Northwest College volleyball will welcome seven freshmen to the team this year, three of those being Wyoming prospects, including Powell’s own Kenzie Fields who is joining the practice squad this fall.

One of the first Trapper signees will be a familiar face and opponent for Powell fans, with Worland’s Ellianna Baumstarck joining Northwest, following the path of her older sister Emily who competed for the Trappers from 2020-22.

“She’s been fun to watch ever since I got Emily. I’ve kept my eye on her,” coach Scott Keister said. “She really wowed me her junior year when she was forced to the outside due to different issues on her high school team. Being able to see her hit outside as opposed to the middle sold me on her.”

He said that he is hopeful the Trappers will be able to get Baumstarck some more hitting power and control competing on the outside, but he feels it will come with her competing against stronger competition every day.

Baumstarck was named 3A All-State during her senior year.

Another familiar opponent who has competed against Powell in the past will be Holland Stowe from Buffalo, another prospect Keister has watched.

“I kept my eye on her for a few years then got really serious about it her senior year. I wanted to see how she progressed,” Keister said. “To see the progression she made from year-to-year I was really impressed with. When she came on her visit it just felt natural with her and I think she would tell you the same thing.”

She served as a setter for the Bison in the 3A East, earning All-State honors and was named the 3A East Conference Player of the Year in 2023.

The first of three Idaho recruits for the Trappers is Aidann Mottishaw, who played as an outside hitter and a setter at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls.

“She is a fantastic setter and a fantastic right side,” Keister said. “She is phenomenal as an attacker. Then she told me she set and I watched her set, she’s phenomenal as a setter too.”

He said he is uncertain if the team will run a 6-2 (two setters) or a 5-1 (one setter) attack, but Mottishaw will compete for a spot.

She was a two-time All-Conference First Team setter in Idaho.

“We are excited for her, I could see her being an All-Region kid, it just depends on how she handles being a freshman,” Keister said.

Another Idaho recruit joining the Trappers will be Mottishaw’s high school teammate her senior year, Devree Gines. She is another athlete which Keister had coached an older sibling of, while at Salt Lake Community College.

“She was kind of a fun recruiting story,” Keister said. “I was recruiting at a tournament and I was done with setters. Then I saw this setter and I hadn’t seen her since she was like 3 feet tall. I know her family really well. It didn’t click with me, I knew her from Utah, but they were from Idaho and then I saw the parents and asked ‘where’s your kid?’ I had written in my notes before I saw them that if we need a setter, we need this one. We were full on setters but when I found out it was her it was a perfect fit.”

He said Gines will come in and compete for either a setting or libero role, having been involved in the sport her entire life.

She was a second team All-Conference setter her senior year.

The final Idaho recruit comes from Blackfoot, as Taylee Carlson will make her way to Powell this fall as a middle blocker.

“She was one I saw about a year ago. I had gone to see her teammate play and didn’t know anything about her but noticed her while watching her teammate,” Keister said. “Great blocker, attacking needs a little work but it’s not awful, it’s good but we need it to be great.”

He said that she is a high energy, positive kid that will help with team chemistry. She had 87 blocks her senior season and was a First Team All-Conference and All-State selection.

The lone Montana recruit this year for the Trappers is Sadie Meier, who was the libero for Billings West, which went undefeated and won the Class AA state championship in 2023.

“She played on a high school team of phenomenal athletes,” Keister said. “Knowing she was playing with that every day, this will be a cakewalk for her … While she was very good she wasn’t necessarily the star of the team because there were a whole bunch of stars. It wasn’t your typical high school team.”

He said that she plays right side and libero, and will compete for both.

Last but not least, Keister said that the Trappers have added Fields as a practice squad player for this fall, with her practicing alongside the team with an opportunity to earn a spot likely next season.

“Every chance I get I want a Powell kid,” Keister said. “They’ve got to have the right attitude and the right mindset and Kenzie has it … We had a pretty good conversation and I said she needs a year practicing with great players and a good coaching staff to really work her and see if we can’t get her good enough to join us.”

He said that she is a full member of the team, but she won’t have a uniform or compete on game days to start.

“We could always change that mid-stream should she start to blow us away then we’ll throw a uniform on and toss her in there,” Keister said. “We wouldn’t burn a year of eligibility just for her to get in one or two matches.”

They will join the nine returning Trappers this fall as the season will kick off on Aug. 1 with practice.