Class of 2014 Verbal Commits

Below are recent articles and videos related to the players we are aware of who have publicly announced their verbal commitment to join the Penn State Women’s Volleyball team in 2014.  The players are listed alphabetically, and the listed positions are from published reports, and do not necessarily reflect the positions they will play in college.

Ali Frantti (6-1 OH)

3A volleyball state final: Victory emotional for St. Francis

Richmond Burton’s Jr. 6-1 OH Ali Frantti led all players with 16 kills, but in its first trip to the State Championship match, Richmond-Burton High School wasn’t able to reach its ultimate goal, falling to St. Francis 2-0 (25-21, 25-20).  Though disappointed, Frantti told Bob Narang of the Chicago Tribune that she’s looking forward to next season:

A lot of us are juniors and it was an unbelievable experience.  This makes us hungry and anxious for next season.

For the complete article by Bob Narang, Click Here.

Video: 2012 IHSA 3A Girls Volleyball Championship Match: Wheaton (St. Francis) vs Richmond-Burton

Here’s a video of the Wheaton (St. Francis) vs. Richmond-Burton match:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7NlCN5Ivts’]

3A volleyball state semifinal: Frantti leads Richmond-Burton to final

Normal, Illinois.  November 9, 2012. — Richmond-Burton made too many service errors at the wrong time during Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal at Redbird Arena.  But the Rockets had Ali Frantti to overcome those mistakes.  Frantti’s 22 kills paced Richmond-Burton to a 19-25, 27-25, 25-22 victory against Jacksonville.

“I was playing relaxed and I felt confident,” Frantti said. “It was a matter of being confident.”

Read the complete article by Bob Narang at Chicago Tribune DigitalPlus.

Simone Lee (6-1 OH)

Falls Closes Out Successful Volleyball Season

It’s a barrier that seems to block the Menomonee Falls girls’ volleyball team every time it makes it to the WIAA state tournament.  The Indians have advanced to state four out of the last eight years, but have been denied a shot at the title match.

On Friday night, Burlington showed why it’s the No. 1-ranked team in Division 1 by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA), beating Menomonee Falls in the state semifinals at the Resch Center in Green Bay in four games, 25-13, 17-25, 25-16, 25-17.

Read the complete article by Greg Bates at Menomonee Falls Patch.

Simone Lee Earns 1st Team All State Honors

Simone Lee has been named to the All-Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association first team.  Read the complete listing of players named to the team at The JournalTimes.com.

Nia Reed (6-2 OH)

Roselle Catholic looks forward to a possible IHA showdown

In the Non-Public state tournament bracket [of the New Jersey State Tournament], there is one team that is a favorite — and it isn’t even close. That team is Immaculate Heart Academy, which spent most of year as the No. 1 team in the state before losing to rival Bogota in the Bergen County Tournament final.

Read the complete article by Jeremy Schneider at NJ.Com.

Heidi Thelen (6-3 MH/OH)

Notre Dame Academy Falls in State Quarterfinals

From an article by Paul Najjar of Louisville Catholic Sports.com following Notre Dame Academy’s loss to Mercy in the Kentucky State Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals:

The Mercy Jaguars got the win over the Notre Dame Pandas when it counted.  On September 11, the Jaguars took the first two sets and then dropped three straight to the Pandas.

But in the quarterfinals of the KHSAA state volleyball tournament, the No. 4 ranked Jaguars exacted revenge on the No. 2 ranked Pandas in another five set thriller: 26-24, 25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 15-13.

Read the complete article at Louisville Catholic Sports.com.

Pandas Set Aim for State Volley Title

From an October 23, 2012 article by James Weber on Cincinnati.com, following Notre Dame Academy’s 3-0 victory over St. Henry.  Penn State verbal commit Heidi Thelen recorded 15 kills, 5 blocks, and 3 service aces in the match:

No one on the Notre Dame Academy volleyball team was happy about the way it played against St. Henry on Sept. 20.

St. Henry won 3-1 that night in the “Playing for the Purpose,” a charity match for breast cancer awareness. The Pandas went into their rematch with their Ninth Region rivals looking for revenge as they faced off in the regional championship match.

Mission accomplished, as NDA won 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20) Oct. 20 at St. Henry.

Read the complete article at Cincinnati.com.

Heidi Thelen Named 1st Team All State

The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association has announced its choices for the 2012 All-State Girls Volleyball teams for each of three divisions.  Penn State verbal commit Heidi Thelen was named to the 1st Team (AAA Division) for the second consecutive year.

For the complete lists, Click Here.

Haleigh Washington (6-4 MH)

Haleigh Washington leads Doherty past Grandview, to 5A volleyball title

Haleigh Washington can dunk a volleyball. She has the calluses to prove it. So, yes, the 6-foot-4 junior does make it look effortless as she rises above the court time and again, swinging her arm for yet another kill.

Washington finished with a match-high 14 kills in leading top-ranked Doherty to the Class 5A volleyball state championship with a 25-17, 25-14, 25-15 sweep of No. 7 Grandview.

Read the complete November 10, 2012 article by Ryan Casey at DenverPost.com.

For a video clip from the match, featuring a kill by Haleigh Washington, Click Here.

Washington Named Denver Post’s Female Student-Athlete of the Week

We’re a bit late on this one, but we thought people might be interested in the October 27th Denver Post award to Haleigh Washington.  Of note: Haleigh has a 4.0 GPA, her favorite course is calculus and, oh yeah, she was a U.S. Junior National Team member.

Read the complete complete post on DenverPost.com.

Bryanna Weiskircher (6-0 S)

Boylan falls in sectional finals

Algonquin.  November 1, 2012.  It was the furthest Boylan volleyball had ever gone.  So for that, the season was a success despite the outcome on Thursday.

“Every year we want to go a step further than the season before,” Boylan coach Amanda Carlson said. “And every year, they haven’t disappointed me.

“This is great place to get to. It also leaves us hungry for next year and to go even further.”

Read the complete article by Emily Tropp at the Rockford Register Star.com.

Boylan heads to 4A sectional finals

Algonquin.  October 30, 2012.  Boylan used aggressive serving and solid blocking to outlast DeKalb in the Class 4A Algonquin Jacobs Sectional semifinal, winning 25-23, 25-22 to advance to the championship. . . . Offensively, Boylan was led by 10 kills from Bryanna Weiskircher and five apiece from Alexis Varga and Margaret Horihan.

Read the complete article by Emily Tropp at the Rockford Registar Star.com.