Wildcat Volleyball Adds Five Incoming Freshmen to Class of 2012
5/21/2008 11:45:46 AM | Volleyball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Davidson College women's volleyball team will welcome five talented incoming freshmen student-athletes for the 2008 fall season as announced today by head coach Tim Cowie.
The Wildcats' class of 2012 welcomes Madison Benedict (San Antonio, Texas), Erin Lupfer (San Diego, Calif.), Jessica McAlvany (Roswell, Ga.), Allison “Ally” Miller (Austin, Texas) and Christine Perzinski (Charlotte, N.C.).
Cowie, who is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Wildcat volleyball program, said, “I am very excited about this group of young women. They add a lot of talent and, more importantly, depth to our team in several positions.”
He added, “I expect our freshman to have an immediate impact and raise our level of play from day one. They must work hard between now and our preseason in August to make a smooth transition to the college game, and I'm confident they will do the necessary work to be prepared. The team and I have high expectations for next season, and we will be depending on our freshmen class to help carry us to the next level.”
The Wildcats return to action on August 29, 2008 and will face a schedule next season that includes two ACC opponents in Wake Forest and North Carolina. They will also face a pair of Big East foes, first seeing action against Georgetown and then Rutgers in the Wildcat Classic on September 12-13. George Mason and cross-town rival, Charlotte, joins Rutgers in Davidson's annual home tournament at Belk Arena.
Madison Benedict
Position: Middle Blocker/Opposite
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Height: 6-2
Club Team: Alamo 18 Kaepa
High School: St. Mary's Hall
Accomplishments: National Latin Exam - Cum Laude Recognition…"Who's Who" in American High Schools...2008 MVP…2007 PrepVolleyball Senior Aces- Top 250 Recruits…2007 All SPC Conference - Division 1…2007 All South Zone SPC…2007 Selected for All Area Team - San Antonio Express News.
Coach Cowie: “Madison has been fun to watch grow as a player. She brings a level of intensity to her position and will be counted on to do the same at Davidson. I expect her to compete for a middle position right away.”
Erin Lupfer
Position: Opposite
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Height: 6-1
Club Team: Epic
Accomplishments: AP Scholar…4 years Westview Distinguished Honor Roll…Westview Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year…2007 Union-Tribune All-Academic First Team (Volleyball)…2006 Union-Tribune All-Academic First Team (Volleyball)…California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Life Member…2007 MVP…2006 Most Improved Player…2005 Most Improved Player…2007 CIF San Diego Section DII Champions…2007 All-CIF team…2007 CIF Sportsmanship award…2007 Palomar League Second Team…2007 All-North County First Team…2006 CIF San Diego Section DII Champions…2006 CIF DII team...4 years varsity track & field…school record holder in high jump.
Coach Cowie: “Erin is a hard working, brings her lunch pail to work, kind of player. She will add much needed depth on our right side. I'm excited to see how she is going to adjust to the college game. Her attitude and work ethic is contagious.”
Jessica McAlvany
Position: Outside
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Height: 6-1
Club Team: A-5
High School: Blessed Trinity Catholic
Accomplishments: National Honors Society…National Merit Scholar qualifier…Magna Cum Laude…Summa Cum Laude…2006 AAA Player of the Year…2006 State Champion…2006-2007 1st Team All State.
Coach Cowie: “Jessica brings so much potential to our team. She's one of those players that you know her best is yet to come. You know that she is one of those players that just keeps getting better and better. She will add depth to our outside hitting position and someone that can terminate from the pin.”
Allison “Ally” Miller
Position: Middle Blocker/Opposite
Hometown: Austin, TX
Height: 6-0
Club Team: Austin Juniors
High School: Westlake
Accomplishments: Maxima Cum Laude in Latin 4…AP with Honor Scholar…2007 All Tournament State Team…2007 Academic All State.
Coach Cowie: “Ally is a smart middle who has refined her game from two of the best programs in the country. Not only did she compete for one of the best high schools (Westlake) in the country, she also competes at the highest club level with Austin Juniors. I look for Ally to compete for time right away.”
Christine Perzinski
Position: Outside
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Height: 6-1
Club Team: Carolina Juniors
High School: Myers Park
Accomplishments: Hood Hargett Breakfast Club Student Athlete Scholarship Award…Bronco Nagurski Leadership Forum…Mu Alpha Theta…Varsity Club Executive Officer…Honor Roll… 2007 Southwestern 4A Player of the Year…2007 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2007 N.C. 4A Senior All-Star team…2007 Charlotte Observer Player of the Year…2007 All-Observer First Team…2007 All-Mecklenburg First Team…2006 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2006 Charlotte Observer All-Observer First Team…2006 All-Mecklenburg First Team…2005 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2005 Carolina Region Most Valuable Player…2004 Carolina Region Co-Most Valuable Player.
Coach Cowie: “Christine is one of those players that quietly beats you. At the end of the match, opponent's wonder why they lost and they look at the stat sheet and see that Perzinski led her team in kills, blocks, digs and aces. She's not flashy or overpowering, but she is extremely efficient.”
