University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Santos Adds Four Student-Athletes for 2017 Season
04.21.2017 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville head volleyball coach Frederico Santos has added four signees to the 2017 roster. Kailynn "KK" Haley, Cassandra Shaw, Cecilia Stack and Ava Venema have all signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the Bulldogs in the fall.
"We are looking for all of these players to come in and contribute right away," Santos said. "They each bring strong attributes and skills that will help us get to the next level."
KK Haley
5-8 | Outside Hitter | Mandeville, La. (Mandeville HS)
Haley was a four-year letterwinner at Mandeville High School where she played for head coach Jody Walker. As a senior in 2016, she recorded 348 kills, 353 digs and 60 aces. She ended her prep career with 895 kills, 963 digs and 171 service winners. A three-time All-District honoree, she was also named the District MVP as well as earning All-Metro and All-State honors during her career. As a senior, she participated in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) All-Star Game.
During the 2015 campaign, Haley and the Skippers were the Louisiana state runners up, boasting an impressive 36-7 record. In 2016, the Skippers were state semifinalists with a 35-8 ledger. During both campaigns, Haley led the Skippers to the District crown.
Haley has also been an integral part of the Digs Indoor and Beach Volleyball Club under the guidance of Robby Haley. Last year, the team finished 28-3 and won one tournament and finished runners up in four others. She also competed as a member of the USA Volleyball A2 and A3 High Performance Training Program.
Coach Santos on Haley – "KK is a dynamic player who has very good ball control and will add depth and compete for a starting outside hitter position right away. I am very excited about KK and her potential."
Cassandra Shaw
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Matthews, N.C. (Carmel Christian)
Shaw was a three-time letterwinner for Karen Bradbury at Carmel Christian. Last fall, Shaw led the conference in solo blocks with 52 as well as a .232 hitting percentage. After starting her prep career mostly focusing on playing basketball, Shaw set the school records for blocks and hitting percentage in just two seasons. She was named All-Conference as both a junior and senior in 2015 and 2016 and led the Cougars to the state tournament last fall. She also earned three varsity letters in basketball.
She plays club ball with the Carolina Storm for both Vanessa Colon and Michelle Phillips. The Storm were the K2 Wilderness 18 Runners Up and took home the Queen City Classic 18 championship crown.
Off the court, Shaw is a Duke Tip Award Recipient as well as an active member of the Beta Club, Baylor Christian Leadership Institute and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Coach Santos on Shaw – "Cassandra is a middle blocker but very athletic and able to play right side. She has tremendous potential and I look forward to continuing to develop her game."
Cecilia Stack
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Stack was a dual-sport athlete at Barrington High School in Barrington, Ill., playing both basketball and volleyball. A two-time letterwinner in both sports, she played volleyball for the Fillies under the guidance of Michelle Jakubowski. As a senior in 2016, she recorded 149 kills off 321 attacks and had 104 total blocks to go along with 15 digs. For her career, Stack had 245 kills, 109 solo blocks and 163 total blocks. A captain on both her basketball and volleyball teams, Stack was named All-Conference in volleyball and earned All-Academic honors in both sports.
She has played her club ball with Sky High and head coach Jori Fontana. Her team was named an AAU All-American in 2015 and earned fifth and sixth-place finishes at the AAU tournament.
Coach Santos on Stack –"Cecilia is a middle blocker who can also can play multiple positions. She will bring intensity and a competitive spirit to our team."
Ava Venema
6-2 | Middle Blocker | Chicago, Ill. (Timothy Christian)
Venema was a four-year letterwinner at Timothy Christian where she played for Scott Piersma and the Trojans. Venema, who also played basketball, finished her senior campaign with 247 kills off a .449 hitting percentage. She had 71 total blocks and had a serve percentage of .956. As a three-year varsity starter, she tallied 686 kills and 203 total blocks to go along with a .429 hitting percentage and a .948 serve percentage. A decorated student-athlete, she was twice named a first-team All-State selection by the Illinois Christian School Association. She was also a two-time All-Conference First Team selection and twice named All-State Honorable Mention. Venema earned two All-Area Honorable-Mention accolades and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Plano Invitational.
During Venema's junior campaign in 2015, the Trojans finished third in the state tournament. During all three years she was a starter, Timothy Christian was the Metro Suburban Conference Champion and also won their own Timothy Christian/Westmont Invitational all three years. The team claimed the St. Viator Invitational twice and also claimed the crown in the Monteno Invitational three times.
Venema has played her club ball for the 1st Alliance 18 Silver and head coach Melissa Vandrey. The team finished fifth at the 2013 USA Volleyball Nationals and followed that up with a seventh-place finish in 2014. Venema and the team finished fifth in the 2015 All Access Volleyball Nationals.
