ASU volleyball program adds three players
by Staff Reports
Appalachian State's volleyball team signed three recruits for 2010, Mountaineers coach Matt Ginipro announced Monday.
Lauren Brown of Lenexa, Kan., Jessica Eley from Kansas City, Mo., and Sophia Palles of Raleigh Sanderson all signed with the Mountaineers during the early signing period.
"The fact that we were able to get commitments from such great talent during our struggles of the 2008 season speaks to how attractive a package Appalachian State is to players across the country", Ginipro said.
Nine players return for Appalachian for the 2010 season after the graduation of seniors Cassie Engelgau, Maja Jechorek and Becca Norris.
Lauren Brown, a 5-foot-9 setter, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kan. She was named to the 4A state all-tournament team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons and picked up academic all-state honors during 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The scholar-athlete led her team to a 4A state runner-up title in 2007 and a 4A state championship in both 2008 and 2009. Her high school team was also ranked fourth in the nation during the 2008 campaign.
Brown holds her high school record in assists, compiling 1,847 in her career. She is also third on her high school's career dig list, third on the school's block solos list, second in school history in block assists and the school record holder in aces.
Brown played club volleyball for the Mid-America Volleyball Club under head coach David Beach. She picked up all-tournament honors at the national tournament and her team placed fifth at the Junior Olympics in 2009. Brown is also on the Under Armour all-America watch list.
"Lauren is an exceptional setter who has had an amazing high school and club career so far," Ginipro said. "She's extremely quick and puts the ball in the perfect locations for her hitters to be successful. The tandem of setters we'll have with Kasey and Lauren in the gym will be fantastic and I know they're looking forward to working together on the court."
Eley, a 5-11 middle blocker, was a standout at both Raytown and Bishop Miege High School. As a sophomore, she earned second team all-conference honors at Raytown High School and notched both conference and Sun County honorable mention honors her junior season.
Eley led her Bishop Miege team to back-to-back 5A state championship titles in 2008 and 2009 along with a conference crown in 2008.
Eley played club volleyball for both K.C. Power and Mid-America Volleyball under head coach Lucas Galmarini. Her squad qualified for the 2008 and 2009 Junior Olympic nationals and in 2009 her team placed third at the Lonestar National qualifier. Like future teammate Brown, Eley is also on the Under Armour all-America watch list.
"Jess has the potential to be a huge force in the middle for us next year," Ginipro said. "She is also coming in after a great high school and club career with two state championships under her belt. Probably the thing I'm most excited about is the fact that Jess and Lauren will be playing on the same club team this spring. The connection between a middle and a setter is very important and Jess will have a whole club season playing with her college teammate."
Palles, a 6-0 outside hitter, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball. She earned all-conference honors all four-years of her high school career and earned academic all-conference honors in her four years at Sanderson. Palles also grabbed MVP honors during her senior season.
"Sophie really impressed us when she came to camp last summer," Ginipro said. "I see her as a "hybrid" hitter who can come to App and play on the right or on the left for us. She also has impeccable ball control, so I would not rule her out of getting some court time as one of our primary passers or defensive players."
The Mountaineers finished second in the Southern Conference North Division and take on Furman Saturday in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament in Greenville, S.C.
Softball signees
Appalachian State softball coach Amy Herrington announced the signing of Lynsay Flynt on Friday.
Flynt, an infielder from Northview High in Johns Creek, Ga., was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2009 and the team's top offensive player in 2008 and 2009.
"Adding Lynsay is a great addition for us," Herrington said. "She is a versatile player that will be able to play all over the diamond."
Wrestling signees
Appalachian State University wrestling coach JohnMark Bentley announced the signings of Action Pifer and Chris Johnson Friday. The two will join ASU in the fall of 2010.
Pifer, a 141-pound classification wrestler, has a 121-6 record and was a four-year letter-winner at Lassiter High in Marietta, Ga. He earned all-county and all-state honors as a junior, and finished sixth at nationals at 135 pounds
Pifer wrestles for the club GNWA Gorillas. He earned third place at the Southeast Regionals in 2007 and fourth place in 2008.
Chris Johnson, a 133-pound classification wrestler, was his conference wrestler of the year for Orange High in Hillsborugh. He also won the Heart and Desire award, and has earned letters in wrestling, cross country, soccer, lacrosse and track and field.
