Volleyball signing class includes 3 all-state honorees

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Sign Four To Play Volleyball In 2013
Class includes trio of all-state award winners

Nov. 27, 2012

DALLAS (SMU) - Four high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to play volleyball at SMU in 2013, head coach Lisa Seifert announced Monday. The class includes two Texas all-state selections in Janelle Giordano and Morgan Heise, and Katherine Hegarty was an all-state honoree in New Mexico.

Kristen Stehling, a middle blocker from Spring, Texas, led Klein Collins High School to the state playoffs as a junior. She had a team-high 346 kills and was second with 81 blocks. She also had 149 digs last season. During her senior season, she led the team with 451 kills, averaging 3.9 per set, and was second on the team with 305 digs, earning all-district honors. As a sophomore, she was third on the team with 250 kills and led the team with 90 blocks.

Heise, an outside hitter from Waller, Texas, led Waller High School to the second round of the state playoffs and was second on the team with 427 kills as a senior. She also had 509 digs, nearly 100 more than any other player on her team. She was a first team all-district selections each of the last three seasons, and was named Defensive Player of the Year in her district as a junior and senior. She was also named to the all-state team as a junior. She led Waller to the regional semifinals as a junior, and the team advanced to the regional quarterfinals during her sophomore season.

Stehling and Heise were club teammates for Willowbrook, leading the team to a second place finish in the National Division at the USA National Tournament. Both were selected to the All-Tournament team in 2012.

Giordano was named MVP of her district as a senior at Keller High School in Keller, Texas. She is also in the National Honor Society and was an academic all-district selection twice, earning a 4.0 GPA during her high school career. She led Tejas Volleyball Club to a second-place finish at the 2010 USAV National Championship, and she was a two-time selection to the Lone Star Volleyball All-Texas Team.

Hegarty led Piedra Vista High School to the New Mexico state championship game as a senior. The Aztec, N.M., native led the team with 360 kills, averaging 4.9 per set. She also had 66 blocks and 66 digs for the eighth-ranked team in the state. She was named to the all-state team as a sophomore and junior, and the four-year starter was a team captain for two seasons. She also lettered in basketball and track.

"As a coaching staff, we had three goals to achieve with the 2013 class. First, we wanted to sign athletes who were competitive and committed to their craft. We wanted to bring in attackers who were physical, could score points and contribute as freshmen. We also needed a libero who could pass and play relentless defense," Seifert explained.

"Our last goal in the recruiting process was to make sure we brought in student-athletes who respected our program, would be successful students, and represent SMU in a positive manner. I feel like we accomplished these goals, and I am looking forward to many award presentations for this group."

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Awesome!

This season was certainly a bit of a disappointment, but hopefully things are heading the right direction.

Go Ponies!

[mustangbill67]

Hope this is a good class as we seemed to struggle sometimes the past year. Not a mention of SMU in the DMN all area selections today.

[smustatesman]

I guess they all passed the JJ, scratch and sniff test. Welcome to the Hilltop ladies.