Davidson Inks First Atlantic 10 Recruits
12/5/2013 11:48:00 AM | Volleyball
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Head volleyball coach Chris Willis made program history last week, signing a quartet of players in his first official Atlantic 10 recruiting class. Grace Schlicht (Appleton, Wis./Xavier HS), Katriana Romanelli (Las Cruces, N.M./Mayfield), Sarah Fink (Cornelius, N.C./Community School of Davidson) and Kelly Friers (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) will join the Wildcats in the 2014 season, the squad's first in its new league.
"The incoming freshman class of 2014 is one of the most athletic and gifted we've seen," said Willis. "With the departure of the current seniors it was vital that we recruit size, athleticism, and skill. The combination of these four girls insures that Davidson volleyball will be competitive for years to come. "
A middle hitter, Schlicht was a four-year letterwinner under coach Nicole Stegall at Xavier High School in Appleton, Wis., where she was the Eastern Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 2013. Also a two-time EVC All-Conference First Team honoree, she was an all-state honorable mention and a Post Crescent Sensational 6 selection in her final season with the Hawks. Schlicht departs as the programs all-time blocking leader, recording 164 total blocks in her senior campaign to go along with a .467 hitting percentage. The daughter of Doug and Dana and sister of Will and Matthew, Schlict is a member of the Xavier Honors Society who is undecided on a major.
"Grace has some big shoes to fill in the middle with the departure of Tindall Sewell, and we know that she is both willing and capable," said Willis. "Not only does she have a physical presence at the net, she has trained and competed at a high level throughout the past four years in Wisconsin. Her dynamic arm and volleyball IQ will help her to contribute and be successful right away."
Katriana "Kat" Romanelli hails from Las Cruces, N.M., where she was a three-year letterwinner on coach Mike Sautter's squad. She also spent one season at Mesilla Valley Christian School, where she was also a letterwinner. Romanelli was a 2013 Second Team New Mexico All-State honoree and earned all-district accolades in both 2012 and 2013. A setter, she was named to the New Mexico North/South All-Star squad and garnered second team all-New Mexico honors as a junior in 2012. As a senior, Romanelli boasts 174 kills, 58 aces, 134 digs, 56 blocks and 521 assists. In club competition, she was named to the 2012 HP SURVA Regional team as well as the USA U-14 and U-15 National teams. Romanelli also competed in beach volleyball, where she placed third at the 2010 USAV Beach Jr. Tour Desert Open. The daughter of Daniel and Laura and sister of Nicolas, Romanelli is the MHS student body president as well as a Mayor's Top Teen Award Recipient. She is a member of the National Honor Society and academic honor roll.
"Kat is one of the most dynamic athletes we've recruited to Davidson," said Willis. "Not only is she 6-1, she has great feet and delivers a hittable ball to her attackers. Kat's development over the last year has really impressed our coaching staff and we can't wait to see what she can do at the college level."
Local product Fink won't have to travel far to join the Wildcats, as the Cornelius, N.C, native was a two-year letterwinner at the Community School of Davidson for coach Mike Perkins, helping the Spartans start their program. A outside hitter, Fink was the 2013 1A Southern Piedmont Conference Player of the Year, finishing her career with a .302 hitting percentage with 135 total blocks and 500 kills in just two seasons. Also a Western Piedmont Athletic Association All-Star in basketball, Fink competed in track & field for the Spartans. She is the National Honor Society President as well as an AP Scholar, student ambassador, student government member and Lake Norman Junior Leadership council member. The daughter of Frederick and Charlotte and sister of Katherine, Elizabeth and David, Sara spend the past three summers volunteering at foster homes for special needs children in China and speaks Mandarin Chinese. She hopes to major in international relations.
"We are thrilled to have a local athlete of Sarah's caliber. She brings much needed size and athleticism to either pin," said Willis. "Her ability to play above the block and create hitting angles, that will challenge the defense, will serve our program well. As well, Sarah's real-world experiences- spending her summers in China- will add to the Davidson community in numerous ways. We can't wait to see how she will impact the school and volleyball program."
Friers played setter, opposite, middle blocker and outside hitter as a four-year letterwinner at Cumberland Valley for Jackie Orner. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native was a PIAA State All-Star, District 3 All-Star First Team and Patriot News Big 15 All –Star First Team honoree in both 2012 and 2013, earning both Mid Penn Conference MVP and Carlisle Sentinel Player of the Year accolades as a senior in 2013. As a junior in 2012, she was honored on the Mid Penn Conference All-Star First Team and earned numerous player of the week designations throughout her career. She boasts 1,506 career assists (655 in her senior campaign) along with 228 career kills and 297 career blocks. Friers also competed in basketball and lacrosse for the Eagles. The daughter of Maggie and Tim and sister of Bryan, Friers is a member of the National Honor Society and National Foreign Language Honor Society who will enter Davidson as a biology/pre-med major.
"There aren't many hidden gems out there, and we think we found one in Kelly," said Willis. "She has good size (6-1) and athleticism, and has played every position except libero for her high school and club team. Kelly's ability to train and compete at several different positions will help her get on the court early and add another dynamic athlete to our line up."
