Kent State Recruiting Class Earns Top 100 Ranking from PrepVolleyball.com
6/15/2018 1:45:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State's recruiting class has been named one of the top 100 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com. This is the third time in the past five years that head coach Don Gromala and his staff has brought in a class that has received High Honorable Mention distinction from the site.
The list is formed with input from a panel of college coaches. The rankings attempt to project the cumulative impact the class will have at the school rather than the immediate impact during the 2018 season. Transfers and international players were excluded from consideration for these rankings.
This year's recruiting class features four true freshmen in middle blocker Jacqlyn Caspers (Swaledale, Iowa) outside hitter Kathryn Ellison (Novi, Michigan) defensive specialist/liberoย Erin Gardner (Avon, Ohio) and middle hitter/opposite Danie Tyson (South Holland, Illinois). Redshirt freshman setter Alex Haffner (Lee's Summit, Missouri), a transfer from Kansas State, strengthens the group but was not factored into the ranking.
"It's a great honor for this class to be recognized nationally," stated Gromala. "Our staff put in a lot of time and effort finding the right types of student-athletes that will keep moving this program forward. Each member of this group has the ability to contribute on the court their first year, and the level of competition in our gym is going to be outstanding. We're really eager to get started in August and see what type of impact this dynamic group will have in the gym."
Standing 6'4", Caspers will provide excellent size and length in the middle for the Flashes. A two-time all-conference honoree, she averaged better than 3.5 kills per set over her final two seasons at West Fork High School. In addition to earning three varsity letters in volleyball, Caspers was also a two-year letterwinner for the girls' basketball team.
The 6'0" Ellison's combination of athleticism, versatility and winning demeanor will be huge assets at the pin, where Kent State graduated both of its starters from last season. A two-time all-state selection, she played a key role in Novi High School capturing three consecutive Michigan Class A state championships in addition to helping her club team to a third-place finish at the 2017 AAU Girls' Junior National Championships. Ellison started playing volleyball as a middle but has been a six-rotation pin player in recent years.
From nearby Avon, Gardner enrolled at Kent State in January and participated in the spring season after graduating high school a semester early. The AVCA Under Armour All-American nominee tallied a school-record 1,545 digs during her four-year career as the team's libero. Gardner was named Lorain County Division I Player of the Year and Southwestern Conference Player of the Year following her senior season.
Tyson is another athletic 6'0" front row player with big upside in this year's class. Named to the 2017 Under Armour Watch List, she earned all-state and all-area accolades this past season. Tyson led Chicago Christian High School to a 27-10 record and 2A supersectional while totaling 242 kills, 69 blocks and 139 digs this past season.
ย A 5'10" setter, Haffner was part of a Kansas State recruiting class that earned a Highest Honorable Mention (Top 55) ranking a year ago. After redshirting this past fall, she comes to Kent State with four years of eligibility. While not appearing in an official contest for the Wildcats, she gained valuable college experience while playing in an exhibition against No. 9 Creighton in August and during the spring season a year ago as an early enrollee. A prep standout at Lee's Summit North High School, Haffner was a two-time all-state, three-time all-region, four-time all-district and four-time all-conference selection.
Kent State opens the 2018 season at the North Texas Invitational on Aug. 24-25. In May, the Flashes' program received its third straight NCAA Public Recognition Award for outstanding academic performance.
