Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Five Newcomers Set to Join Volleyball in the Fall
11/21/2014 8:57:00 AM | Volleyball
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Coming off their inaugural season in the Atlantic 10, Davidson volleyball head coach Chris Willis has announced the addition of five incoming freshman for 2015; Ciera Cockrell, Katharine Franz, Mason Rooney, Sabrina Shepherd and Samantha Thompson.
The class of 2019 will join a Wildcat squad, which returns 13 student-athletes from last year's team.
"We're extremely excited to add these young women to our team," said Willis.
Hailing from Waxhaw, N.C., Cockrell was a three-year letterwinner at Providence Day School, where she played for former Davidson assistant coach Emily Carrara. A two-time all-conference honoree, Cockrell also earned all-state distinction and was named to the 2014 AVC Phenom List. The outside hitter was named to the NRCA all-tournament team as a junior and senior. Cockrell is also a member of the track and field team, holding the school record in the long jump (17'11 ¾). As a junior, Cockrell was a state finalist in the long jump and triple jump. Daughter of Kieth and Serena, Cockrell is a member of the National Honor Society. Cockrell's father played football at Columbia University and her older brother, Ross was a cornerback on the Duke football team from 2009-13 and now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
"Ciera was a wonderful find for us late in the recruiting process, said Willis. "She was in our backyard the entire time, but only on our radar in the last few months. After we got a chance to see her train and spend some time with her, we knew she would fit into our program well. Her dynamic athleticism will make us much better at the outside hitter position and her coachability will make her a force in the A10."
A local product of Charlotte Country Day, Katharine Franz joins the Wildcats as a middle hitter. Franz, a two-time NCISAA State Player of the Year, garnered all-conference status three times before earning all-state accolades as a junior. As a junior, the Charlotte, N.C., native was tabbed the Charlotte Observe Player of the Year and the Mecklenburg County Player of the Year. In her final campaign, Franz hauled in Under Armor All-American honorable mention. Franz is a member of the National Honor Society and the Big Brothers and Big Sister program. Her parents are both 1984 graduates of Davidson College.
"Katharine has been a dominant middle for the past two years in the state of North Carolina," said Willis. "She is dynamic off one foot and has an extremely fast arm swing. She's the type of player that you don't notice until the end of the match and she'll have 15 kills and 7 blocks. Both of Katharine's parents attended Davidson so we feel very fortunate to have her become a Wildcat as well."
A middle hitter, Shepherd was a two-year letterwinner at Bentonville in Cave Springs, Ark. In her first season, Shepherd was named the Northwest Arkansas Newcomer of the Year in 2012 and earned all-conference status. In 2013, the 6-0 middle led her team to a conference championship and to the finals of the 7A State tournament. Shepherd is a member of the National Honor Society and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. She serves on Student Council and is a member of the Bentonville School District 21st Century Taskforce. Her mother, Shauna played volleyball at the University of Tulsa from 1989-1993.
"Sabrina is another perfect fit for the Davidson academic/athlete model," said Willis. "She has high aspirations for her life after college in the medical field and is committed to being a dominant middle hitter in the A10. She will be a great addition to the current middles as she is extremely versatile and athletic. Her ability to attack off one foot will open up options for the rest of the offense and she could develop into one of the best blockers in our program."
Rooney hails from Atlanta, Ga., where she was a four-year letterwinner at The Westminster School while leading her team to three consecutive Georgia AA State Championship games. Rooney earned Georgia AA All-Area and All-State first-team honors three times. The 6-2 opposite was tabbed the Georgia AA Player of the Year as a junior and Senior. She was named to the AVCA All-America Watch List as a senior before earning AVCA All-America status and Under Armor All-American third-team accolades at the end of her final season. Off the court, Rooney is a member of the National Honor Society, a mentor in the Girls Empowering Relationship Leadership and Service organization and serves as a Westminster admissions ambassador. Rooney, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Rooney, also works closely with SteerSmart Student Advisory Board. Her father played baseball at Rhodes College from 1980-84.
"Mason committed to us early as she discovered that Davidson was a perfect fit for her academic needs and athletic passion," said Willis. "She brings a competitive mentality as she has competed at the highest level throughout high school and club volleyball. Her skills as an attacker, blocker, and setter will make her a point scoring threat at all times. We can't wait to see the impact she'll have on our program in the next four years."
At 5-7, Thompson will join the Wildcats as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. The McKinney, Texas native was named to the 2013 all-district first team and 2014 all-district second team. She was a three-time recipient of the Rotary Club Award and was tabbed a Triple Impact Player finalist as a senior. Inside the classroom, Thompson was a National Achievement Scholar in 2014, a Duke TIP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and named to the academic all-district first team as a sophomore, junior and senior. She is a mentor in PALS and an active volunteer for Special Olympics. The daughter of Julius and Christie Thompson, Thompson plans to major in Economics at Davidson.
