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 New University of Delaware women's volleyball head coach Bonnie Kenny has announced her first recruiting class for the upcoming 2002 season.
Signing NCAA National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Delaware on athletic scholarships were 6-1 middle hitter Megan McGrath, 6-2 middle hitter Alexandria "Niecy" Taylor, and 5-11 middle/outside hitter Jennifer Daniels.
"I am very happy with the players that we have commitments from to come to the University of Delaware," said Kenny, who will begin her first season with the Blue Hens this fall after spending the last nine seasons as head coach at the University of Massachusetts. "All three are outstanding individuals and very good students. They will complement the players that we have returning next year very well and will fit right in as if they have always been here."
McGrath, a middle hitter from Gibsonia, Pa., enjoyed an outstanding career at Pine-Richland High School, where the team competed in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class AAA.
She was selected as a Class AAA All-Star and earned first team AAA All-State honors as a senior. She led Pine-Richland to a spot in the state finals this past fall.
"Megan is a young volleyball player," said Kenny. "She only began playing her freshman year in high school and has lots of potential to develop into a high quality player at her position. Her commitment to work hard to prepare to play at this level has been outstanding."
Taylor, a middle hitter from Cibola High School in Albuquerque, N.M., comes to Delaware as a highly-touted player in her home state. She helped take her team to the Class 5A state volleyball tournament last year. An outstanding player with long legs and strong leaping ability, she has a strong court presence and is also a solid defensive player.
"Niecy is the type of athlete and player that will make a place for herself here," said Kenny. "She is a natural blocker and will be a definite factor at the net for us."
Daniels, a middle/outside hitter from St. Joseph High School in Lakewood, Calif., completed an outstanding career this past fall as she earned All-State honors and was a member of one of the strongest club teams in Southern California, Golden West.
"Jen brings a vast amount of playing experience with her," said Kenny. "She is a dynamic, athletic player who will bring immediate punch to our offense. She is a fiery competitor who makes her presence known on the court."
A veteran of 18 seasons as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level, Kenny ranks among the top 50 active coaches in NCAA Division I volleyball with a career record of 340-225, including nine seasons at the University of South Carolina and the last nine seasons at Massachusetts.
She led Massachusetts to four top four finishes in the Atlantic 10 and to two National Invitational Volleyball Championship tournaments during her tenure in Amherst.
Delaware will return nine letter winners from last year's team that posted a record of 10-16 under head coach Shannon Elliott and interim coach Sue Sowter and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals in its first season in the league. The Blue Hens advanced to the conference semifinals for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.
April 26, 2002
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