Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University Head Volleyball Coach Kristina Hernandez announced today the signing of three student-athletes who will begin their academic and athletic careers at Hofstra in the fall of 2013.

Joining the Pride will be: Dana Crispi, Veronika Kostova and Kaitlyn Krause.

“We are very excited to have Kaitlyn, Veronika, and Dana join our program,” commented Hernandez. “They are all tremendous athletes and dedicated students. We expect Kaitlyn to develop into a leader and help bring us to new levels of success. Veronika will bring a lot of size, depth and experience to the middle for us. Dana also add depths to our defense as she brings a lot of energy and quickness. We are really looking forward to having all three of them as part of the Hofstra Volleyball family.”

Krause will be a sophomore athletically (junior academically), while Crispi and Kostova will both be freshmen.

Crispi resides in Croton-on-Hudson, New York and currently attends Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Kostova hails from Hamburg, Germany and attends Pascalgymnasium School in her home country. A transfer from Dayton, Krause is from Farmington Hills, Michigan and attended North Farmington High School, where she graduated from in 2011.

A 5-4 libero, Crispi played on the Cougars for four seasons and helped lead the team to a second place finish in the league. During her junior campaign, Crispi was part of a squad that advanced to the playoffs for the first time in six years. She also earned New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association Player of the Year and also earned all-section honors. A team captain, she was also the varsity MVP.

Kostova, a 6-2 middle blocker, helped guide her scholastic team to first place finishes in the German School Championship in 2011 and 2012. In addition, Pascalgymnasium finished eighth in the World Schools Championship in 2012.

Krause, a 5-10 setter, spent her first two years at Dayton where she was part of two teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including a second year appearance in 2012. Krause played in 16 sets in 2012 and chipped in with 11 assists and six digs. A scholar-athlete in 2011 and 2012 at Dayton and also a member of the all-academic team in 2012, Krause came to Dayton from North Farmington HS where she played four years of volleyball and one season of basketball. Krause was a first team all-district selection from 2008-10.

Hofstra is coming off a 2012 season in which it captured the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. Hofstra went 21-14 in 2012 en route to the conference title.