"Sam has a dynamic skill set along with a dynamic personality," said Willis. "Her work ethic and determination on the court are what got our attention, and her personality was what convinced us that she needed to be a Wildcat. Sam will bring a high energy level to the court and I'm excited to see what she will do at this level. She competed at a high level throughout high school, so I'm sure she'll adapt to the college game quickly."
The class of 2019 will join a Wildcat squad, which returns 13 student-athletes from last year's team.
"We're extremely excited to add these young women to our team," said Willis.
Hailing from Waxhaw, N.C., Cockrell was a three-year letterwinner at Providence Day School, where she played for former Davidson assistant coach Emily Carrara. A two-time all-conference honoree, Cockrell also earned all-state distinction and was named to the 2014 AVC Phenom List. The outside hitter was named to the NRCA all-tournament team as a junior and senior. Cockrell is also a member of the track and field team, holding the school record in the long jump (17'11 ¾). As a junior, Cockrell was a state finalist in the long jump and triple jump. Daughter of Kieth and Serena, Cockrell is a member of the National Honor Society. Cockrell's father played football at Columbia University and her older brother, Ross was a cornerback on the Duke football team from 2009-13 and now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
"Ciera was a wonderful find for us late in the recruiting process, said Willis. "She was in our backyard the entire time, but only on our radar in the last few months. After we got a chance to see her train and spend some time with her, we knew she would fit into our program well. Her dynamic athleticism will make us much better at the outside hitter position and her coachability will make her a force in the A10."
A local product of Charlotte Country Day, Katharine Franz joins the Wildcats as a middle hitter. Franz, a two-time NCISAA State Player of the Year, garnered all-conference status three times before earning all-state accolades as a junior. As a junior, the Charlotte, N.C., native was tabbed the Charlotte Observe Player of the Year and the Mecklenburg County Player of the Year. In her final campaign, Franz hauled in Under Armor All-American honorable mention. Franz is a member of the National Honor Society and the Big Brothers and Big Sister program. Her parents are both 1984 graduates of Davidson College.
"Katharine has been a dominant middle for the past two years in the state of North Carolina," said Willis. "She is dynamic off one foot and has an extremely fast arm swing. She's the type of player that you don't notice until the end of the match and she'll have 15 kills and 7 blocks. Both of Katharine's parents attended Davidson so we feel very fortunate to have her become a Wildcat as well."
A middle hitter, Shepherd was a two-year letterwinner at Bentonville in Cave Springs, Ark. In her first season, Shepherd was named the Northwest Arkansas Newcomer of the Year in 2012 and earned all-conference status. In 2013, the 6-0 middle led her team to a conference championship and to the finals of the 7A State tournament. Shepherd is a member of the National Honor Society and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. She serves on Student Council and is a member of the Bentonville School District 21st Century Taskforce. Her mother, Shauna played volleyball at the University of Tulsa from 1989-1993.
"Sabrina is another perfect fit for the Davidson academic/athlete model," said Willis. "She has high aspirations for her life after college in the medical field and is committed to being a dominant middle hitter in the A10. She will be a great addition to the current middles as she is extremely versatile and athletic. Her ability to attack off one foot will open up options for the rest of the offense and she could develop into one of the best blockers in our program."
Rooney hails from Atlanta, Ga., where she was a four-year letterwinner at The Westminster School while leading her team to three consecutive Georgia AA State Championship games. Rooney earned Georgia AA All-Area and All-State first-team honors three times. The 6-2 opposite was tabbed the Georgia AA Player of the Year as a junior and Senior. She was named to the AVCA All-America Watch List as a senior before earning AVCA All-America status and Under Armor All-American third-team accolades at the end of her final season. Off the court, Rooney is a member of the National Honor Society, a mentor in the Girls Empowering Relationship Leadership and Service organization and serves as a Westminster admissions ambassador. Rooney, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Rooney, also works closely with SteerSmart Student Advisory Board. Her father played baseball at Rhodes College from 1980-84.
"Mason committed to us early as she discovered that Davidson was a perfect fit for her academic needs and athletic passion," said Willis. "She brings a competitive mentality as she has competed at the highest level throughout high school and club volleyball. Her skills as an attacker, blocker, and setter will make her a point scoring threat at all times. We can't wait to see the impact she'll have on our program in the next four years."
At 5-7, Thompson will join the Wildcats as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. The McKinney, Texas native was named to the 2013 all-district first team and 2014 all-district second team. She was a three-time recipient of the Rotary Club Award and was tabbed a Triple Impact Player finalist as a senior. Inside the classroom, Thompson was a National Achievement Scholar in 2014, a Duke TIP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and named to the academic all-district first team as a sophomore, junior and senior. She is a mentor in PALS and an active volunteer for Special Olympics. The daughter of Julius and Christie Thompson, Thompson plans to major in Economics at Davidson.
"Sam has a dynamic skill set along with a dynamic personality," said Willis. "Her work ethic and determination on the court are what got our attention, and her personality was what convinced us that she needed to be a Wildcat. Sam will bring a high energy level to the court and I'm excited to see what she will do at this level. She competed at a high level throughout high school, so I'm sure she'll adapt to the college game quickly."
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