Kent State Volleyball Adds Six Newcomers To 2012 Roster
7/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Five freshmen, one sophomore transfer join eight returners to make up 2012 squad.
KENT, Ohio – First-year Kent State head volleyball coach Don Gromala introduced the program's six newcomers for the 2012 campaign Tuesday (July 24).
The class features five freshmen and one sophomore transfer, including three from Ohio, one from Pennsylvania, one from Michigan and one from Illinois. The six newcomers join Kent State's eight returners to make up the 2012 squad. The Golden Flashes welcome freshman right side hitter/outside hitter Kelly Hutchison (Columbus, Ohio), sophomore defensive specialist/libero Kaylee Koller (Amherst, Ohio), freshman defensive specialist/libero Alexis Rains (Aliquippa, Pa.), freshman right side hitter Haley Schneider (Farmington Hills, Mich.), freshman outside hitter Morgan Semmelhack and freshman middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio).
"Our incoming class will add plenty of depth for us at the pins and in the back row, with a few of these recruits having an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the court," said Gromala. "Each of the hitters are versatile and can be a threat at multiple positions. All of these girls have competed at a high level, and we look forward to having them on the court this fall."
Hutchison was named the 2011 Ohio Capital Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-District accolades as a senior captain at Upper Arlington High School under head coach Matt Wion. She garnered Second Team All-Ohio Capital Conference honors for the Golden Bears as a junior in 2010. She also competed for Elite Volleyball Training Center under head coach Randy Cline. The daughter of Jeff and Kim Hutchison was an honor roll student and member of Cum Laude Society and plans to major in exercise science.
"Kelly was the go-to player for her club and high school teams, and those experiences will be huge for her coming in as a possible starter," said Gromala. "She is athletic and has a lively left arm that will give opponents fits from the pins."
Koller is a transfer from Lorain County Community College, where she earned NJCAA Division III Honorable Mention All-America honors and helped lead the Commodores to a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament as a freshman in 2011 under head coach Marc Pogachar. She ranked 25th in digs per set (4.27) and 26th in kills per set (3.0) in NJCAA Division III and was selected as Most Valuable Player at the NJCAA Division III Region 20 Tournament. Prior to her stint at Lorain County Community College, Koller earned First Team All-Southwestern Conference honors, First Team All-Lorain County accolades and First Team All-OHSAA Division I District 3 laurels as a junior in 2009 and as a senior in 2010 at Amherst Steele High School under head coach Laurie Cogan. She helped lead the Comets to back-to-back sectional and district titles in 2009 and '10. Koller also competed for Maverick Volleyball Club under head coach Jenn Larrick, helping lead the squad to a 10th-place finish at the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships 16 & Under Open in 2009. The daughter of Mike and Kim Koller earned Lorain County All-Academic Team honors and OHSAA Division I District 3 All-Academic Team honors in 2010 and plans to major in communications.
"Kaylee comes in after a successful junior college season," said Gromala. "She has a knack for getting the ball to target and will make our passing very solid."
Rains was an All-State selection as a senior in 2011 and an All-WPIAL pick as a junior in 2010 and as a senior in 2011 at Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, Pa., under head coach Terry Borkovic. She also competed for Pittsburgh Three Rivers Volleyball Club under head coach Rob Snyder, helping lead the squad to back-to-back Junior National Championship qualifications in 2010 and '11. The daughter of Dan and Debbie Rains was an honor roll student and member of the National Art Honors Society and plans to major in exercise science.
"Alexis is a hard worker who has been around the game for a long time," said Gromala. "Her competitiveness will be a huge asset to our defense."
Schneider earned First Team All-Region honors as well as First Team All-County and First Team All-City accolades at Farmington High School in Farmington Hills, Mich., under head coach Kim Sturm. She also competed for Legacy Volleyball Club under co-head coaches Jen Cottrill and Ricky Cottrill, helping lead the squad to a 13th-place finish at nationals. The daughter of John and Colleen Schneider plans to major in zoology.
"Haley will add some needed height and physicality to our front line," said Gromala. "It is nice because she can play both middle and right side and is most effective with one-footed attacks, which is great news for us."
Semmelhack was a three-year team captain at York High School in Elmhurst, Ill., under head coach Patty Iverson, earning All-West Suburban Conference Silver honors as a senior in 2011. She helped lead the Dukes to a fourth-place finish at the IHSA Class 4A State Championship as a junior in 2010. Semmelhack also competed for 1st Alliance Volleyball Club under head coach Natalie Holder, helping lead the squad to a top-ten national ranking and a fifth-place finish in the 17 Open Division at USAV Nationals. The daughter of Sharon and Gene Semmelhack plans to major in graphic design.
"Morgan is a true team player," said Gromala. "She has played whichever positions her teams have needed and overachieved in her roles. Morgan is a vocal leader and can put a lot of pace of the ball from the middle and outside positions."
Wilhelm earned First Team All-North Coast League honors, First Team All-Region and Second Team All-District honors at Lake Catholic High School under head coach Rich Severino and played alongside Kent State sophomore defensive specialist Bridget Grdina. She also competed for Eastside Volleyball Club under head coach Erik Poje, captaining the team to a national qualification. The daughter of Tom and Kate Wilhelm is majoring in exploratory studies.
"Bridget is probably the most dynamic player in the class," said Gromala. "She traditionally has been a middle due to her solid blocking ability, but we think her athleticism and intelligence will benefit us from all three front row positions."
Kent State begins preseason camp on Aug. 8 and opens the 2012 regular season Aug. 24-25 in Fort Wayne, Ind., at the IPFW Invitational. The 2012 home schedule kicks off with the Kent State Mizuno Classic (Sept. 7-8). The Golden Flashes will host 11 matches at the M.A.C. Center in 2012. For ticket information, call the Kent State ticket office at (330) 672-2244.
