Siedlik signs 5 in 2018 early recruiting class

Bellevue University head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik announced the additions of five student-athletes who all signed letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at BU beginning in the fall of 2018. 

The newest Bruins include 5-11 outside hitter Sierra Athen (Red Oak, Iowa/Red Oak HS), 6-0 middle blocker Sienna Black (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Treynor HS), 5-5 defensive specialist/libero Sidney Craig (Harlan, Iowa/Harlan HS), 5-4 defensive specialist/libero Madi Evans (Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS), and 6-1 middle blocker Rosa Reed-Bouley (Omaha, Neb./Gross Catholic HS).

The Bruins will compete in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship on Nov. 28-Dec. 2 in the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City Iowa. Bellevue defeated Lincoln Christian, 3-0, last Saturday in the NAIA Opening Round at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. 

Sierra Athen (5-11, OH, Red Oak, Iowa/Red Oak HS)

Earned first team all-state honors while leading her 2017 Red Oak HS squad to an appearance in the Iowa Class 3A State Tournament under coach Angela Montgomery ... Paced the Tigers with 382 kills on .307 hitting, while adding a team-high 45 service aces and 356 digs ...Earned second-team Class 3-A all-state honors as a junior in 2016 ... Two-time all-Hawkeye Ten Conference honoree ... In her junior season, led the conference in kills with 431 and was third in digs with 402 ... Two-time team captain ... Recorded over 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs ... As a freshman, helped her team to a semifinal appearance in the 2014 Iowa State Tournament ... Captain of the USA Iowa High Performance National team in 2016, helping lead her team to a silver medal at the USA HP National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ... Played club volleyball for Attack Volleyball under coach Scott Huttmann ... Qualified for USA Junior Nationals in 2014, 2015, and 2016 ... Four-time letterwinner in basketball, earning first-team all-conference and all-District honors in 2017 ... Qualified for the 2017 Iowa State Track & Field Championships in the sprint medley relay ... An excellent student, she was a four-time recipient of the Iowa Girls Athletic Union Academic Award and was on the High Honor Roll 13 quarters.

Siedlik on Athen: "Sierra is one of the most technically-sound six-rotation players in the state of Iowa. She has a high volleyball IQ and is a fierce competitor with a big, confident presence on the court. Sierra has a very strong work ethic and makes everyone around her better. Academically, Sierra will continue our strong success in the classroom." 

  
Sienna Black (6-0, MB, Council Bluffs, Iowa/Treynor HS)

Earned all-Western Iowa Conference honors her senior season at Treynor HS under coach Kim Barents ... Led the 2017 Cardinals with 89 totals blocks and a .315 hitting percentage while finishing third on the team with 204 kills ... Named to the KMA Southwest Iowa first team ... Played club volleyball for Attack Volleyball Club under coach Scott Huttmann, which qualified for USA Junior Nationals in 2014, 2015, and 2016 ... Qualified for the 2017 Iowa State Track & Field Championships in the high jump, 4x400 relay, and the 4x800 meter relay which set a school record with a time of 9:55.38 ... Named to the high honor roll every quarter of her high school career ... Earned academic all-conference honors. 

Siedlik on Black: "Sienna has the highest ceiling of any athlete that we have seen. We are looking forward to working with her athleticism and meshing it with some technical skills to form a dominant force at the net. Sienna is smart and a hard worker and we know she will continue to grow and just keep getting better at the collegiate level."

Sidney Craig (5-5, DS/L, Harlan, Iowa/Harlan HS)

A two-time all-Hawkeye 10 Conference selection at libero for the Cyclones under coaches Angie Spangenberg and Willie Baughman ... Led her 2017 Harlan HS squad with 480 digs and 40 service aces ... Her 480 digs ranked eighth in the state of Iowa in Class 4A ... Ranks second in school history with 1,078 career digs ... Played club volleyball for Attack Volleyball Club under coach Scott Huttmann ... Qualified for USA Junior Nationals in 2014, 2015, and 2016 ... Two-time qualifier for the Iowa State Track Meet and the Drake Relays in the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays ... Member of the school's honor roll for 14 quarters.

Siedlik on Craig: "Having one talented libero on the team is key. Having a second that can not only provide depth but also competition every day to make each other better, is extraordinary. As quick and competitive as Sidney is, I foresee the ball control on the court being in great hands." 

Madi Evans (5-4, DS/L, Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS)

Guided her Millard North HS teams under coach Lindsey Peterson to back-to-back appearances in the Nebraska Class A state championship match, including the state title in 2016 ... Earned all-state and all-Metro Conference honors at libero, while also being named to the all-tournament team at the 2017 Nebraska State Tournament ... Named a team captain in 2017 ... Broke the school record for career digs ... Played club volleyball for Legacy Volleyball Club under coach JP Da'Silva, helping her team to an appearance in the 2016 USA Junior Nationals in Indianapolis ... Brother, Matt, is currently a senior infielder on Bellevue's baseball team ... Sister, Meghan, was a libero for the Bruins from 2010-13, ranking second in school history with 2,351 career digs. 

Siedlik on Evans: "We are very fortunate to have Meghan Evans' younger sister join our program. Like Meghan, Madi has the consistent passing skills and defensive range to help us get back to the National Tournament and compete for a national title. With her experience in the state finals the past two seasons, Madi is already accustomed to the pressure of big matches. We expect big things from Madi in her future as a Bruin."

Rosa Reed-Bouley (6-1, MB, Omaha, Neb./Gross Catholic HS)

Earned four varsity letters in volleyball while garnering all-River City Conference honors under coach Sarah Rangel at Omaha Gross Catholic HS ... Led the Cougars in kills, blocks and hitting percentage during both her junior and senior seasons ... Played club volleyball for Nebraska Elite under coaches Erin Weis and Dayan Acevaedos. 

Siedlik on Reed-Bouley: "The "quiet giant" at the net is what I like about Rosa. She doesn't say much but when she hits the ball, you know it's coming. She is smart and has grown with her skills over the past couple years. I expect her to get better and better every year with work in the weight room and on the technical skills that will help her play at an elite level."