Nelson is a six-foot-one-inch pin attacker from Colorado Springs, Colorado that will bring a lot of athleticism and volleyball IQ along with her to the Capitol City. Nelson finished her high school career this past fall after helping lead Pine Creek High School to a 5A Colorado State Tournament appearance after tallying 2.5 kills per set during her senior season. Nelson comes from a big volleyball family with both of her older siblings Sydney and Taylor having played collegiate volleyball after high school. Her mom Gianna serves as a club director for the Colorado Classixs Volleyball Club in Colorado Springs and her father, Maj. Scott Nelson, was a player and coach at the United States Air Force Academy and has coached for over 25 years. Nelson will continue her training this spring with the Colorado Juniors Volleyball Club on a team that will likely have an opportunity to compete for a junior national championship this summer.

 

"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of Avery's continued development and improvement at the next level," said Albers. "She has great length and physical talent that are going to allow her to compete at a high level and we're very excited about what she will be able to bring to our program. We feel that she is just starting to tap into her volleyball ability and that she is going to make huge strides over the next two seasons that will allow her to be a major weapon in the collegiate game."

 

Benedict is another six-foot-one-inch addition who will join the Golden Eagles by way of Wright High School in Wright, Wyoming. Benedict is listed as both a middle blocker and rightside hitter on the LCCC roster and will add versatility and athleticism at either position. Benedict emerged as one of the best players in the state of Wyoming during her senior season as she led her Panther team to a third consecutive Wyoming 2A State Championship. Benedict had a big year individually earning All-Conference and All-State honors, building off of her All-Conference recognition from the previous two seasons, as well as recruiting interest across the Region IX North Conference. After taking four visits and comparing her opportunities, Benedict made her decision to join the Golden Eagles in the fall of 2017.

"The more that we got to know Jess through the recruiting process, the more excited we became about adding her to our family," remarked Albers. "She is a really great young lady who we feel can be the next great local talent to make a name for herself by doing big things at the junior college level. Much like Avery, she too is just starting to come into her own light as a volleyball player and her physical talent is through the roof. She has all the tools and is dynamic in her game which is something that we as a coaching staff look forward to building around."