Montana State volleyball coach Matt Houk reacts during a match. Houk previously coached at the University of Minnesota but has built a recruiting pipeline from his former state to Montana (Jack Power/Montana State University)
Minnesota is a hotbed for high school volleyball talent, and every year, athletes are recruited to play at some of the country’s most successful college programs, including the Gophers.
This year, a college program with a faint reputation within the state’s strong volleyball scene — though led by a recognizable coach — has entered the sweepstakes for Minnesota talent. So far, the school has won four prizes: Prior Lake’s Elli Tufto, Northfield’s Teagan Jaynes, Sauk Rapids-Rice’s Lauren Schloe and Cambridge-Isanti’s Alice Steman.
This volleyball season, all four committed to play for Montana State. And when they arrive in Bozeman, another Minnesota connection awaits: former Gophers coaches and married couple Matt and Jen Houk.
For more on why the quartet chose to play for the Bobcats, click here to read this story on startribune.com.