Garus signs Cotton and Van Kirk to NLIs

BOISE, Idaho - Boise State volleyball head coach Shawn Garus announced Wednesday the signing of two high school standouts, Elle Cotton (Elk River, Minn.) and Kiersten Van Kirk (Bozeman, Mont.), to National Letters of Intent. Both are experienced setters and rightside hitters for their respective high school and club teams.

Cotton is currently a senior at Elk River High School in Elk River, Minn., where she is a four-year starter for the Elks' varsity team coached by Theresa Brummer. She was an AVCA All-Region 7 as a senior; and a All-Metro Third Team and All-Northwest Suburban Conference selection as a junior. Sophomore honors include: North Country All-Region First Team and honorable-mention all-conference. Cotton led her team to three sectional playoff appearances, winning one title to advance to the Minnesota state tournament her sophomore year.

As a senior this fall, Cotton recorded 243 kills (2.9 kps) and hit .268 percent. In addition, she tallied 263 assists (3.2 aps), 49 service aces (0.6 saps), 32 blocks (0.4 bps) and 195 digs (2.3 dps). The 6-foot Cotton was recruited to Boise State primarily as a setter.

"Elle is a setter with tremendous athletic ability," said Garus. "She has the speed and skill to set at the highest level. Elle also comes from an athletic family, her mom played basketball and dad played football at Kansas State. I look forward to developing her on court leadership and seeing how great she can become as a Bronco."

Cotton played club ball for the Minnesota Select coached by Drew Rongere. Her U17 team placed fifth in the Open Division at the 2021 USA Volleyball Junior National Championships.

Van Kirk comes to Boise State from Manhattan Christian High School in Churchill, Mont., where she has been a four-year starter for the Eagles' varsity team under head coach Hanna VanDyk. The 6-foot-3 rightside hitter is a three-time Montana Class C All-State First Team and three-time first-team all-conference honoree, senior honors have not been announced.

Van Kirk has led MCHS to four-straight conference championships and four trips to the Montana State Class C Tournament. The Eagles start competing in the 2021 championship tournament this Thursday. In the previous three appearances at State, the Eagles won it all during Van Kirk's sophomore season and placed second her junior year.

Her senior statistics are not available, but as a junior Van Kirk tallied 328 kills, 93 service aces and 167 digs. As a sophomore she recorded 394 kills, 37.5 blocks, 160 assists, 61 service aces and 263 digs.

"Kiersten has the length we like to see in our pin players," Garus said. "She is an aggressive blocker and as a lefty, she will present a tough match up for opponents. Kiersten has strong connections to Boise since both of her parents played basketball for the Broncos. Kiersten is eager to get on campus and start working toward her goals."

Van Kirk, who is also a three-time all-state and all-conference honoree in basketball, is graduating high school a semester early and will enroll at Boise State this January. She played club ball for the Big Sky Volleyball Club coached by Kandice Gregorak and the MSP Club coached by Shann Mack, both from Bozeman, Mont. Van Kirk's ties to Boise State run deep as both of her parents played basketball for the Broncos, her mother is the former Holly McMaster (1994-96) and her father is Kenneth Van Kirk (1995-98).

Boise State Athletics

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