RICHMOND, Va. – VCU's Jody Rogers revealed the Rams' 2014 recruiting class Monday, the product of the coach's first full recruiting cycle for the Black and Gold. The result is a nine-player haul that includes student-athletes from not only Virginia, but California, the Midwest and Europe.
All nine players will join the Rams in time for the 2014 season, which kicks off Aug. 29-30 at the Colorado State Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo.
"In 2014, VCU Volleyball is looking forward to the returning players and newcomers coming together as we push toward daily improvement in the pursuit of contending for the A-10 Championship," Rogers said. "We are excited about this year's class of student-athletes and how their hard-working character will enhance the current culture of the program as we move forward."
Here is a breakdown of VCU's 2014 recruits:
Mary Kilbane, Libero, Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard Kilbane helped lead the Trojans to a state championship as a junior. Bishop Chatard was also state runner-up during Kilbane's sophomore campaign, as well as regional and sectional champions last year.
Coach Rogers on Kilbane: Mary is a very skilled libero with great ball control. She will provide our fast-paced offense the important first touch for years to come. Mary has tremendous reading capabilities that will make for an easy transition to VCU. She will bring a lot of positive energy and the "hate-to-lose" mentality that will help those around her get better. |
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Indigo Thompson, Setter, Plymouth, Minn./Armstrong An outstanding athlete, Thompson's father (football), mother (volleyball) both played at the Division I level, while older sister Dominique is a rising senior middle blocker at Wisconsin.
Coach Rogers on Thompson: Indigo is an extremely dynamic, athletic setter. Her ability to run down balls and still run quick tempo, out-of-system sets is exactly what we need in 2014. Indigo comes from a very athletic family and we are looking for her to contribute early. |
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Naomi Overstreet, Middle Blocker, Oakland, Calif./Berkeley
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Jessica Young, Outside Hitter, Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge Coach Rogers on Young: Jessica is an explosive, athletic player who has the ability and the versatility to terminate balls from both pins. We see Jessica as someone who can possibly be a six-rotation player and, with her athleticism, end plays from the backcourt as well.
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Lucie Herbockova, Middle Blocker, Czech Republic
Herbockova is a talented middle blocker who captained the Czech Republic U20 squad. Herbockova helped lead the Czech Republic to a 4-4 record at the 2013 U20 World Championships, and the 6-footer also starred for club team VK Královo Pole in recent years.
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Rebekah Strange, Outside hitter/libero, Avon, Ind./Avon Coach Rogers on Strange: Rebekah is an amazing athlete with a fantastic understanding of the game. Her ability to play multiple positions makes her a huge asset to our team. Rebekah will challenge at the outside hitter and libero positions. Her competitive nature and determination to get better every day will no doubt lead to success at the next level. |
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Jane Feddersen, Middle Blocker, Sterling, Va./Loudoun County Fedderson provided seven kills and six blocks for Loudoun County in November to help lift the Raiders to a State Championship win over Jamestown at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, her future home court. Coach Rogers on Feddersen: Jane has played at a very high level and won several championships. She's a multi-purpose hitter, able to hit from anywhere along the net. We look forward to discovering where she makes her impact. Her mental toughness and work ethic will make for an easy transition to VCU. |
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Libby Haslett, Outside hitter, Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge Coach Rogers on Haslett: Libby is another explosive outside hitter who can play from both pins. Her ability to defend and attack from the back row will provide her the tools to contend for playing time in her first season. |
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Tori Pearce, Libero, Durham, N.C./Riverside Coach Rogers on Pearce: Tori another highly skilled defensive player who can make great reads and adjustments quickly. She will provide our offense with a great first touch and superior defense, which will help her as she is challenged to make immediate impact. |
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