The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) volleyball program announced the addition of Natalie Koke (S, 5-8, Caledonia, Wis./Racine St. Catherine’s H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent. Koke is the fifth and final signee for the Golden Eagles for the 2018 recruiting class. She is the third high school prep to sign with UMC. Koke will begin competing for the Golden Eagles during the 2018 season.
Koke joins Sydney Kruisselbrink (So., Setter, Rochester) at setter heading into the 2018 season. Koke will compete and push for playing time as a freshman for the Golden Eagles. She joins Porsha Porath (OH, 6-1, Windom) and Hannah Stark (OH, 5-10, Esko) as incoming freshmen for UMC. The Golden Eagles also inked a pair of junior college signees in Lauren Ulibarri (DS/Lib., 5-5, Flagstaff, Ariz./Yavapai College) and Melissa Rodriguez (MH, 6-0, Sarchi, Costa Rica/Otero Junior College (Colo.).
Natalie Koke/S/5-8/Caledonia, Wis./Racine St. Catherine’s H.S.
Koke was a Second Team All-Metro Classic Conference pick and a Second Team All-County selection as a senior for St. Catherine’s H.S. in Racine, Wis. She also served as team captain during her senior season. Koke averaged 1.7 kills and 3.1 assists per set as a senior. She also notched 2.8 digs per set. As a junior, Koke was an All-Metro Classic Conference Honorable Mention selection and served as team captain. She also earned the Sportsmanship Award. Koke tallied 1.4 kills and 5.8 assists per set during her junior campaign. She also notched 2.7 digs per set. As a sophomore, Koke was named All-Metro Classic Conference Honorable Mention and was named a preseason Player to Watch. She was also an honorable mention selection during her freshman season.
“We are very happy to be adding Natalie to our Golden Eagle family, and cannot wait to have her in the gym, the classroom and the community,” said Head Coach Sarah Rauen. “Natalie will add depth to our setting position, as well as continue to raise the level of competition in the gym. We look forward to having her in a Golden Eagle uniform for the next four years!”
Koke is the daughter of Rick and Janie Koke. She was born Feb. 22, 2000. Koke plans to major in communication at Minnesota Crookston. Her uncle Andy Schmidtmann played basketball at Wisconsin-Parkside.
