MINNEAPOLIS -- Thirteen student-athletes will be joining the Augsburg College volleyball team in one of its most ambitious recruiting and transfer classes in recent years, the coaching staff has announced.

The new players will join an Augsburg squad that has become a consistent contender in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in recent years. Last year's Auggie squad finished 16-12 overall and 5-6 in MIAC play under head coach Jane Becker, Augsburg's seventh straight double-digit win campaign and fifth straight with 16 or more victories.

"We are so excited about our 2013 recruiting class," Becker said. "With only six returning players on our team, we needed a talented group of athletes that have the ability to impact our lineup right away. We believe we found that right mix of players to complete this already talented team. We can't wait for the 2013 season."

Augsburg opens its 2013 campaign in Colorado, with four matches at the Colorado College Invitational on Aug. 30-31. The Auggies will host their own Augsburg Invitational on Sept. 6-7 at Si Melby Hall.

Here is a look at the 2013 Augsburg volleyball recruiting and transfer class:

	Jaelyn Arndt (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS), middle/outside -- Played club volleyball for Club 43 (Hopkins, Minn.) … All-Minneapolis City Conference in 2010 and 2011.
	Caitlyn Beckman (Hayward, Wis.), middle/outside -- Transfer from Minnesota-Duluth (played club volleyball) … Played club volleyball for Minnesota North club … All-Heart O'North Conference first-team selection in 2011 and 2010.
	Nikki Brolin (Burnsville, Minn.), middle -- Played club volleyball for Hammerheads Volleyball Club (South Metro).
	Kyle Everett (Osseo, Minn.), defensive specialist -- Transfer from Univ. of North Dakota … Played at Univ. of South Dakota in 2011 … Two-time all-conference and all-area in high school … Played in 3 matches for UND in 2012, 23 matches for USD in 2011.
	Katie Hedrick (Sparta, Wis.), outside/middle -- Played club volleyball for Tomah Seals (Tomah, Wis.) … All-Mississippi Valley Conference second team in 2012.
	Kali Kuusisto (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), middle -- Played club volleyball for Minnesota Selects … All-conference honorable mention selection.
	Justine Legut (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS), right side -- Played club volleyball for M1 Club (Bloomington) … All-South Suburban Conference in 2012.
	Courtney Lemke (Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake HS), setter -- Played club volleyball for Hutchinson Volleyball Club … Named KNUJ Radio 2012 Volleyball Player of the Year … All-Wright County Conference in 2012 … KDUZ Radio All-Area Volleyball Team in 2012 and 2011.
	DeeDee Maier (Middleton, Wis.), outside -- Played club volleyball for Wisconsin Select … All-Big Eight Conference in 2012 (second team) and 2011 (first team).
	Alison Plieseis (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS), right side/setter -- Played club volleyball for Omeja Volleyball Club … 2012 Minnesota VB Coaches Association Class AA All-State honorable mention … All-Minnesota River Conference in 2012 and 2011.
	Ellen Sachs (Minneapolis, Minn./South HS), outside -- Played club volleyball for Northern Lights … All-Minneapolis City Conference in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
	Dez Sieracki (Wyoming, Minn./Centennial HS), setter/defensive specialist -- Played club volleyball for Minnesota Selects.
	Taylor Trautman (Hutchinson, Minn.), middle … Played club volleyball for Hutchinson Volleyball Club.