Volleyball adds transfer Brown to 2019 class

Bellevue University head coach Trish Siedlik announced the newest addition to the 2019 recruiting class, 5-6 defensive specialist/setter MacKenna Brown (Maple Lake, Minn./Anoka-Ramsey CC/Maple Lake HS). Brown will have three years of eligibility remaining after playing one season of volleyball and basketball at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minn.

Brown earned second-team Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference all-Southern Division honors at ARCC in 2018 while leading the Golden Rams with 183 assists and 139 digs. She was named Most Valuable Player for her 2018 squad. 

A four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Maple Lake High School under coach Marty Kiebel, Brown earned her team's Sportsmanship Award and was twice honored with the Hustle Award. 

A versatile athlete, Brown was a six-year letterwinner in track and a four-year letterwinner in basketball. She set single-season school records for free throws in both her junior and senior seasons. Brown was a five-time state qualifier for the Minnesota State Track Meet.

"Having a player like MacKenna in our program who is willing to put in the work to get better with her game is all you can ask for in a recruit" said Siedlik. "She already has displayed that she is a team player when it comes to this program. Her academics are strong and we are looking forward to her adding depth and competition in the back court." 

An excellent student, Brown won multiple academic all-state honors in volleyball, basketball, and track.  

Brown, the daughter of Ryan and Julie Brown, becomes the eighth signee in BU's 2019 recruiting class. She joins earlier signees middle blocker Nicole Meyer (Murdock, Neb./Elmwood-Murdock HS), middle blocker Kloe Ruth (Rising City, Neb./David City Aquinas HS), setter Riley Burcham (Georgetown, Texas/Gateway College Prep)  middle blocker Paige Hays (Glenwood, Iowa/Glenwood HS), outside hitter Paige Holdsworth (Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS), defensive specialist/outside hitter Jacey Klassen (Hampton, Neb./Hampton HS), and middle blocker Brooklyn Hundt (Underwood, Iowa/Tri-Center HS).

The Bruins finished the 2018 season with a 23-12 overall record, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the third-straight season and the 11th time in school history.