VOLLEYBALL SIGNS TWO STANDOUTS TO NLIS FOR 2009 SEASON

December 4, 2008

BULLDOGS SIGN PAIR OF VOLLEYBALL STANDOUTS 

Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.)

Karli Davis (Freeport, Ill.)

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  - Bryant University head coach Theresa Garlacy is pleased to announce the signing of Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) and Karli Davis (Freeport, Ill.) to a National Letter of Intent to participate in volleyball at Bryant University in the fall of 2009.

Kaup, a 6-foot middle hitter and right side, was a three-year varsity letterwinner for Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz. In 2005, Kaup recorded the most blocks on her high school team, leading the Aztecs to a regional championship. She would go on to lead her team to become the Arizona State Runner-Up in 2006 and was named an all-region honorable mention selection as a junior in 2007.

As a senior, Kaup was named a second team all-state and all-region selection after recording 210 kills (.530 hitting percentage), 146 total blocks (33s, 113a) and 66 service aces.

She is academically strong as well, slated to graduate in the top 20 percent of her class.

To cap off four years of club ball, Kaup will play with the Arizona East Valley Juniors at the top of her age group as she has each season, including playing for the 18-1s in 2007.

"Emily is a great blocker and her transition game is quick," said Garlacy. "She will be a strong addition to our program."

Davis,  a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, will also give the Bulldogs a greater edge in the blocking category when she arrives on campus next fall. A four-year varsity letterwinner for the Freeport High School Pretzels in Freeport, Ill., Davis led her team in blocking and was second in kill percentage as both a sophomore and a junior.

Davis was named to the NIC all-conference first team and was an all-area second team selection in 2007, just a year after being named the team's most improved player as a sophomore.

She also participated in two years of track and field and a year of basketball at Freeport High.

As a club player, she spent two years with Club Fusion, taking her squad to a second-place finish in the National Division in 2007. She also led her team to a first-place Pre-Nationals finish with GLC 18 club division. She will finish her club career with Fusion in 2008-09.

A strong academic selection to compliment her skills on the court, Davis ranks in the top 10 percent of her graduating class and was a high honor roll student throughout high school. She was also named a scholar highest honor roll athlete as a freshman, sophomore and junior.

"The quick attack is Karli's specialty," said Garlacy. "She is aggressive and smooth, and we expect her to adjust quickly to the college game and our fast offense."

Kaup plans to major in communication at Bryant while Davis will come in as an accounting major.

"We are expecting Emily and Karli to add both depth and force for us in the middle," Garlacy said of the pair. "They will bring much-needed competition and balance to our frontline and the Bryant volleyball family is excited to have them onboard."