Volleyball Signs Four to NLIs for 2016-17
Dec 14 | Women's Volleyball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Dec. 14, 2015) - The Rutgers volleyball team has signed four newcomers for the 2016-17 season, head coach CJ Werneke announced Monday. The freshman - Jillian Duffin, Megan Sharkey, Jasmine Stackhouse, Karysa Swackenberg - join eight returners for next year's campaign.
"The incoming 2016 recruiting class is a diverse class that brings skill, athleticism and competitiveness," said Werneke. "I have told each of them that there are very high expectations for them and I believe they will help our program take the next step. It's going to be very exciting to see the mix of returners and new players in our gym next fall."
Jillian Duffin
RS/MH | 6'0"
McKinney, Texas | McKinney Boyd HS
Notes: A three-year varsity starter at McKinney Boyd HS … earned Second Team All-District and Academic All-District accolades as a senior…as a junior, led her team in blocks and finished second in kills as a junior, earning First Team All-District honors… also led McKinney Boyd to a first place finish in District 6-6A…in her sophomore campaign, selected to the Second Team All-District Team after leading the team in blocks to secure McKinney Boyd's All-Time Single Season blocks record…as well as leading the team to a first-place finish in District 10-5A…picked up four first-place finishes in tournaments with Madfrog National from 2010-15 as an open division club member…daughter of Jack and Sharon Duffin…intends to major in kinesiology/sport management.
Werneke on Duffin: "Jillian will bring a tremendous balance of both athleticism and experience to our program. She has played at the highest level and against the very best coming out of high school and club volleyball in Texas. I am really looking forward to seeing her flourish at Rutgers as I know that the best is still yet to come for her."
Megan Sharkey
S | 5'10"
Bettendorf, Iowa | Bettendorf HS
Notes: A four-year varsity starter at Bettendorf High School…led the team to back-to-back State Championship titles in 2012 and 2013…finished as Class 5A State Championship Runner-Up in 2014 and 2015…two-time State All-Tournament Team selection (2014 and 2015)…three-time conference champion (2013-15)…earned Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention in 2015…holds the school record for career assists, totaling 2,779 from 2012-2015…also holds the record for most assists in a single season with 962 as a senior, while averaging 9.9 assists per set…as a junior set the single-season school record for aces with a conference leading 68 aces…overall, led the conference in aces and assists for two consecutive seasons, including 957 assists and 68 aces in 2014 and 962 assists and 65 aces in 2015 …two-time State Tournament stat leader for Class 5A with 118 assists and eight aces in 2014 and 129 assists and eight aces in 2015…honor roll student…member of the National Honor Society…IGHSAU Academic Achievement Award recipient (2012-2015)…daughter of Brian and Elizabeth Sharkey…has a sister, Emily…intends to major in nursing.
Werneke on Sharkey: "Megan, quite simply is a winner. All she does is lead winning teams. She played in four straight Iowa High School volleyball championship matches, that says it all. She is a natural leader and you see that in the first five minutes of watching her play. She just knows how to get the best of her team."
Jasmine Stackhouse
MB | 6'3"
Detriot, Mich. | Oakpark High School
Notes: A four-year varsity starter at Oakpark HS…named all-district and all-region in four consecutive seasons (2013-16)…three-time Team MVP (2013-15)… named freshman of the year in the 2012 season…as a member of AAU Club Xtreme, was named MVP in 2014, while also being named to five all-tournament teams during her time with the program…honor roll student…daughter of Renee and Erick Stackhouse … has two brothers, Justin and Jalen, and a sister, Chylie…intends to major in broadcast communication.
Werneke on Stackhouse: "Jasmine has the size and athleticism of a Big Ten player. Her commitment to being the best she can be is something that drew me to her. She is ultra-competitive and that is a characteristic that is common with the players in our conference. We are looking forward to having her presence in our program."
Karysa Swackenberg
Libero/DS | 5'8"
Brighton, Colo. | Brighton High School
Notes: A four-year varsity starter…two-time captain as a junior and senior… three-time First Team All-Conference (2013-2015)…four-time First Team All-Academic (2012-2015) …named 2015 Team MVP as a senior after leading to conference in digs…finished with a total of 1,304 career digs…student body president as a senior (2015-16)…student government member all four years…member of the National Honor Society…daughter of Todd and Kristin Swackenberg…sister, Kendra, is a setter on Fort Lewis College's volleyball team…intends to major in business.
Werneke on Swackenberg: "Karysa is what I consider the ultimate teammate. She simply makes others around her better, period. Her personality and court presence is so contagious that it can't help but make our program better. She has the intangibles that I look for in a libero and I am confident in her ability to bring those same characteristics out of her teammates."
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