Volleyball Introduces the 2024 Recruiting Class 

The CSU Pueblo Volleyball program will head into the 2024 campaign with five new additions to the roster. Head Coach Austin Albers and his staff will introduce two freshman and three transfers to a team that returns 13 players and six starters from the previous season.  

Hallie Hewlett | 5-9 | Setter | Bountiful HS | Bountiful, UT | Club V 

The Pack will introduce one of the top setters in the state of Utah as a true freshman in 2024. Hallie Hewlett is a Bountiful High School product that has amassed an impressive resume and signed with the ThunderWolves back in November. 

Hewlett helped lead the Bountiful Redhawks to a State Championship Runner-Up finish during her senior season just two years after being a contributor on the 2021 State Championship team. Hewlett was named to the Utah 5A 2nd Team All-State list for her efforts in running the Redhawk offense last season.  

In her senior season, Hallie amassed 986 Assists which led all players in Utah 5A and ranked third among all divisions. She also tacked-on 83 Service Aces which also led Utah's 5A division and ranked seventh in the state. 

After a stellar high school career, Hewlett returned for one final season at Club V to build on a resume that includes a 2021 USAV National Championship. In her final season this spring, her Club V team competed in USAV 18's Open Division and finished the season ranked #3 in the country by PrepVolleyball.com. 

What Coach Albers had to say: 

"Hallie is a player that we kept on our radar for a long time. She'll bring high level experience and a winning pedigree to the setter position along with an ability to dissect opponents from the serve line. We're excited to get her into the gym to learn the system and expand her game. I believe that she is going to develop well on the court and in the weight room during her first season with us and look forward to seeing her grow in our program." 

Natalie Hamann | 5-7 | Libero | Lewis Palmer HS | Monument, CO | Colorado Juniors 

The Pack will certainly improve their backcourt play with the addition of Natalie Hamann. Hamann was a two year varsity starter at volleyball powerhouse Lewis Palmer High School. During her senior season, Hamann helped to defensively anchor a team that went 26-4 on their way to back-to-back final four finishes in the Colorado 4A State Volleyball Tournament. 

In her two seasons with the Rangers, Hamann compiled 500 Digs and 78 Service Aces. Her 50 Service Aces during her senior campaign were good enough to finish 5th among all 4A/5A Pikes Peak League players and 34th among all 4A players in the state.  

Natalie also excels away from the hardwood and in the classroom where she earned Academic All-Conference recognition this past season. 

During her final club season this spring, Natalie competed for the top 18's team at Colorado Juniors where she donned the libero jersey and led the backcourt. Hamann helped her squad earn a bid to USAV Nationals, marking the second consecutive trip to Nationals during her club career. In 2023 Natalie was named the MVP for her club team at Colorado Springs Altitude. 

What Coach Albers had to say: 

"Natalie is such a great addition to our program and our backcourt. While she has always had game, we feel like she really hit her stride over the last year and continues to trend in a positive direction. Nat will give us another point scoring libero option from the serve line and extend rallies with her defensive playmaking ability. I'm looking forward to getting her into the gym with Coach Annemarie to develop her game and build off the positive momentum that she built during her senior year." 

Kendall Schmitz | 5-10 | Setter | UAFS Transfer | Lee's Summit, MO | Pohaku 

The first of three transfers, Kendall Schmitz joins Pack Volleyball after spending the last two seasons at University of Arkansas Fort Smith.  

While at UAFS, Schmitz saw action in one match as a true freshman and posted a double-double with 46 Assists and 12 Digs against St. Edwards. During that match, Schmitz posted 11.5 assists per set on her way to helping two teammates earn career high kills. Early in her sophomore season, Schmitz had broken into the lineup before suffering a season ending injury and declaring for a medical redshirt. She was a two-time Lone Star Conference honor roll and two-time UAFS Dean's List honoree. 

Schmitz prepped at St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, Missouri where she was team captain and helped lead the Stars to back-to-back District Championships and State Tournament appearances. A two-time team MVP, Schmitz was also an Academic All-State honoree and member of the National Honors Society, Hispanic National Honors Society, and STA President's Honor Roll. 

In her club career, Kendall was a part of five straight USAV National Bid teams from her 14's to 18's seasons representing PVA, Invasion, MAVS KC and Pohaku.  

"We were looking to add a transfer setter who could add some experience to our roster and Kendall was an amazing fit. She really hit it off with our team and runs the setter position with confidence and professionalism. We really like her ability to be a weapon from beyond the serve line and her willingness to defend as well. The balance that she has between her experience and remaining eligibility is going to allow us to have multiple off-seasons to help her develop and compete." 

Rayliene Joens | 6-1 | Opposite | Transfer from Winona State | Elkhorn, NE | Nebraska Elite 

The Pack added Joens out of the transfer portal at the semester break. She will enter her final season of eligibility after completing an off-season with the ThunderWolves this spring. Prior to arriving on campus in January, Joens spent the last three seasons at Winona State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 

While at Winona, Ray played sparingly as a freshman before seeing more usage in her sophomore and junior seasons. Joens saw action in 110 sets during her career with the Warriors and was the first pin off the bench during her junior season where she averaged 1.24 Kills per Set and hit .162 on the season which was 4th best amongst Winona's pin hitters. 

Ray was a standout at Elkhorn High School where she earned 1st Team All-State Honors in 2019 and 2021. She was a 3x All-Conference selection and also competed in Track & Field for the Antlers. Joens was also recognized for her talents off the court where she was named a Nebraska State Journalism Champion. 

Joens completed her club volleyball career at Nebraska Elite where she led her team to USAV Nationals appearances every year in her 14's through 17's seasons. 

What Coach Albers had to say: 

 "Ray was a huge pick-up for us this offseason and has been an unbelievable addition to our program. Her impact on the culture and energy signature of our team has been a game changer. She quickly began to stand out in our system and had a big time spring on the court. Ray showed her ability to take over offensively and did so with impressive efficiency over our three spring tournament weekends. Our staff has been so impressed with her and look forward to watching her in a ThunderWolves uniform this fall." 

Megan Mattingly | 5-9 | Libero/OH | Greenway HS | Peoria, AZ | Aspire 

Megan Mattingly will transfer back to CSU Pueblo and join the ThunderWolves after taking a year away from volleyball during the 2023 season. Mattingly previously suited-up for The Pack in 2020-2022 and was a starter during the most successful three-season stretch in program history during which she led all CSU Pueblo starters in serve receive quality. 

As a true freshman, Mattingly split time as a defensive specialist and outside hitter for a ThunderWolves team that cracked the AVCA Top 25 and finished with a 9-2 RMAC record. She continued to build on her resume in her next two seasons as she helped lead the team to back-to-back NCAA National Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. Mattingly will return to Pack Volleyball with a resume that already includes 431 Digs, 162 Kills and 69 Service Aces at .30 Aces per Set.   

During her prep career, Mattingly led the Greenway High School Demons to back-to-back Arizona 4A State Championship victories in 2018 and 2019 as well as a State Championship appearance as a freshman. She was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Conference during her junior season. Megan also excelled on the tennis court where she finished as the Division II Section I Doubles Player of the Year as a senior. 

What Coach Albers had to say: 

"When we got the call from Megan that she wanted to come back and rejoin the program, we were ecstatic. Though her time with us, she has always been a great player and made a positive impact on our team culture. Second chances are few and far between, but when you have a person like Megan who is already part of the family… it's not surprising that there was unanimous excitement from our players to welcome her back home. Meg is a proven winner who will work really hard this summer and give our team an immediate lift just by having her presence back in our gym. We're excited to help her finish her career as a ThunderWolf!"