Lauren Brown of Lenexa, Kan., Jessica Eley from Kansas City, Mo., and Sophia Palles of Raleigh Sanderson all signed with the Mountaineers during the early signing period.
"The fact that we were able to get commitments from such great talent during our struggles of the 2008 season speaks to how attractive a package Appalachian State is to players across the country", Ginipro said.
Nine players return for Appalachian for the 2010 season after the graduation of seniors Cassie Engelgau, Maja Jechorek and Becca Norris.
Lauren Brown, a 5-foot-9 setter, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kan. She was named to the 4A state all-tournament team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons and picked up academic all-state honors during 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The scholar-athlete led her team to a 4A state runner-up title in 2007 and a 4A state championship in both 2008 and 2009. Her high school team was also ranked fourth in the nation during the 2008 campaign.
Brown holds her high school record in assists, compiling 1,847 in her career. She is also third on her high school's career dig list, third on the school's block solos list, second in school history in block assists and the school record holder in aces.
Brown played club volleyball for the Mid-America Volleyball Club under head coach David Beach. She picked up all-tournament honors at the national tournament and her team placed fifth at the Junior Olympics in 2009. Brown is also on the Under Armour all-America watch list.
"Lauren is an exceptional setter who has had an amazing high school and club career so far," Ginipro said. "She's extremely quick and puts the ball in the perfect locations for her hitters to be successful. The tandem of setters we'll have with Kasey and Lauren in the gym will be fantastic and I know they're looking forward to working together on the court."
Eley, a 5-11 middle blocker, was a standout at both Raytown and Bishop Miege High School. As a sophomore, she earned second team all-conference honors at Raytown High School and notched both conference and Sun County honorable mention honors her junior season.
Eley led her Bishop Miege team to back-to-back 5A state championship titles in 2008 and 2009 along with a conference crown in 2008.
Eley played club volleyball for both K.C. Power and Mid-America Volleyball under head coach Lucas Galmarini. Her squad qualified for the 2008 and 2009 Junior Olympic nationals and in 2009 her team placed third at the Lonestar National qualifier. Like future teammate Brown, Eley is also on the Under Armour all-America watch list.
"Jess has the potential to be a huge force in the middle for us next year," Ginipro said. "She is also coming in after a great high school and club career with two state championships under her belt. Probably the thing I'm most excited about is the fact that Jess and Lauren will be playing on the same club team this spring. The connection between a middle and a setter is very important and Jess will have a whole club season playing with her college teammate."
Palles, a 6-0 outside hitter, was a four-year letter winner in volleyball. She earned all-conference honors all four-years of her high school career and earned academic all-conference honors in her four years at Sanderson. Palles also grabbed MVP honors during her senior season.
"Sophie really impressed us when she came to camp last summer," Ginipro said. "I see her as a "hybrid" hitter who can come to App and play on the right or on the left for us. She also has impeccable ball control, so I would not rule her out of getting some court time as one of our primary passers or defensive players."
The Mountaineers finished second in the Southern Conference North Division and take on Furman Saturday in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament in Greenville, S.C.
Softball signees
Appalachian State softball coach Amy Herrington announced the signing of Lynsay Flynt on Friday.
Flynt, an infielder from Northview High in Johns Creek, Ga., was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2009 and the team's top offensive player in 2008 and 2009.
"Adding Lynsay is a great addition for us," Herrington said. "She is a versatile player that will be able to play all over the diamond."
Wrestling signees
Appalachian State University wrestling coach JohnMark Bentley announced the signings of Action Pifer and Chris Johnson Friday. The two will join ASU in the fall of 2010.
Pifer, a 141-pound classification wrestler, has a 121-6 record and was a four-year letter-winner at Lassiter High in Marietta, Ga. He earned all-county and all-state honors as a junior, and finished sixth at nationals at 135 pounds
Pifer wrestles for the club GNWA Gorillas. He earned third place at the Southeast Regionals in 2007 and fourth place in 2008.
Chris Johnson, a 133-pound classification wrestler, was his conference wrestler of the year for Orange High in Hillsborugh. He also won the Heart and Desire award, and has earned letters in wrestling, cross country, soccer, lacrosse and track and field.