Volleyball Announces Incoming 2020 Recruiting Class
Apr 07 | Women's Volleyball
First-Year Head Coach Caitlin Schweihofer Welcomes Six Scarlet Knights "To The Banks"
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – First-year Rutgers women's volleyball head coach Caitlin Schweihofer has announced her first Scarlet Knight recruiting class on Tuesday. Coming "To The Banks" this fall include three transfers and a trio of freshmen joining the six returning letterwinners in competing in the nation's top volleyball conference.
"I am thrilled to announce our 2020 recruiting class, which includes a great mix of domestic and international players, as well as transfer student-athletes and incoming freshman, who will all look to make immediate contributions to the program," said Schweihofer of the incoming class. "Over the past two months my staff and I scanned the globe and evaluated talent from several different parts of the world. Additionally, we have worked hard to develop relationships with previously committed student-athletes. I am confident that these fresh faces have bought in to my vision for the future of Rutgers volleyball, and I cannot wait to work with them this upcoming season."
Meet the Scarlet Knights
Madyson Chitty – Libero – 5'5" - Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy High School
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: 2019 AAU National Champion … Recorded over 2050 career digs, averaging 7.2 per set, and 1600 service receptions during her career at Olentangy High School … Played in the Central Ohio All-Star Game … Named 2019 Conference Player of the Year and All-Ohio Honorable Mention … Three-time First Team OOC and two-time Second Team Central District … Also named First Team Central District in 2019 …
PERSONAL: Daughter of David and Erika … Has two brothers, Bradyon and Cooper, and one sister, Carsyn … Member of the National Honor Society …
CHITTY ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I absolutely loved the campus and when I stepped foot on campus, it felt like I was meant to go there. It has Big Ten volleyball and to compete in the best conference in the country is a dream of mine. Rutgers gave me that dream and I can't wait."
Lauren DeLo – Setter - 6'2" - Williamston, SC /St. Joseph's/Ole Miss
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Spent a redshirt season at Ole Miss … A two-time Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American playing two seasons each at St. Joseph's High School in South Carolina and Jenks High School in Oklahoma … Totaled 336 kills, 881 assists, 442 digs and 128 aces during her career … As a senior at St. Joseph's in 2018, was the South Carolina AA Player of the Year, 2A Regional Player of the Year and member of the South Carolina All-State Team … Earned Wando Invitational All-Tournament Team and Max Preps/AVCA Player of the Week accolades … Team compiled a 37-13 overall and 14-0 conference record … At the club level, was a 2018 JVA All-American and made the 2018 AAU National Championship All-Tournament … Played for Upward Stars Upstate and Oklahoma Peak Performance …
PERSONAL: The daughter of daughter of Jeffrey and Larissa DeLo... Has one brother, James, and two sisters, Gabrielle and Julia … Grandfather Paul Mitchell played football and was a member of the freshman wrestling team at Rutgers ... Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … Plans to major in meteorology …
DELO ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "Rutgers has a nationally recognized Meteorology Department and it also gives me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten Conference. I am also a Rutgers legacy. My grandfather played football at Rutgers and graduated in 1968."
Kristina Grkovic – Middle Blocker - 6'2" – Rome, Italy/Saint Georges British International School of Rome
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Two-time U18 Female National Finals of Italy Champion … Two-time U16 Female National Finals of Italy Champion …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Nenad and Dusica … Father has been awarded three global honors for best transport management from the Global Fleet Forum … Has two brothers, Branislav and Bogdan, and a sister, Andela…
GRKOVIC ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I want to study business for my future and continue to play volleyball, as it is my passion, and be able to utilize the opportunities Rutgers provides."
Shealyn McNamara – Middle Blocker - 6' 2" – Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth/Auburn
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Spent three seasons at Auburn … While with the Tigers was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, a 2017-18 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree and recipient of the 2019 Peach of an Athlete Award … Played scholastically at South Forsyth High School helping her teams to a 2015 Georgia State Championship, state final four in 2016 and elite eight in 2014 … Earned all-state honorable mention and all-region honors in 2015 … Named all-county honorable mention in 2014 … Competed with the A5 volleyball club …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Joe and Karen … Has two brothers, Liam and Reilly … Grandfather played football at Kings College in Pennsylvania …Plans to pursue a graduate degree in health administration …
MCNAMARA ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because it provided the perfect opportunity to blend my academic goals with my athletic ones. I love the coaches and their vision for Rutgers volleyball. I also have a lot of family in the area that I'll get to see more."
