Anna Prickel (left) of Ursuline Academy is one of NKU's incoming recruits.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University volleyball head coach Carlos Chia has added three recruits during the spring signing period. They are:
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Katie Sommer, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter from Geneva, Ill. Sommer helped Geneva High School post a 35-3 record last season by recording 152 kills and 50 blocks. She was also named the Vikings' most improved player and earned All-Western Sun Conference honors. Geneva also won the Western Sun Conference with a 14-0 record, and the 35 victories were the most in school history.
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Anna Prickel, a 5-6 defensive specialist from Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati. Prickel, an honorable mention All-Girls' Greater Cincinnati League selection, finished with 216 digs and 25 service aces last season as the unbeaten Lions (29-0) won the Ohio Division I state championship. As a junior, Prickel helped Ursuline finish as state runner-up with 236 digs and 25 aces. During her final two years, Ursuline posted a 57-1 record.
•Ari Eaton, a 5-11 right-side hitter from Yorktown (Ind.) High School. Eaton helped Yorktown post a state runner-up finish in Indiana last season by recording 251 kills and 36 service aces. Eaton collected 16 kills in the Indiana 3A state championship match and attacked at a .322 clip for the season as Yorktown compiled a 37-2 record.
During the fall signing period, NKU also landed Indianapolis Cathedral High School standout
Kathryn Treadway. A native of Carmel, Ind., Treadway led Indianapolis Cathedral to Class 4A state championships in both 2006 and '08. This past season, the 5-11 outside hitter averaged 3.71 kills per game and earned all-state honors for the Fighting Irish.
Those recruits join an NKU program that has won at least 20 matches for 17 consecutive seasons. The Norse posted a 20-12 record last fall and finished fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season standings.
NKU begins the 2010 season at the University of Tampa Classic by meeting three-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Concordia-St. Paul. The Norse also face Nebraska-Kearney, Central Missouri and Tampa during the two-day tournament.
