Garlacy inks five-member Class of 2019
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy is pleased to introduce the incoming Class of 2019, made up of five student-athletes from across the nation.
Next fall's rookie class comes from five different states and includes both offensive and defensive standouts that will help the Black and Gold as they strive for the program's first postseason berth at the Division I level in 2015. All five hail from states not currently represented on the Bulldog roster, and the quintet will help to bolster depth and fill holes left by the graduation of a trio of senior stalwarts.
Introducing the Bryant University volleyball Class of 2019:
Sophie Hoekstra l 6-0 l Right Side l Millersville, Md./Severna Park
Hoekstra was a three-year varsity letterwinner and starter for Severna Park High School … Led the Falcons to a Maryland Class 4A State Championship as a senior in 2014, also winning county and regional titles … Team was the state runner up and regional champ in 2013 … 2014 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year nominee … Capital Gazette Player of the Year as a senior … Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year … Three-time first team all-county selection … Two-time Baltimore Sun First Team All-Metro pick (2013, 2014) … Baltimore Sun Second Team All-Metro selection as a sophomore … 2013 Washington Post All-Metro Honorable Mention … Class President as a junior and senior … Four-year honor roll student … Played club for Metro American Volleyball Club.
Julia Malet l 5-9 l Setter l San Rafael, Calif./Marin Catholic
Malet was a four-year varsity starter at Marin Catholic High School … Led the Wildcats to North Coast Section titles in 2011 and 2014 … Helped team to the North Coast Section Semifinals in 2012 and 2013 … Two-time captain and team MVP … Also participated in varsity track as a freshman … 2013 all-league second team pick … Earned a Marin Independent Journal Prep of the Week selection as a senior … 2011 Most Improved Player award … Four-year Dean's List and California Scholarship Federation qualifier … Played club for Absolute Volleyball Club, qualifying for Junior Nationals in 2013.
Grace Richmeyer l 6-0 l Middle Blocker l DeSoto, Mo./St. Pius X
Richmeyer was a four-year varsity letterwinner at St. Pius X High School … Helped the Lancers to a Missouri Class 2 State Championship as a freshman and guided the team to top-3 state finishes in each of the next three seasons … Two-time all-state first teamer as a junior and senior … Named an all-state second team pick as a freshman and honorable mention as a sophomore … Earned all-region second team honors as a senior and all-region first team accolades as a junior … Four-time all-district first team selection … Three-time all-conference first teamer (freshman, junior, senior) … Second team all-league as a sophomore … Recognized on PrepVolleyball.com's Frosh 59 and Soph 79 Elite lists … Two-time AVCA Phenom List … 2013 KJFF Regional Radio Dream Team … All-state academic selection as a freshman and sophomore … Student Council member … "A" Honor Roll student … National Honor Society member … Played club for St. Louis CYC.
Margot Ruffieux l 5-10 l Outside Hitter l Cary, N.C./Green Hope
Ruffieux was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year starter at Green Hope High School … Led Falcons to league championships in 2014 and 2011 … 2012 league runners up … 2011 state semifinalists … Two-time team MVP (2012, 2014) … 2014 all-conference first team selection … Led the Falcons in kills (265) and aces (46) in 2014 … Paced her team in kills (193) and digs (244) in 2013 … Also led team in kills in 2012 (259) … Four-year honor roll student … Played club for NC Elite … Ruffieux was coached in high school by former Bryant coach and Hall of Famer Lorraine Hudak.
Kirstyn Sperry l 5-10 l Setter l Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista
Sperry was two-year varsity letterwinner and starter at Desert Vista High School … Led the Thunder to a 2014 AIA Division I State Championship, going 41-3 on the season … Team finished fifth at states in 2013 … 2014 All-Tribune First Team selection … Led team with 727 assists and 62 aces as a senior and with 587 assists as a junior … 2014 Westwood Tournament of Champions winner … Team finished second at Nike Tournament of Champions … 2013 Nike Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team … Registered a triple-double as a junior … Also earned two varsity letters in tennis … Four-year Scholar-Athlete/Activity Award winner … Four-year Team GPA Award winner … Four-year Certificate of Academic Excellence Award recipient … National Honor Society member … Played Club for Spiral Volleyball Club.