Mary Kate Painter –Libero/Defensive Specialist - 5'4" - Pottsville, Pa./Archbishop Carroll/ UCF
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Played three seasons at UCF, which included two American Athletic Conference championship and two trips to the NCAA Tournament … While with the Knights appeared in 47 matches including 22 matches as a freshman with six aces and 67 digs … While playing scholastically for Archbishop Carroll High School, was a finalist for Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the year and three-time First Team PA District 12, First Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League and All-Delaware County selection… First Team AAAA All-State honoree as the Patriots won the Philadelphia League and PA AAAA District 12 championships in 2017 … Named Team MVP as a senior after earning the Coaches Award as a junior … Served as team captain in junior and senior seasons …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Chris and Stephanie … Has two sisters, Amelia, who will be playing volleyball at Delaware, and Eily … Member of the Dean's List and Honor Roll at UCF … Plans to double major in psychology and management and labor relations …
PAINTER ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because it was close to home and have known Coach Caitlin from the club level. I loved the style of coaching and I knew if anyone could turn this program around, it would be them. I wanted to be a part of that for my last year."
Stella Antypa – Outside Hitter – 5'11" - Thessaloniki, Greece/ Anatolia College of Thessaloniki
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Member of the U16, U17, U18, U19 Greek Junior National Teams … 2019 U19 National Champion and named MVP, Best Attacker and Best Server … 2019 U17 Northern Greece Regional Championship team member and MVP … Placed eighth with the U17 team at the 2018 CEV European Championships … Helped team to a fourth place finish at the 2018 U19 National Championships of Greece … Two-time U16 Northern Greece Regional Champion and MVP … Three-time Aegean International Schools Sports Tournament …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Antonios and Anastasia … Has one sister, Dimitra … Plans to major in engineering.
ANTYPA ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers to be my home for the next years of my life because it is located in a very beautiful place and it was the perfect fit for what I had in mind in order to become a better player, be on a great team and have a good academic career."
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
-RU-
"I am thrilled to announce our 2020 recruiting class, which includes a great mix of domestic and international players, as well as transfer student-athletes and incoming freshman, who will all look to make immediate contributions to the program," said Schweihofer of the incoming class. "Over the past two months my staff and I scanned the globe and evaluated talent from several different parts of the world. Additionally, we have worked hard to develop relationships with previously committed student-athletes. I am confident that these fresh faces have bought in to my vision for the future of Rutgers volleyball, and I cannot wait to work with them this upcoming season."
Meet the Scarlet Knights
Madyson Chitty – Libero – 5'5" - Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy High School
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: 2019 AAU National Champion … Recorded over 2050 career digs, averaging 7.2 per set, and 1600 service receptions during her career at Olentangy High School … Played in the Central Ohio All-Star Game … Named 2019 Conference Player of the Year and All-Ohio Honorable Mention … Three-time First Team OOC and two-time Second Team Central District … Also named First Team Central District in 2019 …
PERSONAL: Daughter of David and Erika … Has two brothers, Bradyon and Cooper, and one sister, Carsyn … Member of the National Honor Society …
CHITTY ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I absolutely loved the campus and when I stepped foot on campus, it felt like I was meant to go there. It has Big Ten volleyball and to compete in the best conference in the country is a dream of mine. Rutgers gave me that dream and I can't wait."
