Bulldog Volleyball Adds Five With 2025 Recruiting Class

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information

DILLON, Mont. - Montana Western Volleyball welcomed five signees in its 2025 signing class, the program announced Tuesday afternoon. 

"We are so excited about this group of five freshmen joining the Bulldog program. All of them bring different and unique qualities to the team both athletically and with their personality," Head Coach Katie Lovett said. 

This year's recruiting class includes two student-athletes from Idaho, one from Nevada, one from Montana, and one from California.

 Antonia Duncan | Pin/Middle | 5'11" | Spanish Springs HS / Sparks, Nev.

Antonia is a pin and middle blocker who joins the Bulldogs as a 2025 graduate from Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nevada. During her career for the Cougars, Duncan earned a regional championship and a league championship in 2023. She ended up fifth in school history for all-time blocks in a season with 45 and fifth in single game hitting percentage with a .727. She earned All-State Academic honors throughout her varsity career. She also competed for the Tstreet Sierra Nevada club volleyball team where her team earned a national bid in the American Division. "Nia is a dynamic offensive player who can play pretty much anywhere in the front row. Nia has a high ceiling, and we are looking forward to seeing where she excels within this program," Lovett said. Duncan is the daughter of Mark and Tione Duncan and plans to major in Kinesiology while at Montana Western.

Jayda Ward | Setter | 5'5" | Highland High School / Pocatello, Idaho

Jayda is a setter who joins the Bulldogs as a 2025 graduate of Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho. Ward was a two-time varsity athlete for the Rams. She earned second team all-conference honors after last season and honorable mention her junior season. She totaled 716 assists, 373 digs, 52 kills, and 48 aces throughout her varsity career. In addition, she earned the highest academic honors and earned a STEM diploma. Ward also played for the Crush AAU volleyball team for a season. "Jayda is a gritty setter that is able to make plays happen. We are excited about the defensive mindset Jayda has and her calm demeanor on the court during any situation," Lovett said. Ward is the daughter of Megan and Monte Ward and plans to major in Biology at Montana Western.

 Kennedy Lingenfelter | Middle | 6'0" | Clovis North High School / Clovis, Calif.

Kennedy is a middle blocker who joins the Bulldogs as a 2025 graduate of Clovis North High School in Clovis, Calif. During her career as a Bronco, she participated in four varsity seasons and was a California Division 1 Central Section champion last season and a 2022 Nor Cal Regional Champion during her career with the Broncos. She earned second team all-league honors three times and was named to the SLO Tournament of Champions all tournament team. Her senior season, she hit .364 and recorded over 200 kills as a team captain. She is a CSF lifetime member and competed in track and basketball while at Clovis North. Lingenfelter competed for the Valley Volleyball Academy for six seasons. "We are very excited about Kennedy joining the team. She has quick movements along the net that seem effortless and has strong, smart placement of offense," Lovett said. Lingenfelter is the daughter of Heather and Lance Lingenfelter and plans to major in natural horsemanship while at Montana Western. She also plans to compete for the Bulldog rodeo team during her time at Montana Western.

Averi Look | Outside | 5'10" | Idaho Falls High School / Idaho Falls, Idaho

Averi is an outside hitter joining the Bulldogs from Idaho Falls, Idaho and is a 2025 graduate of Idaho Falls High School. During her career for the Tigers, she was named First Team All-State and Second Team All-State honors while lining up in second in kills in the 5A division. She and her team finished in third place in state last season. In addition, Look played for the Idaho Crush AAU volleyball club. "Averi is a smart and powerful outside that is very competitive. Averi is an asset defensively as well at the net and in the back court," Lovett said. She is the daughter of Kim and Matt Look and plans to major in visual arts at Montana Western.

Nora Dominick | Middle/Pin | 6'1" | Shields Valley High School / Wilsall, Mont.

Nora is a middle blocker and pin hitter who joins the Bulldogs as a 2025 graduate of Shields Valley High School in Wilsall, Mont. She was a four-year varsity volleyball player who averaged 18 kills, 15 digs, 3 aces and a block per game her senior season as her team took third place at Divisionals. She earned All-State honors her senior season and all-conference honors in 2022. Dominick also competed in basketball and track while at Shields Valley while earning seven academic All-State selections, is her class valedictorian, and is ranked first in her class. She competed for the Empire Volleyball Club in Belgrade, Mont. And was voted Big Sky Most Improved Player in 2023. "Nora's strength and heavy swing are fun to watch and hard to stop. We are excited about Nora's growth and to see how her play evolves at this next level," Lovett said. Dominick is the daughter of Dale and Spencer Dominick and plans to major in mathematics at Montana Western.

"Graduating five seniors who played an integral role in the growth of our program left us with some spots to fill, but we feel really confident not only with this group coming in, but with the returners as well," Lovett continued.

 The Bulldogs are coming off a historic season highlighted by a stunning upset at the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship, where the no. 16-seeded squad knocked off top-seeded and previously undefeated Northwestern (Iowa) during pool play.

 The team finished the year with an impressive 25-10 overall record, competing in 21 matches against opponents that were either nationally ranked or receiving votes.