Volleyball Welcomes Six in Class of 2022
2/9/2018 11:29:00 AM | Volleyball
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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson volleyball head coach Chris Willis has announced his 2022 recruiting class, welcoming six incoming freshmen for the 2018 season.
Joining the 'Cats are three outside hitters in Annalyse Kitzberger, Malia Kay, and Hattie Rodriguez, two middles in Lauryn Albold and Alison Jennings, and Caroline Mohler as a right side hitter.
"Our recruiting class is a great mix of offensive threats and ball control that will all have an immediate impact on the team," Willis said. "They have great long-term potential and are also outstanding in the classroom and the community. Brian [Rosen, assistant coach] did a fantastic job with this year's recruits."
CAROLINE MOHLER
Right Side | 6'1 | Alpharetta, Ga. | John's Creek HS
Caroline attends John's Creek HS in Alpharetta, where she was a three-year letterman and voted first-team all-area as a junior and second-team as a senior. She made first-team all-state in 2017 after being named a senior all-star, as well as recording a school-record 500 kills in a single-season. Mohler was inducted into the John's Creek HS Hall of Fame, and fell just 50 kills shy of 1,000 during high school career. She helped lead the Gladiators to area runner-ups and the Georgia High School Final Four in both 2016 and 17.
Willis on Mohler: "Caroline is the 'diamond in the rough' that all coaches hope to come across. She developed late and we were lucky enough to connect with her early in the recruiting process. She will be a classic opposite with the ability to terminate and block on the right side."
ALISON JENNINGS
Middle | 6'0 | Oswego, Ill. | Oswego East HS
A four-year letter winner at Oswego East, Alison was chosen as captain during her senior year and named the team MVP and to the all-tournament, all-area, and all-conference squads. She also competed in the high jump on the school's track and field team.
Willis on Jennings: "We couldn't believe that Alison was still looking so late in the recruiting process. She has the ability to terminate out of the middle in a variety of ways. She is a complete volleyball player who will find her way on the floor one way or another."
LAURYN ALBOLD
Middle | 6'0 | Saint Augustine, Fla. | Allen D. Nease HS
Lauryn attends Allen D. Nease High School in Saint Augustine, Fla., where she was selected as captain for both her junior and senior campaign. She led St. John's County in blocking in both 2016 and 2017 and was named Team MVP in 2016, while also being chosen to the USAV Team Florida High Performance Team in 2017. Albold posted a senior season of 25 aces, 71 kills, and 94 blocks while helping to lead the Panthers to a district title. Off the court, she is a member of National Honor Society and volunteers for Beach Cleanup and Habitat for Humanity.
Willis on Albold: "Lauren is an amazing blocker who reads well controls the ball like a college veteran. She is also an amazing individual who earned one of the most prestigious scholarships at Davidson (The Norris Scholarship). She'll excel in the Davidson environment."
HATTIE RODRIGUEZ
Outside Hitter | 5'11 | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Catholic HS
Hattie played all four years at Charlotte Catholic High School and earned three letters. She played club volleyball under current Davidson assistant Brian Rosen and was chosen as captain both her junior and senior seasons and a three-year all-conference selection. Rodriguez was selected as the Conference Player of the Year in 2017 after composing a season with 54 aces, 391 kills, a .403 hitting percentage, 36 blocks, and 195 digs. Off the court, she has spent time as a volunteer at Alexander Youth Network, teaching and coaching volleyball to underprivileged and abandoned youth.
Willis on Rodriguez: "Hattie is one of the most complete outside hitters we've had in the program. She'll have an immediate impact with outstanding ball control and a terminal arm swing. She brings great energy to the court and is lot of fun to watch."
MALIA KAY
Outside Hitter | 5'10 | San Diego, Calif. | Del Norte HS
Malia earned three letters at Del Norte High and was named first team all-league in 2017 after being a second-team selection in both 2016 and 2015. She was named to the San Diego County All-Conference squad and was chosen as a captain during her senior season. Kay helped guide Del Norte to two league championships and led her club team to the National Championships. She has also competed competitively in ice skating and played soccer.
Willis on Kay: "Malia has an incredible volleyball IQ. She will add ball control and defense to our program and also has the ability to contribute in the front row. I think we'll see her as a glue player as she solidifies a role on the team."
ANNALYSE KITZBERGER
Outside Hitter | 5'11 | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | Hathaway Brown School
Annalyse is a member of Hathaway Brown School, where she lettered all four years in volleyball as a four-year starter. She was voted Offensive MVP her senior year and named all-district honorable mention, while also claiming all-district honors in 2015 and a Senior All-Star plaudit in 2017. Kitzberger owns the Hathaway school records for most kills in a single-season (327), most career kills (745), single-season hitting percentage (.369), and career hitting percentage (.351).
Willis on Kitzberger: "Annalyse is another great fit for our program in that she is a terminator at the pin. She is a low-error attacker with a great energy. She'll find a way to contribute and make our program better."