Davidson Volleyball Freshman Class of 2014
"The incoming freshman class of 2014 is one of the most athletic and gifted we've seen," said Willis. "With the departure of the current seniors it was vital that we recruit size, athleticism, and skill. The combination of these four girls insures that Davidson volleyball will be competitive for years to come. "
A middle hitter, Schlicht was a four-year letterwinner under coach Nicole Stegall at Xavier High School in Appleton, Wis., where she was the Eastern Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 2013. Also a two-time EVC All-Conference First Team honoree, she was an all-state honorable mention and a Post Crescent Sensational 6 selection in her final season with the Hawks. Schlicht departs as the programs all-time blocking leader, recording 164 total blocks in her senior campaign to go along with a .467 hitting percentage. The daughter of Doug and Dana and sister of Will and Matthew, Schlict is a member of the Xavier Honors Society who is undecided on a major.
"Grace has some big shoes to fill in the middle with the departure of Tindall Sewell, and we know that she is both willing and capable," said Willis. "Not only does she have a physical presence at the net, she has trained and competed at a high level throughout the past four years in Wisconsin. Her dynamic arm and volleyball IQ will help her to contribute and be successful right away."
Katriana "Kat" Romanelli hails from Las Cruces, N.M., where she was a three-year letterwinner on coach Mike Sautter's squad. She also spent one season at Mesilla Valley Christian School, where she was also a letterwinner. Romanelli was a 2013 Second Team New Mexico All-State honoree and earned all-district accolades in both 2012 and 2013. A setter, she was named to the New Mexico North/South All-Star squad and garnered second team all-New Mexico honors as a junior in 2012. As a senior, Romanelli boasts 174 kills, 58 aces, 134 digs, 56 blocks and 521 assists. In club competition, she was named to the 2012 HP SURVA Regional team as well as the USA U-14 and U-15 National teams. Romanelli also competed in beach volleyball, where she placed third at the 2010 USAV Beach Jr. Tour Desert Open. The daughter of Daniel and Laura and sister of Nicolas, Romanelli is the MHS student body president as well as a Mayor's Top Teen Award Recipient. She is a member of the National Honor Society and academic honor roll.
"Kat is one of the most dynamic athletes we've recruited to Davidson," said Willis. "Not only is she 6-1, she has great feet and delivers a hittable ball to her attackers. Kat's development over the last year has really impressed our coaching staff and we can't wait to see what she can do at the college level."
Local product Fink won't have to travel far to join the Wildcats, as the Cornelius, N.C, native was a two-year letterwinner at the Community School of Davidson for coach Mike Perkins, helping the Spartans start their program. A outside hitter, Fink was the 2013 1A Southern Piedmont Conference Player of the Year, finishing her career with a .302 hitting percentage with 135 total blocks and 500 kills in just two seasons. Also a Western Piedmont Athletic Association All-Star in basketball, Fink competed in track & field for the Spartans. She is the National Honor Society President as well as an AP Scholar, student ambassador, student government member and Lake Norman Junior Leadership council member. The daughter of Frederick and Charlotte and sister of Katherine, Elizabeth and David, Sara spend the past three summers volunteering at foster homes for special needs children in China and speaks Mandarin Chinese. She hopes to major in international relations.
"We are thrilled to have a local athlete of Sarah's caliber. She brings much needed size and athleticism to either pin," said Willis. "Her ability to play above the block and create hitting angles, that will challenge the defense, will serve our program well. As well, Sarah's real-world experiences- spending her summers in China- will add to the Davidson community in numerous ways. We can't wait to see how she will impact the school and volleyball program."
Friers played setter, opposite, middle blocker and outside hitter as a four-year letterwinner at Cumberland Valley for Jackie Orner. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native was a PIAA State All-Star, District 3 All-Star First Team and Patriot News Big 15 All –Star First Team honoree in both 2012 and 2013, earning both Mid Penn Conference MVP and Carlisle Sentinel Player of the Year accolades as a senior in 2013. As a junior in 2012, she was honored on the Mid Penn Conference All-Star First Team and earned numerous player of the week designations throughout her career. She boasts 1,506 career assists (655 in her senior campaign) along with 228 career kills and 297 career blocks. Friers also competed in basketball and lacrosse for the Eagles. The daughter of Maggie and Tim and sister of Bryan, Friers is a member of the National Honor Society and National Foreign Language Honor Society who will enter Davidson as a biology/pre-med major.
"There aren't many hidden gems out there, and we think we found one in Kelly," said Willis. "She has good size (6-1) and athleticism, and has played every position except libero for her high school and club team. Kelly's ability to train and compete at several different positions will help her get on the court early and add another dynamic athlete to our line up."
Davidson Volleyball Freshman Class of 2014
| Grace Schlicht | 6-2 | MH | Appleton, Wis | Xavier HS |
| Kat Romanelli | 6-1 | S | Las Cruces, N.M. | Mayfield HS |
| Sarah Fink | 6-2 | OH | Cornelius, N.C. | Community School of Davidson |
| Kelly Friers | 6-2 | OH | Mechanicsburg, Pa. | Cumberland Valley HS |
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