Volleyball Announces Four Signees For 2012
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2011
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - With the closing of the early signing period, University of Alabama head women's volleyball coach Ed Allen announces the signing of four players for the 2012 recruiting class. The 2012 recruits include three players from Alabama and one from California.
"We were really fortunate to get as strong a recruiting class as we did, given the timeliness of when we came in here," Allen said. "The 2012 class was pretty much committed when we arrived in January, with the top tier kids already making their decisions. We feel like we secured as positive a recruiting class as we could hope to get. The four kids that we've signed will make us better in each of the positions, with two outside hitters, a setter and a middle."
The 2012 class includes junior college transfer Kanesha Burch (Hoover, Ala.), All-American Kryssi Daniels (Jasper, Ala.) from Curry High School, Baker High School's all-state outside hitter Mattie Weldy (Mobile, Ala.) and Troy High School standout setter Sierra Wilson (Anaheim, Calif.).
Kanesha Burch is a 6-1, middle blocker from Hoover, Ala., and will come to UA after spending the past two seasons playing at Florida State College in Jacksonville, Fla. She tallied 282 kills (2.82 kills per set) and 112 blocks (1.12 blocks per set) in 100 sets played during her sophomore season, finishing the year with a .333 hitting percentage (282-87/599). She reached double digits in kills in 16 of 34 matches, while recording nine matches with at least five total blocks, including two matches where she had 10 stuffs.
"Kanesha is a very dynamic player. She's very athletic and will help us become a lot more athletic at her position," Allen said. "She's still developing as a volleyball player and will continue to develop over the years, but she has a high degree of athleticism and potential."
Burch averaged 1.57 kills and 1.23 blocks per set as a freshman and had a .310 hitting percentage in 47 sets played. Burch played her high school volleyball at Hoover High School where she was a Class 6A Second Team All-State selection by the ASWA. She was also a standout on the Hoover HS girls' basketball team.
Kryssi Daniels, a 5-10, outside hitter, helped Curry High School post a state semi-finalist finish in 2011. Named a top-5 prospect in Alabama by PrepVolleyball.com, Daniels was a Class 3A State All-Tournament Team in 2011, earning all-tournament honors in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. The five-time first team all-state selection (2007-11) finished her high school career with 4,019 kills and 2,936 digs - Alabama state records in both categories. Prior to her senior season, she was named to the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour Girls' HS All-America Watch List after she was a finalist for the 2010 Gatorade Alabama Volleyball Player of the Year award.
"Kryssi is a kid that was verbally committed to Middle Tennessee State, but with the coaching change here, she really wanted to get to Alabama," Allen said. "She's been an Alabama fan her whole life. She has the potential to be a true L2 for us, with her ability to hit, but we're more concerned with how she can help us with our ball control."
As a junior, Daniels was an Honorable Mention All-American by Prep Volleyball and was selected to the 2010 Birmingham News and the Alabama Volleyball Coaches Association All-State Volleyball teams. A two-time Daily Mountain Eagle Player of the Year honoree, she participated in the 2010 North-South All-Star volleyball match after helping Winston County High School post a state runner-up finish.
Mattie Weldy, a 6-2 outside hitter from Mobile, Ala., had 791 kills (5.2 kills per set) during her senior season, while hitting .394, to help Baker High School post a 38-18 record in 2011. The 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour Girls' HS All-America Watch List selection also added 490 digs, 132 aces and 56 blocks during her senior campaign.
"One of our goals in recruiting is to secure the border and to stop allowing Alabama kids out of state and onto other rosters, particularly SEC rosters, and Mattie was being heavily recruited in the SEC," Allen said. "She has a ton of potential and plays at a high level. She's a true 6-2 outside and is pretty athletic as well. We're expecting great things from her."
As a junior, she collected 561 kills to average 3.6 kills per set, helping Baker HS post a 36-24 record in 2010 and a berth into the Class 6A Elite Eight State Tournament. A 2010 Class 6A AVBCA First Team All-State selection, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Alabama All-Star North-South volleyball match in the summer of 2010.
Sierra Wilson, a 5-10 setter, led Troy High School (Calif.) with 566 assists, while adding 178 digs, 92 kills, 30 aces and 28 total blocks during her senior season. She helped the Warriors post a 9-1 Freeway League record in 2011, to capture league titles for the fourth straight year. She was selected to the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour Girls' HS All-America Watch List, after helping Troy HS to a 35-3 overall record when she dished out 833 assists as a junior in 2010.
"Sierra is considered by many to be one of the top setters in Orange County," Allen said. "She understands the game, watches the game very well and delivers an extremely hittable ball. She's an athletic kid, is very mobile and she's got great hands. She has all of the key pieces to be one of the best setters that's ever played here."
In four years as a setter at Troy HS, her team posted a 39-1 Freeway league record, including three undefeated season from 2008-10. Additionally in 2010, she helped her team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division IIA finalists, a CIF State Southern Regional Division II Championship and a CIF State Division II Finalists finish.
2012 Alabama Volleyball Signees
Name Ht. Pos. Hometown (Previous Schools)
Kanesha Burch 6-1 MB Hoover, Ala. (Florida State College/Hoover HS)
Kryssi Daniels 5-10 OH Jasper, Ala. (Curry HS)
Mattie Weldy 6-2 OH Mobile, Ala. (Baker HS)
Sierra Wilson 5-10 S Anaheim, Calif. (Troy HS)