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson volleyball head coach Chris Willis has announced his 2022 recruiting class, welcoming six incoming freshmen for the 2018 season.
Joining the 'Cats are three outside hitters in Annalyse Kitzberger, Malia Kay, and Hattie Rodriguez, two middles in Lauryn Albold and Alison Jennings, and Caroline Mohler as a right side hitter.
"Our recruiting class is a great mix of offensive threats and ball control that will all have an immediate impact on the team," Willis said. "They have great long-term potential and are also outstanding in the classroom and the community. Brian [Rosen, assistant coach] did a fantastic job with this year's recruits."
CAROLINE MOHLER
Right Side | 6'1 | Alpharetta, Ga. | John's Creek HS
Caroline attends John's Creek HS in Alpharetta, where she was a three-year letterman and voted first-team all-area as a junior and second-team as a senior. She made first-team all-state in 2017 after being named a senior all-star, as well as recording a school-record 500 kills in a single-season. Mohler was inducted into the John's Creek HS Hall of Fame, and fell just 50 kills shy of 1,000 during high school career. She helped lead the Gladiators to area runner-ups and the Georgia High School Final Four in both 2016 and 17.
Willis on Mohler: "Caroline is the 'diamond in the rough' that all coaches hope to come across. She developed late and we were lucky enough to connect with her early in the recruiting process. She will be a classic opposite with the ability to terminate and block on the right side."
ALISON JENNINGS
Middle | 6'0 | Oswego, Ill. | Oswego East HS
A four-year letter winner at Oswego East, Alison was chosen as captain during her senior year and named the team MVP and to the all-tournament, all-area, and all-conference squads. She also competed in the high jump on the school's track and field team.
Willis on Jennings: "We couldn't believe that Alison was still looking so late in the recruiting process. She has the ability to terminate out of the middle in a variety of ways. She is a complete volleyball player who will find her way on the floor one way or another."
LAURYN ALBOLD
Middle | 6'0 | Saint Augustine, Fla. | Allen D. Nease HS
Lauryn attends Allen D. Nease High School in Saint Augustine, Fla., where she was selected as captain for both her junior and senior campaign. She led St. John's County in blocking in both 2016 and 2017 and was named Team MVP in 2016, while also being chosen to the USAV Team Florida High Performance Team in 2017. Albold posted a senior season of 25 aces, 71 kills, and 94 blocks while helping to lead the Panthers to a district title. Off the court, she is a member of National Honor Society and volunteers for Beach Cleanup and Habitat for Humanity.
Willis on Albold: "Lauren is an amazing blocker who reads well controls the ball like a college veteran. She is also an amazing individual who earned one of the most prestigious scholarships at Davidson (The Norris Scholarship). She'll excel in the Davidson environment."
HATTIE RODRIGUEZ
Outside Hitter | 5'11 | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Catholic HS
Hattie played all four years at Charlotte Catholic High School and earned three letters. She played club volleyball under current Davidson assistant Brian Rosen and was chosen as captain both her junior and senior seasons and a three-year all-conference selection. Rodriguez was selected as the Conference Player of the Year in 2017 after composing a season with 54 aces, 391 kills, a .403 hitting percentage, 36 blocks, and 195 digs. Off the court, she has spent time as a volunteer at Alexander Youth Network, teaching and coaching volleyball to underprivileged and abandoned youth.
Willis on Rodriguez: "Hattie is one of the most complete outside hitters we've had in the program. She'll have an immediate impact with outstanding ball control and a terminal arm swing. She brings great energy to the court and is lot of fun to watch."
MALIA KAY
Outside Hitter | 5'10 | San Diego, Calif. | Del Norte HS
Malia earned three letters at Del Norte High and was named first team all-league in 2017 after being a second-team selection in both 2016 and 2015. She was named to the San Diego County All-Conference squad and was chosen as a captain during her senior season. Kay helped guide Del Norte to two league championships and led her club team to the National Championships. She has also competed competitively in ice skating and played soccer.
Willis on Kay: "Malia has an incredible volleyball IQ. She will add ball control and defense to our program and also has the ability to contribute in the front row. I think we'll see her as a glue player as she solidifies a role on the team."
ANNALYSE KITZBERGER
Outside Hitter | 5'11 | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | Hathaway Brown School
Annalyse is a member of Hathaway Brown School, where she lettered all four years in volleyball as a four-year starter. She was voted Offensive MVP her senior year and named all-district honorable mention, while also claiming all-district honors in 2015 and a Senior All-Star plaudit in 2017. Kitzberger owns the Hathaway school records for most kills in a single-season (327), most career kills (745), single-season hitting percentage (.369), and career hitting percentage (.351).
Willis on Kitzberger: "Annalyse is another great fit for our program in that she is a terminator at the pin. She is a low-error attacker with a great energy. She'll find a way to contribute and make our program better."
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