Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Volleyball announces incoming recruiting class
05/07/2018 | 8:19:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Salukis welcome eight newcomers for the 2018 season.
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois University volleyball head coach Kari Thompson has announced the signing of eight student-athletes for the 2018 season.
Cecily Jester of New Castle, Ind., Jillian Kavalauskas of Chicago, Ill., Kaitlyn Kluge of Oconomowoc, Wis., Jordyn McVicar of South Elgin, Ill., Laura Rojas of Orlando, Fla., Marissa Rossi of Grand Rapids, Minn., Kat Wagner of Noblesville, Ind. and Libby Valek of Aurora, Ill. are the newest members of the Saluki program, signing National Letters of Intent this past week.
"We are excited to welcome this talented incoming class to our Saluki family," second-year head coach Kari Thompson said. "We expect all eight to compete and have a positive impact on the future of our program."
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Cecily Jester
New Castle High School
New Castle, Ind.
Club:Â Munciana Volleyball
Jillian Kavalauskas
Jones College Prep
Chicago, Ill.
Club: Chicago Elite
Kavalauskas is coming off a senior campaign in which she helped Jones College Prep amass a 28-8 record and win its first conference title in 10 years. A four-year starter and two-time team MVP, Kavalauskas also helped the Eagles claim their first-ever city championship. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter took home player of the game honors for her efforts in the championship match versus Whitney Young. Kavalauskas played club volleyball for Chicago Elite and earned a spot on the 2016 AVCA Phenom List. She plans to major in psychology at SIU.
Kaitlyn Kluge
Oconomowoc High School
Oconomowoc, Wisc.
Kluge led Oconomowoc High School to a 31-10 record and an appearance in the WIAA Division I semifinals. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter finished her senior season with 404 kills, 344 digs, 34 aces and a .403 hitting efficiency en route to being named 2017 Classic Eight Co-Conference Player of the Year. She also earned a spot on the All-State Second Team. During her three years playing varsity at Oconomowoc, the Raccoons won three-straight Classic Eight Conference championships and compiled a 106-22 record. A member of the National Honor Society, Kluge intends to study business at SIU.
Jordyn McVicar
St. Charles North
South Elgin, Ill.
Club: Top Flight VBC
McVicar took an unconventional route to Carbondale, as she only played her freshman year of high school volleyball before realizing she wanted to train year round with her club team, Top Flight VBC. McVicar's involvement with volleyball extends beyond her playing career, as she already coaches youth volleyball and has been an active in numerous clubs throughout her high school career, including being a two-term President of her high school's Educators Rising club. McVicar intends to major in elementary education at SIU.
Laura Rojas
Hillsborough Community College
High School: Cypress Creek
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Rojas comes to Southern Illinois by way of Hillsborough Community College, where she helped the Hawks to a 43-20-1 record in her two seasons. A 2017 NJCAA All-Academic First Team selection, Rojas finished the 2017-18 season with 225 digs (2.14/set) and 170 assists (1.62/set) as the Hawks went 22-11-1. In 2016, Rojas tallied 168 digs (1.81/set) for a Hillsborough squad that finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 12 in the final NJCAA National Poll. A native of Orlando, Fl., Rojas intends to major in architecture at SIU.
Marissa Rossi
Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids, Minn.
Club: Minnesota North
Rossi comes to Carbondale by way of Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids, Minn. where she thrived since taking over the setting duties as a sophomore. With Rossi at the helm, the Thunderhawks compiled a 71-20 record and reached three Section 7AA finals, including a state tournament appearance in 2016. The 5-foot-8 setter dished out a school-record 876 assists as a senior and finished her career with 2,557 career assists - the most in Grand Rapids High School's history. As a senior, Rossi guided the Thunderhawks to a 23-6 mark and was named the News Tribune's All-Area Player of the Year. Rossi played club volleyball for Minnesota North and her 16s team finished 3rd out of 101 teams at the 2016 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships. She plans to study architecture at SIU.
Kat Wagner
Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Noblesville, Ind.
Club:Â Munciana Volleyball
Wagner helped Hamilton Southeastern to a 25-9 record during her senior season and the Royals advanced to the Indiana Class 4A sectional semifinals. Hamilton Southeastern reached new heights during Wagner's four years, as the Royals advanced to the semi-state championship game for the first time in program history during her sophomore season and the following year were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. A 2017 Academic All-State selection, Wagner is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. The Noblesville, Ind. native intends to major in biology at SIU.
Libby Valek
Waubonsie Valley High School
Naperville, Ill.
Club: Sports Performance Volleyball
Valek arrives at Southern Illinois after a successful prep career at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill. During her senior season, the 6-foot middle blocker helped the Warriors amass a 24-14 record and advance to the IHSA Class 4A Sectional semifinals. Valek played club volleyball for Sports Performance Volleyball where her 18s team finished fifth in the 18 Classic Division at the 2017Â Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships. The Naperville, Ill. native intends to major in business management at SIU.
