Nov. 18, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Russ Rose and his staff have announced the signing of seven newcomers to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Ali Frantti (Spring Grove, Ill.), Haleigh Washington (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Heidi Thelen (Edgewood, KY.),Nia Reed (Fort Lee, N.J.), Simone Lee (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Bryanna Weiskircher (Loves Park, Ill.) and Lainy Pierce (Eden, N.Y.) make up the highly talented incoming class.
From Under Armour All-Americans to Gatorade Players of the Year, the 2014 class is packed with some of the nation's top potential. Boasting more 2013-14 First Team Under Armour All-America honorees than any other program in the country, all seven incoming student-athletes are ranked among the top 150 high school seniors, according to prepvolleyball.com, with five in the top 15 and three in the top 10.
"All of the players coming in we've had in camp, so we've worked with a lot of these girls and we have a little better handle on our projections, head coach Russ Rose said. They have all had great success in high school and on their club teams as well."
"The staff, and Kaleena in particular, did a terrific job in the assessment and recruiting phase of this class. "Some of these girls have been verbally committed for a while so our former assistant coach Dennis Hohenshelt can also be credited as well. Overall though, the entire staff did an excellent job with this class."
Lee, a 6-2 outside hitter, is in her fourth year as a starter at Menomonee Falls, having served as team captain for the last two consecutive years, guiding the Indians to a WIAA State Championship title. Lee also picked up All-State honors following her sophomore and junior year. With her club team, Club Fusion, Lee earned four AAU all-tournament team honors. She was also a member of the 2012 and 2013 USA Girls' Youth National Team, where she helped the squad to a first place finish in the NORCECA U18 Continental Championships in 2012 and a second place finish at the FIVB U18 World Championships in 2013. Most recently, Lee was honored as a 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-American.
Why Penn State: I chose Penn State because of tradition. I will receive a top-notch education while also playing in a highly competitive and successful volleyball program.
What Rose says: Coming off of leading her team to a state championship and playing for Team USA this summer, she has a lot of confidence in her skills. I project her as an outside, although she played right side for Team USA and has played left side for her club team. She has good all-around skill set and a strong frame.
Frantti, a 6-2 outside hitter, recently led Richmond Burton to a state title. In 2012, she garnered First Team All-State honors and Chicago Sun-Times All Area honors. Frantti is three-time team MVP and two-year captain. With her club team, Club Fusion, Frantti helped guide the squad to back-to-back AAU titles, collecting MVP honors in 2012 and all-tournament honors in 2013. Frantti also earned 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-America honors.
Why Penn State: I chose Penn State because I will be well coached, the academic programs are well respected and the campus is beautiful.
What Rose says: Ali is one of the most explosive attackers in this year's class. I see her as a point scoring outside attacker with the ability to hit out of both the front row and the back row.
Washington, a 6-3 middle blocker, most recently set a new state record, putting down 48 kills in a match with her high school team, Doherty. The 2012 Colorado Volleyball Player of the Year earned team MVP honors in 2012 and 2013, having served as the Rockets' team captain for the past two seasons. She also guided the 2012 team to a state championship title. In addition to numerous all-conference and all-state accolades, Washington earned 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-America honors.
Why Penn State: Each school I went to was nice, but I had a feeling was at my grandma's or on vacation. Coming to Penn State felt like home and a place I could see myself walking across a stage to get my diploma as a graduate.
What Rose says: Haleigh is a terrific offensive player as well as a prolific scorer, as demonstrated by the match where she had 48 kills. She is good off of one foot and she also has an incredible outgoing personality that really has a positive impact on everyone around her.
Weiskircher, a 6-1 setter and outside hitter, has served as team captain at Boylan Catholic since her sophomore year, picking up three consecutive MVP honors along the way. She earned all-state honorable mention in both her sophomore and junior year, achieving NIC 10 All-Conference MVP honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Weiskircher was also the setter on the two-time AAU championship team, Club Fusion, along with incoming signees Lee and Frantti. Weiskircher earned 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-America honors.
Why Penn State: I chose Penn State because it was really the only school I was 100 percent interested in. When I first went to visit, I fell in love with everything from the school, the campus and the college atmosphere, to all of the support from the area. The volleyball program is a legacy and I want to be a part of it and have an impact in whatever way possible.
What Rose says: Bryanna has had great success with her teams as a 6-2 setter and hitter. She's projected as more of setter than a hitter here, but I think she has a good volleyball IQ and she's accustom to being a strong leader.
Reed, a 6-2 outside hitter and middle, earned New Jersey Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. As a four-year starter at Immaculate Heart Academy, Reed led her team to four consecutive non-public state championship titles, picking up Bergen Record Player of the Year honors in 2012 and 2013 and Star Ledger Player of the Year honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She also picked up Big North Conference All-State honors from 2010-2013. In addition to playing with her club team, "Digs," she also played on the USAV Girls' Youth A2 Team in 2012, serving as an alternate on the national team in 2013. She was selected as a 2013-14 Under Armour First Team All-American.
Why Penn State: I chose Penn State because of the winning tradition, knowing the coaches challenge you as a player, the girls, and the educational opportunities. I know I can get a great education and have a great volleyball career at Penn State.
What Rose says: Nia has touched close to 10-10 at camp and I see her playing in really any of the front row positions. She's an all-around player for her high school and club team, but her net skills are very strong. Once she arrives and we get her in the gym, we can see what the best fit is for her.
Thelen, a 6-2 outside hitter and middle blocker, is a four-year letter winner at Notre Dame Academy and two-time Best Offensive Player selection. Thelen earned Class AAA All-State accolades in 2013, while also picking up all-state honors by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association in 2013. She earned all-tournament team honors at AAU Nationals in 2012 and 2013 with her club team, Tri-State Elite, garnering AAU All-America honors in 2011. Recently, she earned 2013-14 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Why Penn State: I chose Penn State because of the atmosphere on campus and the astounding volleyball team and coaches.
What Rose says: Heidi is projected as middle and I think her skills indicate that she is a really nice, natural blocker. If she gets up to the physical demands then she'll make a great contributions to the team.
Pierce, a 5-8 setter and outside hitter, recently led Eden Junior/Senior to its fifth state championship as the team captain, picking up MVP honors. The 2012 New York Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year finalist earned First-Team All ECIC and WYN honors in 2012 and 2013. She also guided her club team, Niagara Frontier, to WEVA Regional Championships from 2008- 2013.
Why Penn State: I wanted to pick a college that would challenge me academically as well as athletically. There is so much pride at Penn State, ever student, faculty member and fan is proud to wear blue and white. I chose Penn State volleyball because I knew that competitive teammates and coaches would surround me.
What Rose says: Lainy just led her team to their fifth straight state championship and she was the MVP of that team as a setter. I think that she'll bring a well-rounded skill set with her and she'll be able to be penciled in at different positions. Like her sister Kendall, she's also a good teammate.