Husker Volleyball Signs Top-Notch Class

Lincoln ? University of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook announced Friday that four players have signed National Letters-of-Intent with the Husker volleyball program for the 2008 season.   The four-player class consists of middle blocker Allison McNeal (Schulenburg, Texas), outside hitters Kaitlynn James (Louisville, Ky.) and Jordan Haverly (Cherry Valley, Ill.) and setter Sydney Anderson (Salt Lake City, Utah).

The group all bring impressive credentials into the Husker program, as McNeal (No. 4), James (No. 13) and Haverly (No. 20) are rated among the nation’s top 20 seniors by Prepvolleyball.com, while Anderson currently trains with the U.S. National Team in Colorado Springs, Colo.

According to Cook, this recruiting class is balanced across the board, as the Huskers look to replace four seniors following this season. All four signees have national-level experience and have shown the dedication to improve as they transition to the college game.

“The 2008 class is a nice blend of experienced players with some great athleticism, while balancing needs at the outside hitter, middle blocker and setter positions,” Cook said. “All four players have the experience to be able to contribute right away.”

“There are high expectations at Nebraska, and all four players have embraced the commitment to play here,” Cook said. “We are excited about the character and work ethic of this group, as they want to continue the great tradition at Nebraska in the coming years.”

Nebraska Volleyball Recruiting Class

Name

Pos

Ht.

Hometown (High School/Previous School)

Sydney Anderson

S

6-0

Salt Lake City, Utah (Alta/Utah)

Jordan Haverly

OH

6-1

Cherry Valley, Ill. (Rockford Keith Country Day)

Kaitlynn James

OH

5-11

Louisville, Ky. (Assumption)

Allison McNeal

MB

6-2

Schulenburg, Texas

Sydney Anderson
Anderson has been with the U.S. National Team program in Colorado Springs, Colo., since last summer after spending her freshman year at the University of Utah. Anderson has gained extensive experience in the USA Volleyball program, serving as a member of the U.S. Women’s A2 National Team in 2007.  In 2006, Anderson averaged 12.45 assists, 2.77 digs and 0.76 blocks to lead the Utes to a 28-4 record and an NCAA second-round appearance. The AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year and the Mountain West Conference Setter of the Year, Anderson guided Utah to a .281 hitting percentage, a total that ranked seventh nationally.  She totaled nine double-doubles, including a 64-assist, 19-dig effort against Wyoming, as Utah went 16-0 in MWC play in 2006. Anderson was a four-year all-state performer at Alta High School and was selected as the Utah Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.

Jordan Haverly
Haverly was one of the nation’s top senior outside hitters playing for Rockford Keith School in Illinois. As a senior, Haverly led Rockford Keith to a 37-5 record and a Class 1A runner-up finish, its first-ever state finals appearance in the school’s 92-year history. The No. 20 senior in the country by Prepvolleyball.com, Haverly was a two-time all-state selection for her mother Tammi, totaling 600 kills, 203 digs, 71 blocks and 101 aces this past season. She finished the year with 19 kills on .541 hitting in the state title match against Mount Pulaski. She brings international experience into the program, as she started for the USA Junior National A2 Team, leading them to a perfect 5-0 record and a gold medal at the 2007 European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia.

Kaitlynn James
James is one of the nation’s top outside hitters playing for Coach Ron Kordes and national power Assumption (Ky.) High School, leading the school to a 40-3 record, a state title and a No. 4 national ranking. James is a two-year starter for the tradition-rich program which has won 14 of the last 16 state titles in Kentucky and four national titles in that span. A two-time first-team all-state performer, James is rated as the No. 13 player nationally by Prepvolleyball.com and earned first-team Mizuno/Volleyball Magazine All-America honors in 2006. As a senior, she averaged 5.80 kills, 1.20 blocks, 3.80 digs and .80 aces per game. In addition, she led her KIVA (Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy) squad to a runner-up finish at the 2007 USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Championships and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. She was also a member of the 2006 USA Junior National A2 Team.

Allison McNeal
McNeal is one of the country’s top middle blockers playing at Schulenburg (Texas) High School. The county’s No. 4 rated prospect according to Prepvolleyball.com, McNeal totaled 399 kills and 208 blocks as a senior, leading Schulenburg to a regional runner-up finish. She enjoyed seven matches with at least 10 blocks during her senior year. A two-time District Hitter of the Year, she earned first-team all-state honors in 2006 after totaling 345 kills, 214 blocks, 156 digs and 64 service aces. She also brings national-level experience to the Husker program, starting for the U.S. Youth National team at the 2007 FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship in Mexicali, Mexico. McNeal currently trains for the Texas Tornados Volleyball Club, which is coached by four-time U.S. Olympian Tara Cross-Battle. In addition to her volleyball experience, McNeal won the Texas Class 2A state title in the high jump as a junior after earning runner-up honors in 2005.

Nebraska Head Coach John Cook
Opening Statement
All four of these players have a lot of experience and they are very athletic. There is a great mix of those two things. All four are capable of helping us next year. The other thing I like about this group is there are some high expectations set for this program. I think they are embracing the expectations, the tradition and the success that we have and continuing it on. I think these are four players who are really focused on their sport and want to come here, work hard and be great. They have a great character and work ethic about them.

Cook on Sydney Anderson
Even though she does not have four years of eligibility, she had three years and it works out better than having two setters in same class. She has a lot of experience, not only in college, but also training with the national team in Colorado Springs. She is well-trained and athletic and has proven that she can play at a high level.

Cook on Jordan Haverly
Throughout Jordan's whole career, I have seen her play up in age groups at the Junior Olympics. She’s always been the youngest player on the team, so she’s used to playing in levels above her age. She has a great arm as an attacker and great vision as a hitter. Jordan is someone that moves the ball around a lot and has a great feel. She has a lot of shots that we train everyday with out outside hitters.

Cook on Kaitlynn James
Kaitlynn plays for one of the powerhouse teams in the country and her club team is always playing for medals at the Junior Olympics. She’s been involved with the USA Program, and played on a team that Lee coached two years ago. She’s a dynamic attacker and jumps out of the gym. She touches 10’4” and can really get up. She’s been in lot of big matches and has that big-game experience.

Cook on Allison McNeal
Allison is more of a typical Nebraska recruit in that even though she is from Texas, she is from a small town there. She is a developing player who is also a state high jump champ and jumps well. She made a high breakthrough this summer when she played on the USA Junior team that played in the World Youth Championships in Mexico, where she was a starting middle blocker. What we saw a couple years ago in the talent and potential really blossomed this summer. She really didn’t have a lot of high-level training until this summer with the national program. We think she has a chance to be a great player in this program. Her dad is a former football coach and from Iowa, and they have a lot of family from there.