Cecily Jester of New Castle, Ind., Jillian Kavalauskas of Chicago, Ill., Kaitlyn Kluge of Oconomowoc, Wis., Jordyn McVicar of South Elgin, Ill., Laura Rojas of Orlando, Fla., Marissa Rossi of Grand Rapids, Minn., Kat Wagner of Noblesville, Ind. and Libby Valek of Aurora, Ill. are the newest members of the Saluki program, signing National Letters of Intent this past week.
"We are excited to welcome this talented incoming class to our Saluki family," second-year head coach Kari Thompson said. "We expect all eight to compete and have a positive impact on the future of our program."
Â
Cecily Jester
New Castle High School
New Castle, Ind.
Club:Â Munciana Volleyball
Jester is fresh off helping New Castle High School in New Castle, Ind. win its first state title since 2007. The Trojans went 34-6 on the season and hit .494 in their state championship sweep of Brebeuf Jesuit. The 5-foot-9 right side hitter hit .263 and tallied 253 kills to earn Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association (IHSVCA) First Team All-State honors. Jester finished her career with 875 kills (2.1/set) and a .281 hitting percentage. She plans to major in animal science at SIU.
Jillian Kavalauskas
Jones College Prep
Chicago, Ill.
Club: Chicago Elite
Kavalauskas is coming off a senior campaign in which she helped Jones College Prep amass a 28-8 record and win its first conference title in 10 years. A four-year starter and two-time team MVP, Kavalauskas also helped the Eagles claim their first-ever city championship. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter took home player of the game honors for her efforts in the championship match versus Whitney Young. Kavalauskas played club volleyball for Chicago Elite and earned a spot on the 2016 AVCA Phenom List. She plans to major in psychology at SIU.
Kaitlyn Kluge
Oconomowoc High School
Oconomowoc, Wisc.
Kluge led Oconomowoc High School to a 31-10 record and an appearance in the WIAA Division I semifinals. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter finished her senior season with 404 kills, 344 digs, 34 aces and a .403 hitting efficiency en route to being named 2017 Classic Eight Co-Conference Player of the Year. She also earned a spot on the All-State Second Team. During her three years playing varsity at Oconomowoc, the Raccoons won three-straight Classic Eight Conference championships and compiled a 106-22 record. A member of the National Honor Society, Kluge intends to study business at SIU.
Jordyn McVicar
St. Charles North
South Elgin, Ill.
Club: Top Flight VBC
McVicar took an unconventional route to Carbondale, as she only played her freshman year of high school volleyball before realizing she wanted to train year round with her club team, Top Flight VBC. McVicar's involvement with volleyball extends beyond her playing career, as she already coaches youth volleyball and has been an active in numerous clubs throughout her high school career, including being a two-term President of her high school's Educators Rising club. McVicar intends to major in elementary education at SIU.
Laura Rojas
Hillsborough Community College
High School: Cypress Creek
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Rojas comes to Southern Illinois by way of Hillsborough Community College, where she helped the Hawks to a 43-20-1 record in her two seasons. A 2017 NJCAA All-Academic First Team selection, Rojas finished the 2017-18 season with 225 digs (2.14/set) and 170 assists (1.62/set) as the Hawks went 22-11-1. In 2016, Rojas tallied 168 digs (1.81/set) for a Hillsborough squad that finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 12 in the final NJCAA National Poll. A native of Orlando, Fl., Rojas intends to major in architecture at SIU.
Marissa Rossi
Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids, Minn.
Club: Minnesota North
Rossi comes to Carbondale by way of Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids, Minn. where she thrived since taking over the setting duties as a sophomore. With Rossi at the helm, the Thunderhawks compiled a 71-20 record and reached three Section 7AA finals, including a state tournament appearance in 2016. The 5-foot-8 setter dished out a school-record 876 assists as a senior and finished her career with 2,557 career assists - the most in Grand Rapids High School's history. As a senior, Rossi guided the Thunderhawks to a 23-6 mark and was named the News Tribune's All-Area Player of the Year. Rossi played club volleyball for Minnesota North and her 16s team finished 3rd out of 101 teams at the 2016 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships. She plans to study architecture at SIU.
Kat Wagner
Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Noblesville, Ind.
Club:Â Munciana Volleyball
Wagner helped Hamilton Southeastern to a 25-9 record during her senior season and the Royals advanced to the Indiana Class 4A sectional semifinals. Hamilton Southeastern reached new heights during Wagner's four years, as the Royals advanced to the semi-state championship game for the first time in program history during her sophomore season and the following year were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. A 2017 Academic All-State selection, Wagner is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. The Noblesville, Ind. native intends to major in biology at SIU.
Libby Valek
Waubonsie Valley High School
Naperville, Ill.
Club: Sports Performance Volleyball
Valek arrives at Southern Illinois after a successful prep career at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill. During her senior season, the 6-foot middle blocker helped the Warriors amass a 24-14 record and advance to the IHSA Class 4A Sectional semifinals. Valek played club volleyball for Sports Performance Volleyball where her 18s team finished fifth in the 18 Classic Division at the 2017Â Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior National Volleyball Championships. The Naperville, Ill. native intends to major in business management at SIU.
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