NAMPA, Idaho – Coming off one of program's best seasons ever, the Crusader volleyball team only looks to get better as head coach Doug English announced the addition of three recruits who each signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Northwest Nazarene starting in the fall of 2014.
Joining the Crusaders next season will be middle blocker Madison Farrell from Lake City High School in Hayden, Idaho, outside hitter Kendra Bodine from Churchill High School in Eugene, Ore., and setter Hailey Cook from Skyview High School in Nampa, Idaho.
The 6-foot-2 Farrell, a senior at Lake City HS, was named to the Inland Empire League All-District Team both as a junior and senior in volleyball.
She also was need to the All-North Idaho Team this fall, led her team in blocks, was third in kills and digs, and led the her team to the 5A Idaho State Tournament.
Away from the volleyball court, Farrell also was named Newcomer of the Year and team MVP in basketball at Lake City as a junior as she broke the school record for blocked shots in a season. She also was nominated for Athlete of the Year as a junior at Lake City HS.
"When I look at Madison I see a dominant middle hitter in the future," English said. "She is a good athlete who has exceled in both volleyball and basketball in high school.
"She is a tough kid who has overcome some adversity. With those two qualities, athleticism and toughness, I cannot wait to get her in our gym and see how good she can be."
The 5-9 Bodine, a senior at Churchill HS, was recently named Player of the Year and Mid-Western League MVP in volleyball, while also earning First Team All-State honors.
Co-captain of her team and a four-year varsity player, Bodine also was named to the All-State Tournament First Team as Churchill advanced to the 5A Oregon State semifinals.
As a junior, she also was named to the All-State Tournament First Team, was a Second Team All-State selection and First-Team Mid-Western league and 5A/6A Hybrid League honoree.
For the Webfoot club volleyball team, Bodine has been a co-captain for two seasons, and in May was named to the Emerald City Classic Open All-Tournament team.
"Kendra is going to fit in perfectly with our system and the expectations we have for our outside hitters," English said. "She plays all-around; passes, gets kills very efficiently, and touches the ball on almost every rally.
"She loves playing volleyball, plays a ton of sand volleyball in the summer, and she is extremely competitive."
In the classroom, Bodine is equally outstanding as she was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior and will graduate with honors this coming spring.
Also joining the Crusaders is Cook, a 5-10 senior setter at Skyview who is an athletic and academic star.
The Hawks team captain was named Player of the Year in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference and named to the All-State First Team as she led Skyview to the 4A State Tournament.
A First-Team 4A SIC selection as a junior, and Second-Team All-State honoree, Cook also helped the Hawks win the Academic State title this fall and is a four-year member of the 4A SIC Academic All-Conference team.
"Hailey was the first recruit who committed to program this summer," English said. "She saw what we were trying to do and wanted to be a part of it.
"As a volleyball player, Hailey is a winner, and as a setter you need someone who understands how to win matches and has won matches. Hailey is that person for us.
"Hailey is going to have a great career at NNU"
As a sophomore at Skyview, Cook was an 4A SIC All-Conference honorable mention selection, and in club volleyball she led the Boise Volleyball Club Team to fifth place in the USA Division at the USA Junior Nationals in 2012.
