|
|
|
Rams Add Colorado Standout to Strong 2007 Class
Colorado State's 2007 recruiting class ranked 14th nationally.
May 25, 2007 Colorado State volleyball coach Tom Hilbert announced today that Danielle Minch, a 6-1 Outside Hitter from Sterling, Colo., has committed to play at CSU in 2007, completing one of the strongest recruiting classes in Hilbert's tenure at Colorado State. Minch, who was a standout player at Sterling High School, had originally signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend the University of Nebraska. However, she and Nebraska mutually opted out of the NLI so that she could attend Colorado State. "We are happy to have a player like Danielle coming to Colorado State," said Hilbert. "She is athletic and skilled and will contribute - along with the rest of our 2007 recruiting class - to the success of our program for many years to come." Minch was a three year starter at Sterling High School, where she helped guide the team to the Colorado 4A Championship as a junior and a runner-up finish in the state tournament her senior year. During her career she accumulated 1,181 kills and 488 blocks and comes to the Rams ranked No. 49 nationally on Prepvolleyball.com's list of "2007 Senior Aces." As a junior, she was a first-team Class 4A selection by the Rocky Mountain News, as Sterling went 31-0 and won the Class 4A title. She also earned All-Northern Conference first team and Co-Player-of-the-Year honors in 2005. Following her senior campaign, she earned fist-team Class 4A honors from the Rocky Mountain News and was selected by the Denver Post to the 2006 All-Colorado team. Minch, along with Jacqueline Davisson (5-10, Outside Hitter, Placentia, Calif./Valencia H.S.), Katelyn Steffen (6-4, Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter, Dickinson, N.D./Dickinson H.S.) and Crystin Rodrick (5-7, Libero, Minturn, Colo./Battle Mountain H.S.) make up the No. 14-ranked recruiting class in the country according to Prepvolleyball.com. According to the Web site: "The Rams had a gem fall into their laps late when Minch, who originally signed with Nebraska, was released from her letter of intent in April. She is a powerful attacker and a top 50 Senior Ace while Davisson is all athlete and has been described by her future collegiate coach as `fast and fiery.' Davisson also is strong defensively. Don't be surprised if CSU's best player in this class turns out to be Steffan, a North Dakota kid with abundant physical gifts. She should contribute early for the Rams and grow into a player rival coaches will kick themselves over for not recruiting. Roderick is a strong back row player and winner who helped her high school team to a state title last fall." "These kids, along with redshirt Jonelle Wallace, make this a great volleyball class. They are an extremely athletic group and I forsee great things at Colorado State," added Hilbert. The Rams' recruiting class was the only group in the Mountain West Conference to be ranked and is the second in three years for Hilbert's staff. The 2005 class of Jamie Strauss, Tessa Nelson and Ashley Fornstrom was ranked No. 12 by Prepvolleyball.com.
|
|
