CU Recruiting Class Named Top-10 in Nation
May 08, 2019 | Volleyball
CULVER CITY, Calif. – The University of Colorado women's volleyball team's 2019 recruiting class was named the No.10-ranked class in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.
"This group has the potential to impact the program as much as any class we've ever had here at Colorado," said head coach Jesse Mahoney. "Not only does each player have tremendous volleyball ability but they are all great people who come from good families as well. Our team can't wait to get started with them."
The Buffaloes have added nine new faces to the program, seven incoming freshmen and a pair of transfer students. They are: Jill Schneggenburger, 6-0 OH, Beckman (Tustin, California); Elissa Alcantara, 6-2 OH, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Florida); Alexia Kuehl, 6-6 MB, Bartram Trail (St. Augustine, Florida); Sterling Parker, 6-2 MB, Alhambra (Martinez, California); Katie Lougeay, 5-10 DS/L, La Costa Canyon (Encinitas, California); Savannah Perry, 5-6 DS/L, Ames (Ames, Iowa); Kelley Levaggi, 6-0 OH/RS, Saint Francis (Portola Valley, California); Leah Clayton, 5-11 OH, East Tennessee State University (Dansville, Virginia); Meegan Hart, 6-2 MB, Iowa State University (St. Charles, Ill.).
Colorado's 10th-ranked recruiting class of 2019 fills all the needs for the Buffaloes with young, talented individuals at nearly every position. With three incoming freshmen ranked in the top-100 in the PrepVolleyball Top-100, CU adds three talented players up front including a six-rotation outside in Jill Schneggenburger. Count the additions of redshirt junior Leah Clayton as the Big South Conference Player of the Year and Hart, a 6-2 middle blocker that is a former Top-100 Senior Ace, Colorado has depth and talent for years to come. This incoming front row players have great size, skill and athleticism that will fill the holes left by All-Americans Naghede Abu in the middle and Alexa Smith at the pin.
Schneggenburger is the 54th-ranked recruit and is a premier six-rotation outside hitter. She has a great arm and range of shots but can also defend pass and ball handle like a libero. Elissa Alcantara, the 82nd-ranked recruit in the nation, is a 6-2 outside that is a dynamic attacker with a heavy arm. Her versatility will allow her to work from both the left and right side for Colorado. Alexia Kuehl, the 92nd-ranked recruit, is a 6-6 middle that has great agility and body control despite her size. She has great feet and length to become an elite blocker in the Pac-12. She is joined by Sterling Parker, a 6-2 middle with exceptional athleticism and matured skill-set. She has the quickness and speed to play on the pin as well as the middle.
In the backrow, Colorado has added 5-10 defensive specialist/libero Katie Lougeay that played the majority of her career as an outside hitter but has one of the most natural passing platforms and has the size and range to be an elite defender. Savannah Perry will also help the Buffs in the backrow as a 5-6 defensive specialist/libero that is fearless, flying around the court and sacrificing her body to keep plays alive.
The final incoming freshman is Kelley Levaggi, a 6-0 outside hitter and rightside that is a bit of a late bloomer with the potential to be a very talented six-rotation outside. She is a very good passer and defender, as well very athletic with a strong arm.
The defending national champions Stanford took the top spot in both the Pac-12 and the nation in the recruiting rankings. Oregon and USC both cracked the top-10 at seventh and ninth, respectfully. Behind Colorado, Washington State is the only other Pac-12 team ranked in the top-30 at 28th.
"This group has the potential to impact the program as much as any class we've ever had here at Colorado," said head coach Jesse Mahoney. "Not only does each player have tremendous volleyball ability but they are all great people who come from good families as well. Our team can't wait to get started with them."
The Buffaloes have added nine new faces to the program, seven incoming freshmen and a pair of transfer students. They are: Jill Schneggenburger, 6-0 OH, Beckman (Tustin, California); Elissa Alcantara, 6-2 OH, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Florida); Alexia Kuehl, 6-6 MB, Bartram Trail (St. Augustine, Florida); Sterling Parker, 6-2 MB, Alhambra (Martinez, California); Katie Lougeay, 5-10 DS/L, La Costa Canyon (Encinitas, California); Savannah Perry, 5-6 DS/L, Ames (Ames, Iowa); Kelley Levaggi, 6-0 OH/RS, Saint Francis (Portola Valley, California); Leah Clayton, 5-11 OH, East Tennessee State University (Dansville, Virginia); Meegan Hart, 6-2 MB, Iowa State University (St. Charles, Ill.).
Colorado's 10th-ranked recruiting class of 2019 fills all the needs for the Buffaloes with young, talented individuals at nearly every position. With three incoming freshmen ranked in the top-100 in the PrepVolleyball Top-100, CU adds three talented players up front including a six-rotation outside in Jill Schneggenburger. Count the additions of redshirt junior Leah Clayton as the Big South Conference Player of the Year and Hart, a 6-2 middle blocker that is a former Top-100 Senior Ace, Colorado has depth and talent for years to come. This incoming front row players have great size, skill and athleticism that will fill the holes left by All-Americans Naghede Abu in the middle and Alexa Smith at the pin.
Schneggenburger is the 54th-ranked recruit and is a premier six-rotation outside hitter. She has a great arm and range of shots but can also defend pass and ball handle like a libero. Elissa Alcantara, the 82nd-ranked recruit in the nation, is a 6-2 outside that is a dynamic attacker with a heavy arm. Her versatility will allow her to work from both the left and right side for Colorado. Alexia Kuehl, the 92nd-ranked recruit, is a 6-6 middle that has great agility and body control despite her size. She has great feet and length to become an elite blocker in the Pac-12. She is joined by Sterling Parker, a 6-2 middle with exceptional athleticism and matured skill-set. She has the quickness and speed to play on the pin as well as the middle.
In the backrow, Colorado has added 5-10 defensive specialist/libero Katie Lougeay that played the majority of her career as an outside hitter but has one of the most natural passing platforms and has the size and range to be an elite defender. Savannah Perry will also help the Buffs in the backrow as a 5-6 defensive specialist/libero that is fearless, flying around the court and sacrificing her body to keep plays alive.
The final incoming freshman is Kelley Levaggi, a 6-0 outside hitter and rightside that is a bit of a late bloomer with the potential to be a very talented six-rotation outside. She is a very good passer and defender, as well very athletic with a strong arm.
The defending national champions Stanford took the top spot in both the Pac-12 and the nation in the recruiting rankings. Oregon and USC both cracked the top-10 at seventh and ninth, respectfully. Behind Colorado, Washington State is the only other Pac-12 team ranked in the top-30 at 28th.