There’s rebuilding a roster, and then there’s the Gophers volleyball team’s massive overhaul for 2012.

Minnesota announced Thursday that five new players, including two transfers, will join the team this fall. The Gophers will also add two recruits that they signed last November.

Dana Knudsen and Alexandra Palmer will join as transfers from Santa Clara University. A 6-foot-3-inch middle blocker, Knudsen garnered All-WCC First Team honors last season while leading her team in blocks and ranking second in kills.

Palmer, a 5-foot-7-inch setter, made All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2011.

Also joining the team are outside hitter Daly Santana (Corozal, Puerto Rico), setter Karyn Israel (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and defensive specialist/libero Kalysta White (Laguna Beach, Calif.).

Minnesota signed outside hitter Karlie Hauer and defensive specialist/libero Lindsey Lawmaster to National Letters of Intent last November. Both players will join the team as freshmen in the fall.

Absent from the team’s current roster are Steffi Sooter and Caitlin Roberts — two defensive specialists from the 2011 team. Sooter saw some court time late in the season, while Roberts played sparingly.

In total, the Gophers return seven players and bring in seven new players for their 2012 season.

They will play Northern Iowa, North Dakota State and South Dakota State on Saturday at their spring tournament at the Sports Pavilion.