Rutgers Volleyball Signs Three Standout Student-Athletes
Dec 16 | Women's Volleyball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women’s volleyball team, under the guidance of head coach CJ Werneke, announced that three standout players have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Scarlet Knights next season. RU welcomes Stephanie Zielinski (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Alex Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) and Kylie Orr (Kettering, Ohio) as the first three members of the 2009 recruiting class.
“I’m very excited about the incoming class and we are very fortunate to get the caliber of athletes that we did to come in here next year,” said Werneke. “I have really high expectations for this group and I have no doubt that they will help lead us to the top of the BIG EAST and the conference championship.”
Zielinski, a 2008 Second Team Under Armour Senior All American, comes to Rutgers after starting all four years at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The setter was selected as the captain of her team during her junior and senior seasons and she was named the 2008 Broward County Volleyball Player of the Year. Additionally, Zielinski garnered All Tournament honors at both the Gatortown Classic and the Tampa Prepatory Invitational.
“The thing that comes to mind when I think about Stephanie is leadership,” explained Werneke. “Because she is a setter, you need that. She is an extension of the coach on the floor. Even more importantly, she has that it factor.”
Jones, a first-team all-district performer in each of her last three years at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake Va., will join the RU squad as a middle hitter. As a junior she was named First Team All-Tidewater, First Team All-Region and garnered honorable mention all-state honors. Jones was named a scholar athlete during all four years of high school.
“She’s a very physical, strong and athletic middle that loves playing her position,” said Werneke. “Her size and physical presence is going to make an immediate impact for us, especially at that position. I really see her coming in and contributing from the start.”
Orr, a First Team All-Conference selection at Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, could make major contributions at the outside hitter position for Rutgers in 2009. Orr was selected as her team MVP and was a coach’s All-Area selection in 2007 and as a senior she garnered First Team All-District distinctions.
“Kylie is a super athlete,” stated Werneke. “She’s quick off the floor, has a big jump, a big arm and is exactly what we need on the outside. She has that ability to terminate the ball and we’re expecting a lot out of her.”
A Closer Look at the 2009 Rutgers Volleyball Recruiting Class
• Stephanie Zielinski - Setter (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Four year varsity starter
- Captain of team junior and senior season
- Gatortown Classic All-Tournament Team, 2008
- Tampa Prepartory Invitational All Tournament Team, 2008
- 2008 Broward County Senior All Star
- Florida Athletic Coaches Assoc. Senior All Star, 2008
- 2008 Florida High School Volleyball; Marines Honor, Courage, and Commitment Award
- 2008 Under Armor Senior All American, Second Team
- 2008 Broward County Volleyball Player of the Year
Club: Boomers Volleyball Club
2005 – USA High Performance developmental camp, Univ. of Jacksonville.
2006 – USA High Performance Team Florida, setter, captain.
2006 – Prep Volleyball Top 80 sophomores
2007 – USA High Performance Team Florida, setter, captain
2008 – USA High Performance Team Florida, setter, captain
2008- USA High Performance Developmental Camp, USA training center, Lake Placid, N.Y.
• Alex Jones – Middle Hitter (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge)
- First Team All-District, 2006-08
- Scholar Athlete, 2005-08
- First Team All-Tidewater, 2007-08
- First Team All-Region, 2007-08
- Honorable Mention All-State, 2007
- Team MVP, 2007-08
- Captain of her high school and club team in 2008
• Kylie Orr – Outside Hitter (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont)
- Varsity letterman, 2006-08
- GWOC First Team, 2006-08
- Team MVP, 2007
- Coaches All-Area selection, 2007
- First Team All-Conference, 2007-08
- First Team All-District, 2008
Junior Olympics: Team Z (17’s)
- JDVA 17 & under First Team All-Tournament selection
- Third place at the MHMEQ Tournament
- Big South Qualifier, third place
- President Cup runner up
- Ohio Valley Region Power Tournament, third place
