MANKATO —
A year from now, when Hallie Enderle is beginning a Division I college volleyball career at Central Michigan University, she might think she’s stepping into the wrong gymnasium.
Because it won’t be the gym at Mankato East High School.
“It will be weird not coming into this gym,” the Cougars senior said before practice last week. “This has always been my home.”
Enderle has been in the East gym every August since even before she was born. Her mom, Barb Enderle, was the school’s longtime junior varsity coach, including the season in which she was pregnant with Hallie.
“I grew up in this gym,” Enderle said. “When I go and shag balls under the bleachers, I think about the times my sister and I played under them. ... It’s disgusting.”
Enderle, a 6-foot-3 middle, played for her mom as an eighth-grader but moved up to varsity the next season and has been there ever since.
Volleyball consumes much of Enderle’s time. From November to July, she plays for a Burnsville-based elite team, Northern Lights, which has taken her to tournaments around the country as well as to Europe. Her play also caught the attention of Division I coaches. She got full-ride offers from Central Michigan and Wisconsin-Milwaukee and verbally committed to play for the Chippewas after a visit to Mount Pleasant, Mich., in May. She’ll ink a National Letter of Intent when the early signing period begins in November.
“I always thought it was a pipe dream (to play at the D-I level),” she said. “I mean, who does that?”
Third-year Cougars coach Kari Rodman said Enderle deserves the opportunity.
“The great thing about Hallie is she never stops learning about how to better herself,” Rodman said. “She’s gone from a player with raw skill to now being a student of the game.”
Enderle is one of 10 seniors on the East roster. All six of the Cougars’ starters are seniors, including Enderle and Kelsey Moesher in the middle, Piper Timmerman and Allyse Johnson on the left side, Erica Viland on the right and Shayne Johnson at setter.
Moesher and Shayne Johnson are first-year varsity players.
Other seniors include Ashley Boik, Audy Bruns, Kayla Rossow and Heidi Parsons.
“I feel blessed being with this group of girls,” Rodman said. “We have some awesome seniors who love the game and put so much into it.”
The Cougars are hoping to improve on last season’s 12-12 record and second-round exit in the Section 2AA tournament. They were knocked out by eventual section champion Le Sueur-Henderson.
“What we put into it now is what we’re going to get out of it,” Enderle said. “Only time will tell.”
The Cougars will open the season on Thursday at home against Winona.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Mankato East senior hitter Hallie Enderle will take her volleyball game to Division I Central Michigan University next year. In the meantime, she will be one of six starting seniors for the Cougars this fall. Jim Rueda
Cougars' Enderle leaving her second home
Senior headed to D-I after growing up in East gym
- Sports
-
-
Mavericks defeat Alaska Anchorage
Minnesota State stayed ahead of Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA standings with a 3-2 win on Friday night.
-
FBA nips Loyola in overtime
Sam Jensen's free throws in final seconds lift Faribault Bethlehem Academy to 54-53 overtime victory over Mankato Loyola in boys basketball Friday.
-
Gustavus hockey team ties but loses big point
Gustavus was 15.4 seconds away from winning and getting an extra, important point for the MIAC standings. But the St. Mary's Nick Gorup scored a rebound goal on a flurry in front of goalie John McLean to force overtime and the two teams ended up tied.
-
East girls rout Albert Lea
Seniors Ries, Crawford provide the punch
-
Courrier: Mavericks roster due for an offseason shakeup
-
College Basketball Notebook: Zach Romashko's improvement a bright spot for Minnesota State men's basketball
Freshman power forward producing more since break
-
College Hockey Gameday: Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage
The Mavericks (10-19-1, 6-15-1 in WCHA) will head north to take on the Seawolves (7-17-2, 4-17-1). It will be the second meeting of the year between the two teams.
-
Prep Basketball Notebook: Siemers has memorable game
Minnesota Valley Lutheran's Nate Siemers had a big night Monday in a 70-60 win over Sleepy Eye.
-
Hockey Notebook: Moe still getting after it
Former Gustavus Adolphus College women's hockey standout Sarah Moe is still playing competitively at the age of 31.
-
West duo’s final performance at MSU as Kenny & Shorty
Former Mankato West standouts Kenra Huettl and Amanda Umhoefer enter their final seasons of collegiate softball at Minnesota State University.
- More Sports Headlines
-
