Volleyball Lands Four Recruits for 2005 season

Jan. 12, 2005

Coral Gables, Fla. – University of Miami head volleyball coach Nicole Lantagne Welch announced the signing of Bridget Bomhack, Angelica Ellis, Lindsay Fletcher and Lauren Rinderknecht to National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Miami in the fall of 2005.

“Bridget, Angelica, Lindsay and Lauren bring a wealth of experience and athleticism to the Miami volleyball program,” commented Lantagne Welch. “We are thrilled at the caliber of student athlete this class represents. They are primed to come in and make immediate and long lasting impacts on our programs’ success.”

Bomhack, a 6’0″, setter from Waukesha, Wisconsin is a school record holder at Catholic Memorial High School where she set the career assists record with 2,987 assists. Bomhack finished her career with 113 aces, 477 kills and 188 blocks.

In her senior season at Catholic Memorial, Bomhack was named to the All-State First Team as well as was honored as Player of the Year for the Classic 8 Conference. She also garnered Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Athlete of the Week and Preps Plus Athlete of the Week (WTMJ Channel 4) honors.

“Bridget brings depth to our setter position,” noted Lantagne Welch. “Coming from a volleyball family where both siblings played in college, she has been around the game for years and her experience shows in her play. Bridget has great setting instincts, combined with a strong block and great court personality.”

Bomhack is a member of the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club. In 2002, she attended the Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah where her team took third in the 15 Open. She also garnered All-Tournament Team honors. The following year, at the Junior Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Bomhack’s team placed second in the 16 Open.

In 2003, Bomhack was named one of the Top 50 Recruits in the U.S. by prepvolleyball.com.

Ellis, a 6’0″ middle blocker from Houston, Texas hails from Alief Taylor High School. While at Alief Taylor, Ellis garnered District 19-5A All Academic Team honors her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Ellis also earned All-District honors the same three years, earning All-District Honorable Mention as a sophomore, All-District Second Team honors as a junior and All-District First Team honors as a senior.

In 2004, Ellis garnered various tournament Most Valuable Player awards including being named MVP for the Santa Fe Tournament, Sealy Varsity Tournament and Lamar Tournament MVP honors. As a junior, she was named her high school’s Defensive Player of the Year and was honored as Most Improved Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Ellis is also a member of the Spike Sport Volleyball Club where she was named Most Improved Player of the Year in 2004. With her club team, Ellis competed in the AAU Nationals at Disney’s Wide World of Sports as well as the Las Vegas Lone Star and Tour of Texas tournaments.

“Angelica is an incredibly quick athlete in the middle,” said Lantagne Welch. “She has great feet and agility, allowing her to cover the net from antenna to antenna. Her athleticism allows her to punish the ball on a regular basis. Once she gains experience playing at the highest college level, she will make her mark on the Miami program.”

Fletcher heads to Coral Gables via Pasadena, California. The 5’10” outside hitter at Flintridge Prep “is one of the purest athletes to join our program,” said Lantagne Welch. “She is very explosive and is automatic in putting the ball away on the outside. She will quickly develop into an outstanding all around player. We look for her to become a go to hitter for the `Canes. “

Fletcher has been an All-Prep League selection for four years and earned All-CIF Southern Section Division IV Second Team honors as a junior. Her long list of accolades includes being named team MVP as a sophomore and junior, earning Glendale News Press Volleyball Player of the Year and Glendale News Press Athlete of the Year honors as a junior, and captaining her team to the Division IVA Quarter finals her junior year. That same season, Fletcher set a single season area record with 544 kills in 91 games. To date, she has 1,516 kills in her four year career at Flintridge Prep.

Fletcher is a member of the San Gabriel Volleyball Club where she competed at the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She and her team placed first at the Southern California National Qualifier in 2003, finished 11th out of 64 teams in the 17’s Club Division at Nationals that same season and placed 13th in the 18’s Club Division at Nationals in 2004.

Prepvolleyball.com recently ranked Fletcher 78th in the Top 100 senior recruits in the 2005 class. The national on-line publication has regarded her as “a phenominal athlete who was the go-to hitter for San Gabriel (18-1) this year. She combines a huge jump with incredible foot speed (she runs 12.2 in the 100-meter dash). She already is a terminator but will progress in college and should become an exceptional all around outside hitter at the highest level.”

Fletcher has also put together an impressive track and field resume in her four-year varsity career. She was named the Prep League 100 and 200 meter champion and Prep League MVP her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons and is the reigning Prep League record holder in both events. In 2004, Fletcher was named Glendale News Press All-Area Track and Field Female Athlete of the Year.

Rinderknecht, a 5’11” middle blocker and outside hitter from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, rounds out the 2005 recruiting class.

Rinderknecht, who led her team in blocks her senior year, was named team MVP and earned All-League First Teams honors her junior and senior seasons. She also earned North High School tournament MVP accolades in 2004 and was named to the North High All-Tournament team her junior and senior seasons. In 2004 Rinderknecht earned All-CIF Division 2 and All-Channel League First Team honors and was named to the All-Tournament team in the Tournament of Champions.

In 2002, Rinderknecht was honored with All-League Second Team and All-CIF First Team Academic honors. In 2003 she was named to the All-County First Team.

Rinderknecht is also a member of the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club where her team placed 14th out of 140 teams in the 18’s division of the Volleyball Festival in Reno, Nev. in 2004.

“Lauren is an extremely solid all around player and athlete,” said Lantagne Welch. “She is a student of the game and it shows with her results. Her teams always seem to overachieve, largely in part to her contributions. Lauren’s strong work ethic and desire will help her contribute significantly throughout her career. She is one of the most versatile players to become a `Cane which means she’ll be utilized as a middle, outside and rightside.”

Miami Volleyball 2005 Recruiting Class:

Bridget Bomhack
6’0 Setter
Waukesha, Wis.
(Catholic Memorial High School)
Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club

Angelica Ellis6’0 MB
Houston, Texas
(Alief Taylor High School)
Spike Sport Volleyball Club

Lindsay Fletcher
5-10 OH
Pasadena, Calif.
(Flintridge Prep High School)
San Gabriel Volleyball Club

Lauren Rinderknecht5-11 MB/OH
Santa Barbara, Calif.
(San Marcos High School)
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club