Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Marissa Washington & Michelle Pagnano To Program
11/26/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 26, 2001
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University head coach Sonya Locke has added Michelle Pagnano and Marissa Washington to the Saluki volleyball program during the early signing period last week.
"We're excited. It was definitely one of our goals to sign good athletes this year and we accomplished that with Marissa and Michelle. Both of these kids really wanted to be at SIU and Michelle only visited Southern Illinois. Marissa was recruited by some larger schools to play outside hitter but she wanted to be at SIU," added Sonya Locke, Saluki head coach.
"It may only be a class of two but if you look at the two scholarship seniors on the team now (Jenny Noel & Megan Baumstark) and the impact that they had then you look at the big picture in four years, these two will have that kind of impact on our team with their play and leadership."
Marissa Washington, a native of Theodore, Ala. and a senior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Ala., is a 6'0 middle blocker who was a 2001 preseason all-American.
As a senior Washington hit .378 (476 kills, 142 errors, 884 attempts) with season highs of 20 kills and 17 blocks (2 solo, 15 block assists) in different games and twice had 15 blocks including a 7 solo block, 8 block assists effort. She was also MVP of the Area Tournament.
Washington led her team to the 6A state title in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and was named to the 6A All-Tournament Team all three years. She also led her team to four Gulf Coast Region Championships (1998-2001), the Tampa (Fla.) Invitational Tournament Championship in 2001 and was named to the Tampa (Fla.) Invitational Tournament All-Tournament Teams in 2000 and 2001. Washington was named all-tournament at the Alabama/Louisiana Challenge (1999, 2000, 2001), the Alabama/Tennessee Challenge (1999, 2000) and the Nike Challenge Preview Tournament (2000).
Washington is an honor roll student who was also the 2000-2001 MVP on the McGill-Toolen Catholic basketball team, was named all-county and led her team to the Sweet 16 as a junior.
"Marissa is a very good athlete who is very well-coached. She is an exceptional athlete and a very accomplished player who will bring her past success and a winning tradition to our program. She may also play some outside hitter because of her versatility," Locke stated.
Pagnano, a Naperville, Ill. native and a senior at Naperville North High School, is a 5'8 setter who led Naperville North to a 66-10-1 record her two years as a starter. She had 802 assists, 71 kills, 39 aces and 23 blocks while averaging 25 assists per game.
Pagnano was DuPage Valley First-Team All-Conference and All-Area (2000 & 2001), led her team to the DuPage Valley Conference Championship in 1999 and 2000 and a second place finish in 2001, the DuPage Regional Championship (1999, 2000 & 2001), DuPage Sectional Finals (1999 & 2000) and Dupage Sectional Semi-Finals (2001). She earned the all-conference all-academic award all four year (1998-2001) of high school and is an honor roll student.
"Michelle is a very accomplished setter who has been setting for a long time and has performed well at her school and numerous national camps. She will bring some great experience and a tradition of winning to our program," said Locke.