Coach Santos on Venema – "Ava is Middle blocker, but she is a very versatile player that can add depth in other positions. She will add a strong competitive and dynamic component to our team."
"We are looking for all of these players to come in and contribute right away," Santos said. "They each bring strong attributes and skills that will help us get to the next level."
KK Haley
5-8 | Outside Hitter | Mandeville, La. (Mandeville HS)
Haley was a four-year letterwinner at Mandeville High School where she played for head coach Jody Walker. As a senior in 2016, she recorded 348 kills, 353 digs and 60 aces. She ended her prep career with 895 kills, 963 digs and 171 service winners. A three-time All-District honoree, she was also named the District MVP as well as earning All-Metro and All-State honors during her career. As a senior, she participated in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) All-Star Game.
During the 2015 campaign, Haley and the Skippers were the Louisiana state runners up, boasting an impressive 36-7 record. In 2016, the Skippers were state semifinalists with a 35-8 ledger. During both campaigns, Haley led the Skippers to the District crown.
Haley has also been an integral part of the Digs Indoor and Beach Volleyball Club under the guidance of Robby Haley. Last year, the team finished 28-3 and won one tournament and finished runners up in four others. She also competed as a member of the USA Volleyball A2 and A3 High Performance Training Program.
Coach Santos on Haley – "KK is a dynamic player who has very good ball control and will add depth and compete for a starting outside hitter position right away. I am very excited about KK and her potential."
Cassandra Shaw
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Matthews, N.C. (Carmel Christian)
Shaw was a three-time letterwinner for Karen Bradbury at Carmel Christian. Last fall, Shaw led the conference in solo blocks with 52 as well as a .232 hitting percentage. After starting her prep career mostly focusing on playing basketball, Shaw set the school records for blocks and hitting percentage in just two seasons. She was named All-Conference as both a junior and senior in 2015 and 2016 and led the Cougars to the state tournament last fall. She also earned three varsity letters in basketball.
She plays club ball with the Carolina Storm for both Vanessa Colon and Michelle Phillips. The Storm were the K2 Wilderness 18 Runners Up and took home the Queen City Classic 18 championship crown.
Off the court, Shaw is a Duke Tip Award Recipient as well as an active member of the Beta Club, Baylor Christian Leadership Institute and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Coach Santos on Shaw – "Cassandra is a middle blocker but very athletic and able to play right side. She has tremendous potential and I look forward to continuing to develop her game."
Cecilia Stack
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Barrington, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Stack was a dual-sport athlete at Barrington High School in Barrington, Ill., playing both basketball and volleyball. A two-time letterwinner in both sports, she played volleyball for the Fillies under the guidance of Michelle Jakubowski. As a senior in 2016, she recorded 149 kills off 321 attacks and had 104 total blocks to go along with 15 digs. For her career, Stack had 245 kills, 109 solo blocks and 163 total blocks. A captain on both her basketball and volleyball teams, Stack was named All-Conference in volleyball and earned All-Academic honors in both sports.
She has played her club ball with Sky High and head coach Jori Fontana. Her team was named an AAU All-American in 2015 and earned fifth and sixth-place finishes at the AAU tournament.
Coach Santos on Stack –"Cecilia is a middle blocker who can also can play multiple positions. She will bring intensity and a competitive spirit to our team."
Ava Venema
6-2 | Middle Blocker | Chicago, Ill. (Timothy Christian)
Venema was a four-year letterwinner at Timothy Christian where she played for Scott Piersma and the Trojans. Venema, who also played basketball, finished her senior campaign with 247 kills off a .449 hitting percentage. She had 71 total blocks and had a serve percentage of .956. As a three-year varsity starter, she tallied 686 kills and 203 total blocks to go along with a .429 hitting percentage and a .948 serve percentage. A decorated student-athlete, she was twice named a first-team All-State selection by the Illinois Christian School Association. She was also a two-time All-Conference First Team selection and twice named All-State Honorable Mention. Venema earned two All-Area Honorable-Mention accolades and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Plano Invitational.
During Venema's junior campaign in 2015, the Trojans finished third in the state tournament. During all three years she was a starter, Timothy Christian was the Metro Suburban Conference Champion and also won their own Timothy Christian/Westmont Invitational all three years. The team claimed the St. Viator Invitational twice and also claimed the crown in the Monteno Invitational three times.
Venema has played her club ball for the 1st Alliance 18 Silver and head coach Melissa Vandrey. The team finished fifth at the 2013 USA Volleyball Nationals and followed that up with a seventh-place finish in 2014. Venema and the team finished fifth in the 2015 All Access Volleyball Nationals.
Coach Santos on Venema – "Ava is Middle blocker, but she is a very versatile player that can add depth in other positions. She will add a strong competitive and dynamic component to our team."
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