Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball Welcomes Six Additions for 2009
4/15/2009 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
April 15, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell volleyball is welcoming its newest six student-athletes to the program, the team announced recently. Kebah Edoho, Arden Fuller, Ragin Jackson, Jackie Landes, Kelsey Sauer and Katherine Tauscher, who hail from six different states, make up the Bison's class of 2013 and will begin their careers in the Orange and Blue this coming fall.
"The good news is that this has been one of the strongest recruiting classes in the last several years both academically and athletically," said head coach Cindy Opalski, who is entering her 20th season at Bucknell. "The better news is that they have the size, talent and work ethic to make our current roster much more competitive.
"Bucknell is committed to academic excellence," the three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year continued. "Our volleyball program and our institution as a whole are extremely fortunate to have received commitments from such strong student-athletes, and commitment is a key word here. We're pleased at the dedication and enthusiasm they've shown thus far, and we're looking forward to building on their allegiance to our institution as well as the continued success of the program."
Edoho, a 6-foot, 2-inch middle hitter, was a three-sport letterwinner during her time at Arundel Senior High School. The Maryland native lettered twice in volleyball where she served as the team's captain and was named First Team All-County by the Capital Newspaper and Second Team All-Baltimore Metro in 2008. She also received Senatorial recognition from Senator James E. DeGrange, Sr. during this time. Edoho also excelled in basketball where she was awarded the team's most improved player honor and helped the squad to a No. 1 county and region ranking for 2006-07 season. Her success continued into the spring season where she was a two-time Maryland State Championship competitor in the high jump and finished second in the region three consecutive seasons.
"Kebah was a stellar athlete on her high school team and we hope she will bring that same quickness and aggressiveness to our offensive system," Opalski said of the recruit. "We anticipate that her maturity, presence at the net and keen sense of determination will impact our front line in an immediate way."
Fuller was a member of the Southwestern 4A Conference regular season and tournament championship team while also serving as the squad's captain. The Matthews, N.C., native has received several accolades during her high school career, including being named the conference tournament's Most Outstanding Player, a Union County First Team selection and an All-Academic Team honoree at Weddington High School. In addition to earning three varsity letters in volleyball, the 5-9 setter also lettered in softball and track and field.
"Arden is a dynamic setter who has a plethora of state championship and club experiences. It takes a special individual to run an offense as fast and diverse as ours, and Arden has the tools to distribute the ball with creativity and consistency. She has good court sense and isn't afraid to run a quick attack," said Opalski.
Jackson, who comes to the Bison as a 5-11 middle hitter, has had a wealth of postseason experience throughout her high school career. She was a member of the three-time undefeated New York State Championship team that posted an impressive 98-1 record over four seasons. Adding to her 2008 State Championship All-Tournament Team selection, Jackson was also twice named All-League, All-Section 1 and All-State. A bronze medalist at the 2007 Empire State Games, Jackson lettered three times in volleyball and once in basketball as a sophomore.
"Ragin's high school team's performance has been just shy of miraculous, dominating New York interscholastic play for the last four years," said Opalski. "Her speed and athleticism will raise the bar for our existing middles and challenge the top blockers in the Patriot League next fall. Ragin understands the importance of strong team chemistry."
Landes, a 6-2 middle hitter from Pacific Palisades, Calif., is a three-time California Interscholastic Federation MVP, having nabbed the honor her sophomore through senior years while also being named First Team All-League. She demonstrated strong leadership throughout her career having served as her team's captain three years, including her freshman season. Landes' athletic abilities in high school were not limited to volleyball, however. In addition to lettering in her primary sport all four years, she lettered twice in basketball and earned First-Team All-League honors in 2005.
"We thought Jackie would be a late bloomer because she started the game relatively late in her high school career. Her learning curve has been swift, and she has helped her Sunshine Volleyball Club to be one of the best blocking teams in the nation," said Opalski. "We are excited about her potential to impact our front line, especially defensively."
Sauer, a 5-6 outside hitter/libero, has earned several awards throughout her volleyball career, most recently being named the 2008 District MVP and the 2008 Goodpasture Christian School MVP, an honor she also received in 2007. A native of Pleasant View, Tenn., Sauer was also named to the All-District First Team and the All-Tournament Team in 2007. As a senior, she led her team in aces, kills and digs.
"We've had the good fortune to coach some athletes who have played in a USVBA National Championship, but no one who has ever won their age division. Kelsey's tenacity and work ethic are her best attributes, and we hope her competitiveness raises the bar for all our athletes, especially on the defensive end of the court," said Opalski."
Tauscher, a four-year letterwinner in volleyball, began her high school year as an outside hitter and moved to setter later in her freshman year. The 5-9 Washington, D.C., native will also serve as setter for the Bison. While at the National Cathedral School for Girls, Tauscher was a two-time member of the Independent School League Division A championship team and was twice named All-ISL League. She served as her team's captain her junior and senior seasons, and was also named the Varsity MVP as a sophomore.
A member of the Metro American Volleyball Club, Tauscher was named to several all-tournament teams, including at the FCA/Mizuno 15/16s Invitational Tournament in 2007 and the Fragile X Tournament in 2008.
"Katherine has the capacity to connect with hitters in a profound way because of her maturity and vision on the court. She has the ability to take a ball that was delivered out of system and turn it into a viable offensive attack," Opalski explained. "The fact that Kat has been asked to play a variety of positions this club season has increased her overall versatility."
Opalski is excited about the roles this group of recruits will fill for the Bison in the coming years.
"Defense has been one of the essential building blocks of our Bucknell volleyball programs since the inception of the league," the coach said. "I thought our defensive effort last year left a lot to be desired last year. Our emphasis with this incoming class, as well as with our returning players, was to understand the significance of our defensive production and find people who were committed to keeping the ball off the floor. We can hardly wait for August to arrive and put all the pieces of the puzzle together."
As the 2009 season gets underway in August, the Bison will be seeking their third Patriot League Championship. Bucknell finished the 2008 season 13-18 overall and 8-6 in the Patriot League, earning its 17th trip to the postseason since 1990.
