Three Sign NLIs to Play for Tech Volleyball

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech volleyball coach Matt Jennings today announced that Kristine Fink (Scarsdale, N.Y.), MacAulay Petersen (Paw Paw, Mich.) and Emilia Widen (Burnsville, Minn.) have each signed National Letters of Intent and will continue their volleyball and academic careers at the University starting in 2016-17.

"This group brings a lot to the program," said Jennings, who will enter his fifth season as head coach next fall. "The character, work ethic and talent of each makes all three a great fit here at Michigan Tech. Kristine, MacAulay and Emilia all have unique qualities but possess similar traits common among Tech student-athletes."

Fink will head to Houghton from suburban New York City, where she was a four-year member of the Scarsdale (N.Y.) High School team and a three-year starter. A three-time all-conference honoree, Fink totaled 736 kills during her varsity career while playing outside hitter and defensive specialist. Serving as team captain for the second straight year in 2015, she notched 310 kills, 364 digs and a .393 hitting percentage as a senior and was named the MaxPreps/AVCA Player of the Week for the state of New York on Sept. 20. Fink, who also plays for the Downstate Juniors club team, is an honors student who is interested in pursuing a bioengineering degree from Michigan Tech.

Jennings on Fink: "Kristine brings a lot to the team. While skilled, her natural touch on the ball and feel for the game is obvious once you see her play in person. She comes from a family that has excelled in both sports and academics, which seems to have created a healthy sense of competitiveness in her approach to the game."

Petersen, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, will bring considerable power to the offensive attack for the Huskies. A four-year varsity player at Paw Paw (Mich.) High School, Petersen helped lead her team to conference and district titles this season and was named to the 2015 MIVCA Class B All-State Honorable Mention team for her efforts. She was also voted to the Wolverine West All-Conference First Team and was a member of the all-region group this season. Petersen, who was also included on the 2015 Junior Volleyball Association's Watch List and spends time with the DFFO volleyball club team, is a member of the Paw Paw honor roll.

Jennings on Petersen: "MacAulay is the real deal. She has a cannon of an arm, great net presence and is capable of scoring a lot of points at the pins. She certainly adds more power to our offense but it's her vision that makes her so effective on the attack. On top of that, she is a true six-rotation player with good ball control and a strong serve."

Widen continues the string of highly touted Minnesota recruits who have migrated to Houghton for their collegiate volleyball careers. A 6-foot-2 middle blocker, Widen was a three-year standout on the Burnsville (Minn.) High School varsity team, as well as a key contributor for the Minnesota Northern Lights club program. An All-South Suburban Conference Team member, she was also named the Burnsville Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. A member of the National Merit Society, Widen is considering a degree in pre-med or biology while at Michigan Tech.

Jennings on Widen: "Emilia brings skill, height and depth to our talented middle core. She comes to us having learned the position from one of the best clubs around and will undoubtedly make our middle attack even stronger. Her ability to block and regularly contact the ball at a high point is impressive, and her understanding of the angles and spacing involved with the middle position is exceptional."

Each of the student-athletes will join the Huskies next fall and hope to help the program build off one of the most successful seasons in recent memory. Michigan Tech finished 2015 with its highest win total (19) since 2008, including a program-best 10-0 start to the season.