The Wildcats' class of 2012 welcomes Madison Benedict (San Antonio, Texas), Erin Lupfer (San Diego, Calif.), Jessica McAlvany (Roswell, Ga.), Allison “Ally” Miller (Austin, Texas) and Christine Perzinski (Charlotte, N.C.).
Cowie, who is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Wildcat volleyball program, said, “I am very excited about this group of young women. They add a lot of talent and, more importantly, depth to our team in several positions.”
He added, “I expect our freshman to have an immediate impact and raise our level of play from day one. They must work hard between now and our preseason in August to make a smooth transition to the college game, and I'm confident they will do the necessary work to be prepared. The team and I have high expectations for next season, and we will be depending on our freshmen class to help carry us to the next level.”
The Wildcats return to action on August 29, 2008 and will face a schedule next season that includes two ACC opponents in Wake Forest and North Carolina. They will also face a pair of Big East foes, first seeing action against Georgetown and then Rutgers in the Wildcat Classic on September 12-13. George Mason and cross-town rival, Charlotte, joins Rutgers in Davidson's annual home tournament at Belk Arena.
Madison Benedict
Position: Middle Blocker/Opposite
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Height: 6-2
Club Team: Alamo 18 Kaepa
High School: St. Mary's Hall
Accomplishments: National Latin Exam - Cum Laude Recognition…"Who's Who" in American High Schools...2008 MVP…2007 PrepVolleyball Senior Aces- Top 250 Recruits…2007 All SPC Conference - Division 1…2007 All South Zone SPC…2007 Selected for All Area Team - San Antonio Express News.
Coach Cowie: “Madison has been fun to watch grow as a player. She brings a level of intensity to her position and will be counted on to do the same at Davidson. I expect her to compete for a middle position right away.”
Erin Lupfer
Position: Opposite
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Height: 6-1
Club Team: Epic
Accomplishments: AP Scholar…4 years Westview Distinguished Honor Roll…Westview Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year…2007 Union-Tribune All-Academic First Team (Volleyball)…2006 Union-Tribune All-Academic First Team (Volleyball)…California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Life Member…2007 MVP…2006 Most Improved Player…2005 Most Improved Player…2007 CIF San Diego Section DII Champions…2007 All-CIF team…2007 CIF Sportsmanship award…2007 Palomar League Second Team…2007 All-North County First Team…2006 CIF San Diego Section DII Champions…2006 CIF DII team...4 years varsity track & field…school record holder in high jump.
Coach Cowie: “Erin is a hard working, brings her lunch pail to work, kind of player. She will add much needed depth on our right side. I'm excited to see how she is going to adjust to the college game. Her attitude and work ethic is contagious.”
Jessica McAlvany
Position: Outside
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Height: 6-1
Club Team: A-5
High School: Blessed Trinity Catholic
Accomplishments: National Honors Society…National Merit Scholar qualifier…Magna Cum Laude…Summa Cum Laude…2006 AAA Player of the Year…2006 State Champion…2006-2007 1st Team All State.
Coach Cowie: “Jessica brings so much potential to our team. She's one of those players that you know her best is yet to come. You know that she is one of those players that just keeps getting better and better. She will add depth to our outside hitting position and someone that can terminate from the pin.”
Allison “Ally” Miller
Position: Middle Blocker/Opposite
Hometown: Austin, TX
Height: 6-0
Club Team: Austin Juniors
High School: Westlake
Accomplishments: Maxima Cum Laude in Latin 4…AP with Honor Scholar…2007 All Tournament State Team…2007 Academic All State.
Coach Cowie: “Ally is a smart middle who has refined her game from two of the best programs in the country. Not only did she compete for one of the best high schools (Westlake) in the country, she also competes at the highest club level with Austin Juniors. I look for Ally to compete for time right away.”
Christine Perzinski
Position: Outside
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Height: 6-1
Club Team: Carolina Juniors
High School: Myers Park
Accomplishments: Hood Hargett Breakfast Club Student Athlete Scholarship Award…Bronco Nagurski Leadership Forum…Mu Alpha Theta…Varsity Club Executive Officer…Honor Roll… 2007 Southwestern 4A Player of the Year…2007 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2007 N.C. 4A Senior All-Star team…2007 Charlotte Observer Player of the Year…2007 All-Observer First Team…2007 All-Mecklenburg First Team…2006 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2006 Charlotte Observer All-Observer First Team…2006 All-Mecklenburg First Team…2005 All-Southwestern 4A Conference First Team…2005 Carolina Region Most Valuable Player…2004 Carolina Region Co-Most Valuable Player.
Coach Cowie: “Christine is one of those players that quietly beats you. At the end of the match, opponent's wonder why they lost and they look at the stat sheet and see that Perzinski led her team in kills, blocks, digs and aces. She's not flashy or overpowering, but she is extremely efficient.”
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