Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball Welcomes Six Recruits for 2008
5/23/2008 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
May 23, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Six newcomers will join the Bucknell volleyball program in 2008, head coach Cindy Opalski announced on Friday. Katie Baumgarten, Anne Ellenberger, Kylie McAhren, Lindsay Regruto, Emily Sawanobori and Taylor Willis will join the Bison as members of Bucknell's Class of 2012.
"As we began putting this class together last winter, we were mindful to assemble women with unquestionable athletic talent," said Opalski. "Character matters and the athleticism within this group is clearly enhanced by their potential to make an immediate impact on our team's chemistry as well as on the volleyball court. They were all the best players on their high school squads and the driving force behind their teams' success in postseason play. Each of these gifted individuals came to campus, fell in love with our terrific facilities, the winning atmosphere and have accepted the challenge of becoming Bucknell student-athletes."
The following is an alphabetical list of the six individuals who, along with a possible walk-on, will join the Bison as members of the Class of 2012:
Name, Ht., Pos., Hometown/High School
Katie Baumgarten, 6-0, OH, South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena
Anne Ellenberger, 6-2, MH/RS, Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon Honors
Kyleigh McAhren, 6-0, MH, Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena
Lindsay Regruto, 5-4, DS, Atlanta, Ga./Marist School
Emily Sawanobori, 5-3, L, Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills
Taylor Willis, 6-0, MH/RS, Darien, Conn./Darien
Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) - 6-0 - OH - Earned four letters in volleyball, two in soccer and one in track at South Pasadena High School ... four-year starter ... All-Rio Hondo League first team and all-area second team honoree in 2007 ... tabbed Offensive MVP in 2007 ... earned All-Rio Hondo second team recognition in 2006 ... received Coach's Award ... played for the San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club for six years ... was soccer team's Defensive MVP in 2005 ... daughter of Moe and Jane Baumgarten ... born Mar. 14, 1990 in Pasadena, Calif. ... has three siblings, Joanna, Ben and Megan ... father was a member of the crew team at Stanford ... mother competed for the University of New Hampshire gymnastics team ... sister, Joanna, was a member of the swim team at Duke ... brother, Ben, played water polo at USC ... sister, Megan, plays volleyball at Seton Hall.
Opalski on Baumgarten: "After playing against the best players in the state of California throughout her entire high school career, Katie should be more than prepared for the rigors of DI volleyball when she steps on campus for preseason. Her strength at the net, especially her blocking skills, is what we need to make another trip to the league championship."
Anne Ellenberger (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon Honors) - 6-2 - MH/RS - Lettered three times in both volleyball and basketball at Horizon Honors High School ... also attended Nishimachi International School in Tokyo, Japan from 2004-2005 ... served as team captain in 2007 ... named to 2A Metro Girls Volleyball All-Conference team in 2007 ... MVP of the Maricopa Invitational Volleyball Tournament in 2007 ... received team's Most Improved Varsity Volleyball Player Award in 2005 ... was team captain for basketball in 2008 and was a two-time 2A Metro Girls Basketball All-Conference selection ... named Most Improved Varsity Basketball Player in 2006 ... daughter of Carole and Ronald Ellenberger ... born July 23, 1990 in Richardson, Texas ... has one sister, Sara ... father played basketball at Grove City College.
Opalski on Ellenberger: "Anne's potential to contribute to our offensive effectiveness is enormous. Once she adjusts to the speed, transition and quickness of the college game, Anne is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the front line, both as a high hitter and an intimidating blocker."
Kyleigh McAhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena) - 6-0 - MH - Four-time letterwinner in volleyball and three-time letterwinner in basketball at Justin-Siena High School ... served as team captain as a senior ... named Marin County Athletic League Player of the Year ... was a First Team All-Napa County selection sophomore and junior seasons ... tabbed Newcomer of the Year as a freshman after helping team to a Northern California section championship ... earned Marin County Athletic League Volleyball honorable mention recognition both sophomore and junior year ... helped the basketball squad to a Northern California section title as a senior and was named Second Team All-Napa County ... received the All-Academic Scholastic Team Championship Award for both volleyball and basketball as a senior ... daughter of Kyle and Rebecca McAhren ... born October 19, 1989 in Napa, Calif. ... uncle, Kraig McAhren, played basketball at Columbus State.
Opalski on McAhren: "Kyleigh McAhren is a huge triple-threat for us as an incoming freshman. She is an outstanding student in the classroom, an incredibly versatile athlete and the type of competitor who could be a major impact player for us this fall. We are as impressed with Kyleigh's back row play as we are with her tenacity at the net."
Lindsay Regruto (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) - 5-4 - DS - Lettered three times in both volleyball and swimming & diving at Marist School ... helped her team to a state championship in 2006 and a state runner-up finish in 2005, along with area titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 ... served as co-captain for the swimming & diving team and helped guide the squad to a state championship in 2008 after runner-up showings in 2006 and 2005 ... daughter of JoAnn and Rich Regruto ... born Oct. 18, 1989 in Long Island, N.Y. ... has two brothers, Max and Brad.
Opalski on Regruto: "You can't play great defense without strong footwork and that's clearly the best part of Lindsay's game. It was obvious that she was the principal motivator behind her high school's state tournament accomplishments this fall both as a consistent passer and reliable back court defender."
Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) - 5-3 - L - Earned three letters in volleyball at Watchung Hills Regional High School ... named Watchung Optomist Club Athlete of the Year for volleyball as a senior ... served as team captain and helped guide her team to county championships in 2007 and 2006 and a state quarterfinalist finish in 2007 ... tabbed Team MVP ... selected to the All-Central Jersey first team and All-Group 4 first team ... MVP of Children Tournament in 2007 ... her club team, Atlantic Valley Volleyball Club, earned an AVVC 18 National No. 1 regional ranking in 2007 and 2008 and was the regional champion ... USAV High Performance A1 in 2006 and 2007 ... named N.J. Star Ledger Athlete of the Week on Oct. 8, 2007 ... member of NCVA Area League 14s champions in Bay Area, Calif. ... National Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society member ... born July 28, 1990 in Upland, Calif. ... daughter of Diane and Tom Sawanobori ... has two sisters, Kimiko and Hana.
Opalski on Sawanobori: "As a two-time MVP and N.J. state quarterfinalist, Emily has made substantial contributions to her high school team's success as well as with her club program. Fresh off an appearance at the USVA Championships, we're counting on Emily to give us depth and consistency on the defensive end of the floor."
Taylor Willis (Darien, Conn./Darien) - 6-0 - MH/RS - Lettered three times in volleyball and twice in track at Darien High School ... helped her squad to four state titles and four FCIAC championships during her career ... was named first team all-state and to the All-FCIAC second team in 2007 ... tabbed All-FCIAC third team honoree in 2006 ... daughter of Loris and Gregory Willis ...born Oct. 2, 1990 in Stamford, Conn. ... has one brother, Malcolm.
Opalski on Willis: "Taylor brings rich experience and considerable talent from a Darien High School team that has dominated the sport of volleyball in the state of Connecticut for more than a decade. Her acclimation to the speed and quickness of the college game will be a factor in her ultimate success."
