Juniata WVB announces nine commitments for 2012 season

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College has received commitments from nine young women who will continue their education at Juniata while competing as members of the two-time NCAA Division III national champion women's volleyball team.

The nine newest members of the Juniata women's volleyball team are, in alphabetical order: 

Bryce Arnold
5-10, Opposite, Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg Area

Bryce was a four-year Chambersburg Public Opinion All-Star and Mid-Penn All-Conference selection. She was also a Third team All-District honoree, and Shippensburg Sentinel First team All-Star in 2011. She had lettered in each of her four years playing volleyball at Shippensburg while lettering three years in track and field as well. On her resume is a distinguished career with the Revolution Volleyball Club.  Bryce is the daughter of Alan and Lori Arnold, and will study education at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Bryce has a live arm and will bring good offensive skills with immediately.  As a left-handed hitter, she brings something different to the table for our team and we are really looking forward to having her in our gym."

Karley Christian
6-1, Middle hitter/opposite, Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel

Karley was a two-year letterwinner at Aliso Niguel, which competes in the very competitive environment of southern California volleyball. On her playing resume is a distinguished career with the Saddleback Volleyball Club that was the winner of the SoCal national qualifier this spring.  Karley is the daughter of Brian and Kristin Christian, and she will be studying biology at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Karley is a very physical player who has played middle hitter for most of her career but is getting some experience at opposite this spring with her club.  She has played with and against some of the best players in the country and has learned the game at a high level."

Kristin Collins
6-0, Outside hitter, Freedom, Pa./Ambridge

Kristin earned All-State honors as a senior, and was a First team All-WPIAL and First team All-Section honoree during each of the last two seasons. A three-year volleyball letterwinner, she served as team captain as both a junior and senior and also lettered twice in basketball. On her resume is a distinguished career with the Renaissance Volleyball Club.  Kristin is the daughter of Tim and Joyce Collins, and is undecided on her academic program of emphasis at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Kristin is a very talented player who has both the physical and mental gifts to be a top performer at the next level. Her size and strength will set her apart in our gym and her high volleyball IQ and good ball control skills will allow her to be very competitive from the first day of preseason." 

Adena Delozier
5-8, Setter, Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona Area

Adena was a three-year Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association (PVCA) First team All-District 6 selection, and a four-year Independent Volleyball League All-Conference honoree. She started at setter every match of her four-year career, and ranks in the top ten in every Altoona Area High School volleyball statistical category while holding the school records for assists and service points. On her playing resume is a distinguished career with the Altoona Juniors Volleyball Club and more recently the Highlands Volleyball Club.  Adena is the daughter of Douglas and Nadine Delozier, and she is undecided on an academic program of emphasis at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Adena is a very good athlete both physically and mentally and is mature far beyond her years.  She will do a good job of getting our hitters very good swings right from the start."

Mackenzie Lauber
5-7, Setter, Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive

Mackenzie was a Second team All-State selection in Ohio in 2011, as well as a Second team All-District 5 and First team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honoree. She led her team to a 103-11 record over a four-year high school career, winning four district championships, three regional championships, and making three state "final four" appearances. On her playing resume is a distinguished career with both Club Crush and the Central Elite volleyball clubs.  Mackenzie is the daughter of Patrick and Jen Lauber, and she will be studying special education at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Kenzie is a very good athlete and has been coached very well by her mother Jen.  She has spent her life in a volleyball gym and therefore understands the game at a high level." 

Taylor Miles
6-2, Middle hitter/outside hitter, Mapleton Depot, Pa./Mount Union

Taylor is a four-year All-Conference selection and served as her team's captain for two seasons. She was a MaxPreps Player of the Week in the fall of 2011, and recorded her 1000th career kill during the 2011 season. She was also a three-year letterwinner in softball as well. Taylor's playing resume also includes a distinguished career with the Horseshoe Volleyball Club.  Taylor is the daughter of Randy and Amy Miles, and is the niece of Juniata College employee Dave Coder. She is undecided on an academic program of emphasis at Juniata College.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Taylor has the size and live arm to be a very successful player at the collegiate level.  She has barely scratched the surface of her abilities at this point.  Her physicality and length will immediately make our gym better and more competitive and as she develops her skills, she will be force to be reckoned with."

Jennifer Olson
5-10, Outside hitter, Portville, N.Y./Portville Central

A Second Team All-State selection in 2010, Jennifer was a four-year letterwinner and four-time conference all-star at Portville Central. She helped lead her team to the New York State finals in 2009 and a state sectional final in 2010, and was named to numerous all-tournament teams over her high school career. Also on Olson's playing resume is one year with the Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club.  Jennifer is the daughter of Joanne and Scott Pierce, and Tom Olson and Beth Kolkowski, and she will be studying physics at Juniata. 

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Jenny is about as good a pure athlete as we have had here at Juniata during my tenure. She will be a great all-around player who is not deficient in any skill.  We are looking forward to watching her development as a volleyball player because she has never had the ability to focus on volleyball for more than three months at a time in the past."

Gabrielle Ooyama
5-4, Libero/defensive specialist, Fairport, N.Y./Fairport

Gabrielle was named Division I First Team All-Monroe County, Monroe County Exceptional Senior All-Star Athlete, and N.Y. Section 5 Class AA All-Tournament Team as a senior. She has also enjoyed success playing New York Association beach volleyball, earning first place in the Under-21 Doubles Gold division and the Women's Intermediate Gold division competitions this past year. On her playing resume is a distinguished career with VolleyFX Volleyball Club.  Gabrielle is the daughter of Robert and Catherine Ooyama, and she will study biology at Juniata. 

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Gaby is a multi-talented player who will add great experience and a winning attitude to our gym. Her experience playing multiple positions allows her to have an understanding of the game that many players her age just do not have."  

Alexandra Schmidt
6-0, Middle hitter, Westlake, Ohio/Westlake

Alexandra was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball, and received her team's Coaches Award in 2009 and Offensive Player of the Year award in 2010. She spent most of the 2011 campaign side-lined with an ankle injury. Schmidt has also competed in softball and tennis while at Westlake. Also on Schmidt's playing resume is a distinguished career with the Maverick Volleyball Club. Alexandra is the daughter of George and Marla Schmidt, and she will be studying biology at Juniata.

Quoting Juniata head coach Heather Pavlik:
"Lexi is a hard-working, high energy middle hitter with a great volleyball frame.  Her ability to produce on sets behind the setter will make an immediate impact in our gym."

The Eagles are led by Heather Pavlik, former three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American setter and longtime Juniata associate head coach, who is in her first year as head coach after taking the reigns of the program from former head coach Larry Bock in January 2011. Since joining the Juniata staff as an assistant coach in 1996, the Eagles have posted a record of 493 wins against only 63 losses.

As Bock's top assistant, Pavlik helped lead Juniata to NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball national titles in both 2004 and 2006 - part of Juniata's amazing run of 30 consecutive conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances, 25 appearances in the national semifinals, and eight appearances in the national championship match.

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Note: A "commitment" means the above-named prospective student-athletes have been accepted to Juniata College and have placed a deposit to reserve a spot in the incoming Fall 2012 class.