Volleyball adds 5 recruits to class of ’10
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State first-year volleyball coach Krista Burrows announced the addition of five players to the 2010 squad who have signed a National Letter of Intent or joined the program as a preferred walk-on.
The incoming class, Burrows’ first as the Penguins’ head coach, is comprised of signees Erica Beck (West Bend, Wis.), Jenna Cavanaugh (Cold Spring, Ky.), Casey D’Ambrose (Addison, Ill.) and Nichele Johnson (Conneaut).
The preferred walk-on is Chelsea Guerrieri (Girard).
The group of five additions this spring join fall signees Jackie Carlisle (Hubbard) and Marissa Hundelt (St. Charles, Mo.).
Cavanaugh and Johnson are middle blockers, Beck and Guerrieri are defensive specialists and D’Ambrose is a setter.
“I am excited to be adding this group for our class of 2010,” Burrows said. “I believe this is a group that will assist us in making our move up in the Horizon League. We have some extremely athletic players in this class, and, with training and hard work, they will add immediately to our program. The excitement and desire to learn that this group brings to YSU are traits that we, as a staff, are anxious to add to our gym. The 2010 class is the foundation we need to build this program.”
Guerrieri is considered a defensive specialist and set school records at Girard for career aces with 250 and digs with 801. She also broke the single-season record for digs in a season three times, the final time being as a senior when she had 258. She also had 746 kills in her career, which is the third-most in school history.
“Chelsea is an athletic defensive specialist that is a little inexperienced, but with training could be a dynamic player for us in the future,” Burrows aid. “She has high energy and the desire to compete, which is something that you just cannot teach. Chelsea is familiar with YSU and Penguins Volleyball, and we are excited that she has decided to be a part of our program.”
Beck appeared on the AVCA All-America Watch List at the beginning of her senior year. She helped lead two squads to national titles in 2008 - the Milwaukee Sting to the Junior Volleyball Directors Association title and the Badger High Performance team.
Cavanaugh was an all-district and all-region player at Campbell County High in Kentucky. She was named one of the top five blockers in Northern Kentucky and an honorable mention all-star by the Cincinnati Enquirer. She had 121 kills, 85 blocks and 23 aces as a senior.
D’Ambrose was a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time all-area honoree at Addison Trail High. She was named team MVP and team captain three years, and she was also a three-time selection to the all-tournament team at the Bison Invite. D’Ambrose is a member of the National Honor Society.
Johnson posted 149 kills and 95 blocks in 18 matches as a senior at Conneaut. She was a two-time first-team All-Northeastern Conference selection, as well as a First-Team All-Ashtabula County pick. She helped the Spartans set a new school record with 15 wins her junior year.