive high school and club career. At 5'11", she recorded a school-record for blocks in a match and was named a team captain.
Showing her academic excellence, Vitera was named the National Honor Society President at Papillion LaVista HS while earning honors all four years. While graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors, Vitera also earned the Outstanding Christian Service Award and will plan to double major in Theology and Education.
Coach Mathews on Vitera
"Lillian is the exact type of student, athlete, and person that we want to represent our program. A great student, Lillian will maintain our standing as a model team in the classroom. As an athlete, she excels as a blocker because of her lateral quickness and as an attacker because of her high contact. As a person, she will mirror the maturity already established in our group. Most importantly, she is excited to learn and has a tremendous upside."
Gretchen Volk – Libero | Willmar, Minn. | Willmar Senior HS
The 5'8" libero comes to USF following a standout high school career as well as a solid career with Kandi Elite Volleyball Club. Recording 1,034 career digs along with 728 kills and 124 aces, Volk was named to the AVCA Best and Brightest list.
In the classroom, Volk is a four-time academic letter winner and was named to the Academic All-State team while earning the CLC Senior Scholar Athlete award for the Cardinals. Undecided in her course of study, Volk will join the Cougars as a key asset both on the court and in the classroom with a GPA of 3.98.
Coach Mathews on Volk
"Gretchen is a tenacious defender with an incredible touch and a highly developed ability to read the game. A former hockey player, Gretchen is as tough on the court as she was on the ice. Teammates love to play with Gretchen because she is a steadying presence who can take over the back court, and coaches love to coach Gretchen because of her work ethic and demeanor."
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