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NEBRASKA CITY - A pair of three-sport athletes were named as athletes of the year during the Nebraska City High School Awards show earlier this week.

Taylor DeVorss, a volleyball, basketball and track athlete, was named as the Tim Hall Female Athlete of the Year.

Midland University Krystina Koepke of Pierce has signed with Midland University for the 2013 season.

The Midland University Volleyball team has added to their 2013 recruiting class as Krystina Koepke of Pierce, Neb. has signed her letter of intent to join the Warriors.

“We are very excited for Krystina to join our volleyball program. With Krystina not playing any club volleyball and being from outside the metro area, very few schools know about her,” said Paul Giesselmann Midland University volleyball head coach, “I am very impressed with her quickness and the control she has of her body for being 6’3”. Krystina is a young lady that grew very fast and her coordination is now catching up with her. As she gets into college and continues to get stronger, I feel with more training and being surrounded with our players here at Midland, she has the potential to develop into one of the top middles in the GPAC.”

Koepke, a 6’3” middle blocker, comes from Pierce High School where she and her team finished the 2011 season with a 19-12 record and were Pierce County Champions. Koepke was named to the Mid-State Conference Honorable Mention team as she has also lettered two years in volleyball at Pierce High. Koepke also holds the school records in blocks in a season and blocks in a career as only a junior.

“I chose Midland University because it feels like home,”said Krystina Koepke, “The atmosphere and the people there are great. Everyone welcomed me from the time I arrived on campus. The volleyball team showed passion for what they do and for the future of the team. I look forward to joining Midland University.”

Koepke has also been a rounded athlete as she has participated in basketball and track, lettering two years in each. Koepke plans to study Secondary Education with an emphasis in English.

FREMONT - Coach Paul Giesselmann has released his 2012 recruiting class for Midland University’s 2012-13 volleyball squad. The Warriors, coming off a 20-win season and their first ever appearance in the GPAC Semifinals, will add an impressive list of 12 new names to next year’s roster, including 10 all-state achievers and nine all-conference athletes.

“We are really happy with our second recruiting class at Midland,”said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. “When you combine this class with last year’s group, I believe it sets Midland Volleyball up to be a competitive program for several years. The class has a great mix of a couple players who potentially could help us on the varsity immediately, several players that with a couple years of training will be very strong contributors for us, and a couple players that are going to be great role players that we can plug into several positions.”

Of the 12 athletes, 10 have led their high school volleyball teams to conference championships. Seven recruits hold school records and six have led their teams to top-8 or better state tournament finishes.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) announced their all-conference selections for volleyball on Wednesday. Among the selections were several Midland University athletes.

Megan Farley, a freshman setter from Syracuse, Neb., earned GPAC First Team All-Conference honors. Katie Dettmer, a junior right side from Syracuse, Neb., also achieved GPAC First Team All-Conference status.

GPAC Second Team All-Conference earners were Halie Wewel, a senior middle blocker from Fremont, Neb., and Ashley Wheeler, a freshman outside hitter from Auburn, Neb.

FREMONT - Midland University earned a spot in the GPAC Semifinals on Tuesday, beating Hastings College in the quarterfinal round of the GPAC Postseason Tournament, 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13). The Warriors held Hastings College to a hitting percentage of .073 in the postseason victory.

“I’m really proud of the way our team responded late in a pivotal game,” said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. “We are excited to get another chance to play Doane, have another practice, and play another tournament game, which is another opportunity for us to grow as a program.”

Mackenzie Scheef led the Warriors with 15 kills, hitting .353 on the night. Halie Wewel added 12 kills and three blocks. Becca Gradoville led Midland in digs with 26, while Ashley Wheeler contributed 20 digs and 11 kills. Megan Farley recorded 43 set assists in the win.

SIOUX CITY - Midland University lost to Morningside College, 3-2 on Saturday (25-20, 26-28, 18-25, 28-26, 13-15). With the loss, Midland falls just short of earning the number one seed for the GPAC Postseason Tournament.

“This was a championship level match tonight,” said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University head volleyball coach. “If a bounce here or there would have went the other way, we could have come home with a trophy. We are excited for the postseason and hope to have good crowd support on Tuesday.”

Halie Wewel led the Warriors with 15 kills, while Katie Dettmer and Keri Lunz added 14 kills apiece. Becca Gradoville and Kelsey Abels led the team in digs with 20 each. Megan Farley recorded 48 set assists, and Dettmer, Mackenzie Scheef, and Ashley Wheeler each added two service aces.

Midland University picked up their 20th win of the season Thursday, defeating Nebraska Wesleyan University, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21). Midland's side out percentage was greater than 60 percent in every set during the match. With the win, Midland goes into the last game of the regular season competing for a first place GPAC finish.

"I'm pleased with the way we were able to bounce back after a slow start," said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. " I'm happy our players are in a position to play for first place in the conference on Saturday."

Halie Wewel led the Warriors with 13 kills, hitting .632 in the win. Katie Dettmer and Keri Lunz each added nine kills apiece. Becca Gradoville led the Warriors in digs with 16, while Ashley Wheeler added 13 digs. Wewel and Megan Farley recorded two block assists apiece, and Farley added 33 set assists.

Midland University scored another big conference win Tuesday, beating Hastings College 3-1 (25-21, 17-25, 25-19, 25-21). In front of a record setting crowd, the Warriors overcame a seven point deficit in game four to earn the victory.

"I'm pleased with the way the team battled back to get a win tonight," said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. "We probably beat the most athletic team in the conference tonight. This was just a start to what is a huge week for us."

Ashley Wheeler led the Warriors in kills with 13, while Katie Dettmer added 10 kills. Becca Gradoville led the team in digs with 18, and Megan Farley added 16 digs and 35 set assists.

MITCHELL, S.D. - Midland University defeated Dakota Wesleyan University in three sets on Saturday (25-23, 25-21, 25-16). The Warriors excelled defensively, out-digging the Tigers 61 to 30 as a team.

“I’m proud of the way we played tonight, “ said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. “We were sharp with our execution, and we played with much more consistency than we have in recent matches.”

Keri Lunz led the Warriors in kills with nine, while Katie Dettmer and Ashley Wheeler added eight kills apiece. Wheeler and Megan Farley led the team in digs with 15 each, and Becca Gradoville added 14 digs. Halie Wewel recorded five block assists in the victory.

Midland University was defeated by Doane College on Wednesday, 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 22-25, 21-25).

"At times we were the best team on the court, but inconsistent play cost us the match," said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. "We hit well enough to win, but our serving and lack of defense hurt us throughout the match."

Ashley Wheeler led the Warriors in kills with 15 and recorded two service aces. Keri Lunz added 13 kills, and Becca Gradoville led the Warriors in digs with 19.