MANKATO, Minn. – Legendary Minnesota State softball head coach Lori Meyer announced the signing of seven athletes to the team. Avery Dorman, Reese Falish, Jorey Fry, Nyah Hulbert, Lucy Porter, Kenedi Pryne and Ava Volkmann will join the softball team next fall.
 
All signings are contingent upon admission to Minnesota State and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
 
"We are officially excited to welcome Ava, Avery, Jorey, Kenedi, Lucy, Nyah, and Reese to our Maverick Softball family," said Coach Meyer. "This is a talented group of student-athletes with diverse skillsets that will complement each other and our current team. They embrace the vision for Maverick Softball."
 
Avery Dorman is a 5'6" catcher and utility player from Sioux Falls, S.D. For Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, Dorman was a State Champion her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. Dorman made the All-State Tournament team in 2023 and is a two-time First Team All-State and All-Conference athlete. In her junior year, Dorman achieved the Working Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and she is a three-time All-Academic team member. She will be an education major at MSU. Her parents are Becky and Scott Dorman. Avery's father played football at Dakota Wesleyan.
 
"Avery is a student of the game that understands what it takes to be a field general and an arm to control anyone's run game," noted Meyer.  Her ability to work with the pitchers to elevate their game is second to none.  Avery brings an offensive game that is powerful and consistent."
 
Reese Falish is a 5'7" pitcher from De Pere, Wis. For De Pere High, Falish made the Fox River Classic All-Conference second team her sophomore year and was a First Team All-Conference her junior year. Last season as a junior, she set new school record for wins and strikeouts in a season and also had the lowest ERA of any pitcher in De Pere history. Along with softball, Falish is a two-year starter on the varsity volleyball team, and member of the National Honor Society, Link Crew, Key Club and Sting Cancer groups at her school. She plans to be a marketing student at Minnesota State. Her parents are Paul and Rebecca Falish.
 
"As a pitcher, Reese will bring depth to our pitching staff next year," said Coach. "She spins the ball well and can get ahead of hitters, making them get themselves out.  Reese has a bright future ahead of her as she continues to develop her craft."
 
Jorey Fry is both a pitcher and an outfielder from Rosemount, Minn. As a sophomore for Rosemount, Fry was an All-Section player. Her junior year she found herself on the All-State and All-Metro second teams, the All-Conference first team in the South Suburban Conference, and was named an All-Section player for the second time. She made the Minnesota State All-Tournament team and received the Scholar Athlete Award her junior year, as well. Jorey is leaning towards studying criminal justice at MSU. Her parents are Ken and Wendy Fry and her father played football and baseball at Winona State.
 
"Jorey is a versatile player that can pitch, play the outfield, and hit," Meyer said. "Jorey brings a lot of experience into our program as she has been playing since a young age and at a high level with Rosemount High School and the Minnesota Force.  As a hitter, Jorey can drive the ball into the gaps. As an outfielder, she gets a great first step and can cover ground. On the mound, she has the mentality to start, relieve, or close a game with her spin and ability to place the ball."
 
Outfielder Nyah Hulbert is a 5'8" player from Norwalk Iowa. Hulbert has had an illustrious career at Norwalk High; she made the All-Conference and All-District first teams her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She is also a three-time All-State player. A multi-sport athlete, Hulbert was also a state qualifier as a junior in track & field in the 100 meter race as well as the 400 meter and 800 meter relays. She is currently an undecided major. Her parents are Brent Hulbert and Laura Halper. Nyah's father played baseball at Grand View University.
 
"Nyah's speed and athleticism allows her to cover ground in the outfield and her strong arm deters runners from taking an extra base," noted Coach Meyer. "She's a strong athlete who can hit for power and can use her speed to take extra bases and create havoc for opposing defenses."
 
Lucy Porter is a pitcher from Fort Dodge, Iowa. At Fort Dodge Senior High, Porter went to three consecutive State Tournaments; she won a state championship in her eighth-grade season, finished as a runner-up and as a state semi-finalist the following two seasons. Porter was named the Iowa 4A Class Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and found herself on the IGCA 4A All-District, All-Conference and All-State teams her sophomore and junior seasons. When Porter comes to the Minnesota State campus, she will be an exercise science major on the pre-physical therapy route. Her parents are Amy and Roger Porter. Lucy's mother was a rugby athlete for the University of Northern Iowa in the 1990s.
 
"Lucy is a player that has a tireless work ethic with a fierce bulldog mentality that she brings from the wrestling mat to the mound as she competes," said Meyer. "She possesses great spin and accuracy with her pitches and challenges hitters to hit her pitch.  She will provide depth to our pitching staff.  As a hitter, she will provide gap-to- gap power."
 
The second catcher the Mavericks are signing this year is Kenedi Pryne from Janesville, Wis. As a player for the Parker High Vikings, Pryne is a two-time All-Big Eight-Conference Team member. Pryne is very involved at her school, as she is a member of her school's National Honor Society group and the president of the Parker High School Student Leadership Council. She plans to be a pre-medical student studying biology at Minnesota State. Kenedi's parents are Alissa and Josh Pryne.
 
"Kenedi brings versatility defensively being able to catch or play on the corners," said Meyer. "Behind the plate, she is a good receiver who communicates well and has good game IQ. At the plate, she has good gap-to-gap power that will help us move base runners."
 
Lastly, Ava Volkmann is a 5'4" middle infielder from Woodbury, Minn. Volkmann attended Stillwater Area High School and as a member of the school's softball team helped her team make the Minnesota State Tournament her junior season. She was also an honorable mention for both her All-Conference and All-Section teams last year. Volkmann is a member of Stillwater's National Honor Society group. She plans on studying psychology and biology at Minnesota State University. Her parents are Kelly and Jon Volkmann. Her mother, Kelly, played soccer and was a track & field athlete at UMary. She has several relatives who graduated from MSU.
 
"Ava is a versatile middle infielder with a huge upside.  She has really grown into a positive leader for any team she has been on.  Offensively, she will hit for average & power.  Ava's drive to compete and win championships will be a great fit for us."