RAPID CITY - The South Dakota School of Mines volleyball team along with Lady Hardrocker head coach Beth Honaker is pleased to announce the addition of new recruits: Ashley Kauffman, Karina Garber, Mandi Veldkamp, Nicole Markoff and Paige Corcoran.

Kauffman, of Fort Morgan, Colo., has most experience as a transfer student from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. In Kauffman's two-year career at NJC, she totaled 498 kills and 174 blocks. She was also a very strong back row player with 321 digs.

Garber, from Torrington, Wyo., will add depth up front for Mines. She is a solid front-row player and in her high school career, she recorded 198 kills, 212 blocks and 81 digs. Garber also had a serving percentage of 91 and was .235 on hitting efficiency.

Veldkamp comes out of a strong East River program in Dell Rapids. During her senior season, Veldkamp had 44 solo blocks, and was 50 of 68 on attacks with 44 kills. She is also a top-notch student earning Academic All State honors as a senior. She was also an All Conference Honorable Mention candidate in 2006 and earned the Practice Player Award from her team in 2005 and 2006.

Following in her sister Jennifer's footsteps, Nicole Markoff, of Arvada, Colo., will reinforce the Mines lineup. She is a well-rounded athlete who, in high school, participated in varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, club volleyball and club basketball. She is also developing her leadership skills volunteering for various basketball camps.

The final Mines recruit, Corcoran, of Pierre, also comes from a storied volleyball program. At the conclusion of her senior season, the Lady Gov had racked up 233 kills and had 55 total blocks. For her efforts she received the Coaches Award, and was named the Academic All-State team for volleyball and also earned ESD All Conference Honorable Mention for the second consecutive year.

The Hardrockers will start their 2007 campaign Aug. 25 at a tournament in Billings, Mont.