Lauren DeLo – Setter - 6'2" - Williamston, SC /St. Joseph's/Ole Miss
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Spent a redshirt season at Ole Miss … A two-time Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American playing two seasons each at St. Joseph's High School in South Carolina and Jenks High School in Oklahoma … Totaled 336 kills, 881 assists, 442 digs and 128 aces during her career … As a senior at St. Joseph's in 2018, was the South Carolina AA Player of the Year, 2A Regional Player of the Year and member of the South Carolina All-State Team … Earned Wando Invitational All-Tournament Team and Max Preps/AVCA Player of the Week accolades … Team compiled a 37-13 overall and 14-0 conference record … At the club level, was a 2018 JVA All-American and made the 2018 AAU National Championship All-Tournament … Played for Upward Stars Upstate and Oklahoma Peak Performance …
PERSONAL: The daughter of daughter of Jeffrey and Larissa DeLo... Has one brother, James, and two sisters, Gabrielle and Julia … Grandfather Paul Mitchell played football and was a member of the freshman wrestling team at Rutgers ... Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … Plans to major in meteorology …
DELO ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "Rutgers has a nationally recognized Meteorology Department and it also gives me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten Conference. I am also a Rutgers legacy. My grandfather played football at Rutgers and graduated in 1968."
Kristina Grkovic – Middle Blocker - 6'2" – Rome, Italy/Saint Georges British International School of Rome
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Two-time U18 Female National Finals of Italy Champion … Two-time U16 Female National Finals of Italy Champion …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Nenad and Dusica … Father has been awarded three global honors for best transport management from the Global Fleet Forum … Has two brothers, Branislav and Bogdan, and a sister, Andela…
GRKOVIC ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I want to study business for my future and continue to play volleyball, as it is my passion, and be able to utilize the opportunities Rutgers provides."
Shealyn McNamara – Middle Blocker - 6' 2" – Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth/Auburn
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Spent three seasons at Auburn … While with the Tigers was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, a 2017-18 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree and recipient of the 2019 Peach of an Athlete Award … Played scholastically at South Forsyth High School helping her teams to a 2015 Georgia State Championship, state final four in 2016 and elite eight in 2014 … Earned all-state honorable mention and all-region honors in 2015 … Named all-county honorable mention in 2014 … Competed with the A5 volleyball club …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Joe and Karen … Has two brothers, Liam and Reilly … Grandfather played football at Kings College in Pennsylvania …Plans to pursue a graduate degree in health administration …
MCNAMARA ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because it provided the perfect opportunity to blend my academic goals with my athletic ones. I love the coaches and their vision for Rutgers volleyball. I also have a lot of family in the area that I'll get to see more."
Mary Kate Painter –Libero/Defensive Specialist - 5'4" - Pottsville, Pa./Archbishop Carroll/ UCF
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Played three seasons at UCF, which included two American Athletic Conference championship and two trips to the NCAA Tournament … While with the Knights appeared in 47 matches including 22 matches as a freshman with six aces and 67 digs … While playing scholastically for Archbishop Carroll High School, was a finalist for Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the year and three-time First Team PA District 12, First Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League and All-Delaware County selection… First Team AAAA All-State honoree as the Patriots won the Philadelphia League and PA AAAA District 12 championships in 2017 … Named Team MVP as a senior after earning the Coaches Award as a junior … Served as team captain in junior and senior seasons …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Chris and Stephanie … Has two sisters, Amelia, who will be playing volleyball at Delaware, and Eily … Member of the Dean's List and Honor Roll at UCF … Plans to double major in psychology and management and labor relations …
PAINTER ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because it was close to home and have known Coach Caitlin from the club level. I loved the style of coaching and I knew if anyone could turn this program around, it would be them. I wanted to be a part of that for my last year."
Stella Antypa – Outside Hitter – 5'11" - Thessaloniki, Greece/ Anatolia College of Thessaloniki
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Member of the U16, U17, U18, U19 Greek Junior National Teams … 2019 U19 National Champion and named MVP, Best Attacker and Best Server … 2019 U17 Northern Greece Regional Championship team member and MVP … Placed eighth with the U17 team at the 2018 CEV European Championships … Helped team to a fourth place finish at the 2018 U19 National Championships of Greece … Two-time U16 Northern Greece Regional Champion and MVP … Three-time Aegean International Schools Sports Tournament …
PERSONAL: Daughter of Antonios and Anastasia … Has one sister, Dimitra … Plans to major in engineering.
ANTYPA ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers to be my home for the next years of my life because it is located in a very beautiful place and it was the perfect fit for what I had in mind in order to become a better player, be on a great team and have a good academic career."
Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
-RU-
Players Mentioned
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