Volleyball Signs Four

OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton Volleyball head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth announced that four players will join the program as the Bluejays have received signed commitments from Alivia Hausmann, Emersen Strain, Sophia Wendlick and Nora Wurtz.

Strain and Wurtz plan to enroll in January, while Wendlick and Hausmann will enroll next August. All four women will have four seasons of collegiate eligibility.

"I think it's a great class. They encompass every position on the court basically. They'll provide depth and fight for time, and I think they're great culture kids to continue to advance our program."

Alivia Hausmann, 5'4", Defensive Specialist, Firth, Neb., Norris High School

Played both as a setter and defensive specialist in high school but projects as a defensive and serving specialist in college.
Had 174 digs and 36 aces as a senior, helping team to the state runner-up finish.
Senior year team was ranked No. 5 in the state overall, and No. 2 in Class B.
AVCA All-Region 7 as a senior, in addition to being AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
As a junior owned 561 assists and 206 digs in addition to 26 aces, earning her Honorable Mention All-State accolades in Class B from the Lincoln Journal Star.
Helped team to state title game as a sophomore, finishing the year with 248 digs and 46 aces.
Collected 160 digs and 45 aces as a freshman.
Owned 788 digs, 639 assists and 153 aces as a prep.
Committed to Creighton in October of 2022.
Coached by Christina Boesiger.
Also runs track in high school.
Plays club volleyball for Premier Nebraska.
Has a pair of brothers (Cooper Hausmann and Ashton Hausmann) who play football at Nebraska.

Kirsten Bernthal Booth on Alivia Hausmann: "I've had the luxury of knowing Alivia personally because she's good friends and club teammates with my daughter. She will add great depth to our talented defensive specialists on this team. She's got a good serve that she'll continue to develop and is a kid that will bring great culture and a winning attitude."

Emersen Strain, 6'0", Setter, Thornton, Colo., Horizon High School

Plans to enroll at Creighton in January.
Four-year academic and athletic letterwinner.
Team captain for the volleyball team.
As a junior, owned 317 assists, 253 kills, 184 digs, 57 aces and 40 blocks, earning team MVP, first team all-conference and Honorable Mention All-State honors.
Named First Team Academic All-State and received the Difference Maker Award.
Committed to Creighton in August of 2022.
Plays on the club circuit for Colorado Juniors.
Kirsten Bernthal Booth on Emersen Strain: "We got really excited about Emersen when she came to camp two years ago. She's a kid that makes people around her better, and our players all commented on how she's a great leader. She's a good setter and has the potential to be a great setter. We're excited she's going to come in next spring so we have time to work with her. Another great culture kid that has a lot of potential."

Sophia Wendlick, 6'1", Outside Hitter, Milwaukee, Wis., Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

Owned 556 kills (4.9 kps.) on .341 hitting as a senior, also adding 260 digs, 51 aces and 48 blocks in 114 sets.
Led the state of Wisconsin at the Division I level in kills as a senior.
Senior year team won a second straight state title after going 47-1 and is ranked No. 8 in the nation by MaxPreps and 15^th by USA Today.
Had 22 kills and 12 digs in 3-2 victory in the 2023 state championship match.
Named to AVCA's Best and Brightest First Team, AVCA First Team All-American and AVCA All-Region 6 in 2023.
Helped DSHA to state title in 2022, finishing the season with 341 kills and 107 blocks while hitting .332.
Had 20 kills in 24 swings and hit .792 in state tournament quarterfinal win vs. Middleton in 2022, then added 18 kills on .417 hitting in five-set win over Oconomowoc in state final two days later.
As a sophomore finished with 177 kills and 56 blocks.
A top-10 prospect in the state of Wisconsin.
Committed to Creighton in February of 2023.
Plays club volleyball for Milwaukee Sting.
Kirsten Bernthal Booth on Sophia Wendlick: "Sophia's coming off a state championship where she carried a lot of load for her team. I love how versatile she is. She can play outside, right side or back row and she just wins. I'm really excited about what she's going to bring both on and off the court to our team."

Nora Wurtz, 6'4", Middle Blocker, Valley, Neb., Douglas County West High School

Plans to enroll at Creighton in January.
First Division I volleyball recruit in Douglas County West history.
Named to Omaha World-Herald's 2023 Preseason Super Six, but missed her senior season due to injury.
Named First Team All-Class C1 and Third Team All-Super State by Lincoln Journal Star in 2022.
Named First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference as a junior and honorary co-captain on that team after hitting .524 and finishing with 439 kills, 84 blocks, 84 digs and 49 aces.
Helped the Falcons to their first state tournament appearance in 2022 with 22 kills and three aces in match that clinched the bid.
Surpassed 1,000 career kills in the middle of her junior year and finished with 1,075 in her career.
Hit .434 in her career and added 128 aces and 268 blocks in 259 career sets played.
As a freshman, named First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference and All State Honorable Mention.
Coached in high school by Bob Wald.
Plays club volleyball for Nebraska Elite.
Also played basketball in high school.
Committed to Creighton in July of 2022.
Kirsten Bernthal Booth on Nora Wurtz: "Nora unfortunately missed her senior season with an injury but she's going to come and hopefully be cleared by the middle of next semester. She's got a ton of physical gifts in the sense that she's really tall, has got a great arm, and she's a farm kid that has an incredible work ethic. She's another outstanding human that has the potential to really be a great volleyball player here."

Related Videos