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MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois head volleyball coach Kym McKay announced Thursday that three players have signed national letters of intent to play at Western in 2010.
The Fighting Leathernecks received letters from Heather Smith, a setter from LaSalle, Ill., Meghan Ross, a defensive specialist/outside hitter from Plainfield Ill., and Alaina DiGiorgio-Verdin, a middle hitter from Lannon, Wis.
“I focused on intangible characteristics when looking for players in this class,” McKay said. “I wanted players who had court presence, leadership, competitive toughness and energy. Each player has a high level of initiative and accountability on and off the court.
“All three players attended summer camp and where able to work with current Leatherneck players that excel in their position. Heather worked with Sarah Trimpe, Meghan worked with Elise Crnjak, and Alaina worked with Cait Egan. This class will blend well with the current freshmen and will have great role models out of next year’s upperclassmen.”
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Heather Smith
Height — 5’8"
Position — Setter
Hometown — LaSalle, Ill.
High School — LaSalle-Peru
Club — Illinois Valley Volley Power Volleyball Club
Smith will join the Fighting Leathernecks out of LaSalle-Peru High
School, where she recently led the Lady Cavaliers to an Illinois High
School Association Class 3A regional championship before having her
senior season end with a 2-1 loss in the sectional final.
“Heather
is an extremely well rounded and gifted student-athlete who excels in
the classroom and on the court. She has innate leadership abilities and
court presence,” McKay said. “She caught my eye at a setter combine
last December. I liked her athleticism and physical style of play and I
was drawn in further by her leadership and her smile.”
Smith is
the second setter from LaSalle-Peru High School McKay has signed, as
Fighting Leatherneck alumnus Lisa Esmond (2003-04) also played for the
Cavaliers. Esmond was Smith’s club coach while she was an underclassman
at LaSalle-Peru.
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Meghan Ross
Height — 5’8"
Position — Defensive specialist/left side/right side
Hometown — Plainfield, Ill.
High School — Plainfield Central
High School — Avalanche Volleyball Club
Ross’s club coach at the Avalanche Volleyball Club, Nicole Andersen,
played under McKay at Joliet Junior College. McKay said she anticipates
Ross will be able to play multiple positions at Western.
“Meghan
caught my attention because of her court presence, which is hard to
miss because of her intensity and competitiveness,” McKay said. “I
primarily recruited her to fill a defensive role, but she has the skill
and jumping ability to be a left or right side hitter if we need her
to.”
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Alaina DiGiorgio-Verdin
Height — 6’
Position — Middle hitter
Hometown — Lannon, Wis.
High School — Hamilton
Club — Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club
DiGiorgio-Verdin will come to Western from Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wis., which is in the greater Milwaukee, Wis., area. McKay said the Western coaching staff was attracted to her sheer athletic ability.
“Alaina is a high-level athlete who touches 10-feet-2-inches,” McKay said. “Her skills are raw, but she is extremely coachable and her natural athleticism allows her to improve at a quick rate.”
DiGiorgio-Verdin is Western Illinois assistant coach Melissa David’s first recruit since joining the Leathernecks staff last spring. David played college volleyball at Wisconsin-Milwaukeee and formerly coached the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club, where DiGiorgio-Verdin currently plays.
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