Ahiers adds nine newcomers to 2015 club
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman volleyball coach Dan Ahiers announced the addition of nine newcomers to the 2015 roster. The group features seven freshman, a junior college transfer and a Division I transfer.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman volleyball coach Dan Ahiers announced the addition of nine newcomers to the 2015 roster. The group features seven freshman, a junior college transfer and a Division I transfer.
The positional breakdown of the nine players sees three outside hitters, three liberos and three middle blockers.
Gabbi Paccatte – Freshman – 5-10 – Outside Hitter
"Gabbi is super athletic, can play on the beach or indoor ridiculously well," Ahiers said. "As soon as her technique gets better she will be a real force in the SAC."
High School: Second Team All-State selection in 2014...All-Conference and All-Tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2014...Team MVP and captain in 2014...Helped team to first Western New York Section championship in 2014 for the first time since 2014...Also played basketball and lacrosse for the Red Devils...Clarence scholar-athlete, Athlete of the Year in 2015
Personal: Daughter of Julie...Mother, Julie, played softball at the University of Tampa...Father, Mark McCurdy Weihenmayer, played football at Troy State...Uncles, grandfather and great grandfather played collegiate football or baseball...Majoring in Advertising and Public Relations
Megan Morris – Freshman – 5-10 - Libero
"Morris is really decorated high school and club libero," Ahiers said. "She brings a lot of high-level experience into our gym."
High School: Under Armour All-American in 2014...Varsity team captain in 2014...2014 South Carolina AAAA State Champion, ranking 43rd nationally...Notched 1,255 career digs averaging 9.3 per match...Ranked second in the state of South Carolina and 89th nationally with 687 digs
Carolina Islanders (Club): Team Captain in 2014 and 2015...All-Region selection in 2011, 2012 and 2013...2014 AAU National Runner-Up, playing on ESPN for the title
Personal: Daughter of Shane and Janie...Majoring in Nursing
Natalie Harris – Freshman – 5-11 – Middle Blocker
"Harris jumps out of the gym, works hard and is extremely coachable," Ahiers said. "She is completely committed to perfecting her craft. She is exactly what we need in the middle position."
High School: SCC All-Conference in 2014-15...Led her team in kills and blocks tallying 300 kills and 69 blocks on a .447 attack percentage...Also played basketball and soccer...Graduated Summa Cum Laude (for students with a 4.57 GPA or higher)...Beta Club member and Prom Marshall (Top 10% of her class) as a sophomore
Personal: Daughter of Chip and Leigh...Majoring in Envirnomental Biology
Molly Locke – Senior (Transfer from Mercer) – 5-11 – Outside Hitter
"Locke is exactly what you want from an outside hitter," Ahiers said. "Someone who finds a way to terminate the ball and a player that the team can rely on."
2014 at Mercer (Junior): Started all 30 matches leading the Bears with 394 kills for a 3.49 kills per set average...Notched her 1,000th career kill and dig during the season...Finished second in the SOCON with a 3.49 kills per set average...Ranked third in the SOCON by averaging 3.95 points per set...Finished 10th in the SOCON with 3.14 digs per set
2013 at Mercer (Sophomore): Started all 28 matches and led the team with 278 kills and 2.70 kills per set…Also collected a team-high nine double-double performances…Had 10 or more kills in 12 matches and 10 or more digs in 17 contests…Hammered down the 500th kill of her career against North Florida (10/4)…Knocked down a season-high 19 kills to go along with 18 digs against Northern Kentucky (11/1)…Posted a season-high .364 hitting percentage against Stetson with 11 kills and three errors (10/26)…Also contributed 22 service aces, highlighted by five service aces against UNC Asheville (9/14)…Was credited with multiple blocks in five matches
2012 at Mercer (Freshman): Named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team after starting every match…Led the team with 3.31 kills per set, ranking sixth best among A-Sun players…Made 1,126 attack attempts, ranking third most among single-season leaders in program history…Led or tied for the team lead in kills in 20 matches…Also led or tied for the team lead in digs three times…Racked up 14 double-double performances…Cracked into double-figure kills in 19 matches and double-figure digs in 20 matches…Posted 20 or more kills three times…Hit better than .300 in six outings…Smashed a season-high 23 kills with only five errors in a four-set win over Western Carolina (9/15)…Pounded out 20 kills to go along with 17 digs against Florida Gulf Coast (9/22)…Had 14 kills, 14 digs and zero hitting errors in Mercer's sweep over Stetson (10/20)
High School: Earned four varsity letters under Jess Endene at Page High School…Was a two-time state tournament MVP, helping lead the team to back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011…Also named the District 12-AA MVP and the Region 6-AA MVP…Chosen as the 2011 All-Midstate Player of the Year by The Tennessean...Also competed for Alliance Volleyball club under guidance of Jay Golsteyn
Personal: Daughter of Marc and Michelle Locke…Has a sister, Meredith…Majoring in biology
Maddie Zyburt – Freshman – 5-9 - Libero
"Zyburt started as an outside hitter," Ahiers said. "She moved to libero so she understands how offensive players work and that makes her a great defensive players."
High School: All-Conference selection...Broke the school record for digs in a season a senior with 466...First team in school history to win regionals during her sophomore season...First team to win sectionals senior season
Personal: Daughter of Brian and Alisha...Majoring in Criminal Psychology
Hannah Robertson – Freshman – 5-4 - Libero
"Robertson's personality and attitude would keep any team in the toughest moments," Ahiers said.
High School: All-State selection in 2014...Named to the Best of Preps, All-District, All-Tournament and All-Region Teams in 2012, 2013 and 2014...Earned team leadership award all four years...Tallied 2,596 career digs and 158 career aces leading the team in digs in three of her four seasons...District, Region and Sub-State Champions in 2011 finishing third in the state
Personal: Daughter of Lee Carrie...Majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education
Maddie Borch – Junior (Transfer from Cabrillo College) – 6-1 – Middle Blocker
"Borch is a highly intellectual player and figures out opponents quickly," Ahiers said." I can't wait to see what she can do in this conference."
Cabrillo College: CCCAA State Tournament Team selection in 2013 and 2014...First Team All-Northern California and First Team All-Coast Conference in 2014...Hit .431 in 2014 ranking third in the state...Second in the state in blocks per set in 2014...Third in the state in aces per set in 2014...Finished her two seasons with a 65-2 record inlcuding a state title and a 31-0 record in 2013...Also participated in Beach Volleyball
High School: Hit .410 as a senior at Las Lomas High School...DFAL All-League selection every year of high school
Personal: Daughter of Kim...Sister, Morgan, plays volleyball at UC Davis...Majoring in Business
Allie Foster – Freshman – 6-1 – Middle Blocker
"Foster can play any position across the net," Ahiers said. "She is a true weapon for this team."
High School: Named first team All-Conference as a senior helping helping the Hilltoppers reach the regional semifinals...Piled up 22 kills in a district tournament against Tennessee High...Named All-Conference Honorable Mention, All-District and All-Academic in 2013...Also played basketball
Cecily Clark – Freshman – 5-9 – Outside Hitter
"Clark is a very explosive and dynamic outside hitter who will have no problem terminating as long as she has her head in the game."
High School: 2014 AVCA Under Armour watch list...Greater Miami Conference second team All-Conference selection...Played for the USA A2 training team in 2013 and 2014...2013 and 2014 Academic Team Award
Personal: Daughter of Rachel Hamilton...Father, Vinnie Clark, played football at Ohio State and was the 19th overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft playing for the Packers, Falcons, Saints and Jaguars over eight seasons...Majoring in Nursing
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