Shires Announces 2016 Recruiting Class
Nov 19, 2015 | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Six players will join the Omaha volleyball program in 2016, head coach Rose Shires announced Thursday. Outside hitters Chloe Dousette, setter Hannah Angeli, middle blocker Ellie Brown, defensive specialists Olivia Spanton and Ashley Smith and rightside hitter Macy Anderson make up the Mavericks' incoming recruiting class.
CHLOE DOUSETTE
OH, 6-2, St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall)
Dousette has lettered four years for coach Rick Kuehlwin at Cretin-Derham Hall. A two-year captain and four-year starter, she is a three-time all-conference and two-time all-section pick. Dousette's team has won two conference titles, and as a senior, she passed the 1,000 career kills mark.
Dousette plays club volleyball for Mizuno Northern Lights for coaches Jackie Richter and Rachelle Sherdan. In 2014, her squad traveled to Croatia and Spain for international play.
Dousette carries a 3.6 GPA and is a member of the honor roll. She plans to major in psychology at UNO.
"Chloe is a big above-the-net, hard-hitting outside," Shires said. "She is an aggressive competitor who will bring force and size to our pin attack."
OLIVIA SPANTON
DS, 5-9, Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake)
Spanton has lettered three years for coach Mike Dean at Prior Lake High School. An all-conference selection, she helped her team to a conference title in 2014 and a section championship and state tournament appearance in 2015.
Spanton plays club volleyball for Mizuno Northern Lights for coaches Eric Poppleman and Jack Richter. In 2014, her club team also finished first at the AAU National Championship in the 16 Premier Division, and she was named an All-American as an outside hitter. Spanton was also honored as the most valuable player at the Mizuno SPVB National Junior Classic. The following year, Northern Lights finished third at the national tournament in the 17 Premier Division, and Spanton was chosen as an All-American as an outside hitter.
Spanton plans to major in marketing/advertising with an emphasis in studio art at UNO.
"Olivia is a dynamic and fluid libero who controls the court," Shires said. "She is a solid passer and reads the game exceptionally well."
HANNAH ANGELI
S, 6-0, Maplewood, Minn. (Hill-Murray)
Angeli is a four-year letterwinner for coach Tim Walen at Hill-Murray High School. A two-time first-team all-state selection, she has also earned four straight all-conference awards and served a two-year team captain at Hill-Murray. As a senior, Angeli led the conference in both assists and aces and helped her team its third conference championship. Her squad also finished as state runner-up in 2013 and Class AA consolation champions in 2015.
Angeli also plays club volleyball for coach Dave Menka of Mizuno Northern Lights. Her club team finished second at the 2013 AAU National Championships and third at AAUs and Junior Olympics in 2014. Angeli's squad also won the Global Challenge championship in Pula, Croatia in 2014.
Angeli is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a 3.78 GPA. She plans to major in physical therapy at UNO.
"Hannah is a setter who is an outstanding student of the game," Shires said. "She delivers a fast offense and makes outstanding decisions as the setter."
ELLIE BROWN
MB, 6-1, Holdrege, Neb. (Holdrege)
Brown has lettered three years for coach Janet Fiene at Holdrege High School. Brown was an all-state honorable mention selection as a junior and a two-time all-conference pick the last two seasons. She also plays club volleyball for Nebraska Juniors and coaches Cola Svec and Jake Moore, and helped her squad to a fifth-place finish at the national tournament.
Brown has also lettered two years in soccer and carries a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of the honor roll and the National Honor Society. Brown plans to major in architectural engineering at UNO.
"Ellie has a huge block presence at the net," Shires said. "She is the type of middle who will take a lot of space and be a force at the net. Ellie works hard to always be in position to attack a first-tempo ball."
ASHLEY SMITH
DS, 5-6, Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City)
Smith is a four-year letterwinner for coach Craig Pitcher at Iowa City High School. A four-time first-team all-conference pick, she led her squad to a state tournament appearance as a junior and holds the school record for most digs in a match. Smith plays club volleyball for coach Candice Burke of Club Iowa Juniors, which has qualified for the national tournament five times.
Smith has also lettered two years in both soccer and track & field and qualified for the state track meet as a freshman. She is a two-time all-academic honoree and a four-year member of the honor roll. Smith plans to major in business and sports medicine at UNO.
"Ashley is a dynamically quick defensive player," Shires said. "She is high-energy and ultra-competitive."
MACY ANDERSON
RS, 6-0, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Kennedy)
Anderson is a four-year letterwinner for coach Michelle Goodall at Kennedy High School. A two-time all-conference and two-time all-metro selection, she helped her team to a state tournament appearance and a Mississippi Valley Conference championship as a senior. Anderson plays club volleyball for coaches Candice Burke and Kekailoa Paleo of Club Iowa Juniors and played at the High Performance Championships in 2012. She has also been part of three teams to make regional final appearances and two squads with national tournament berths.
Anderson is a member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of the honor roll. She plans to major in communications at UNO.
"Macy is a heavy-swinging rightside hitter," Shires said. "She will bring some real fire power to the pin."
CHLOE DOUSETTE
OH, 6-2, St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall)
Dousette has lettered four years for coach Rick Kuehlwin at Cretin-Derham Hall. A two-year captain and four-year starter, she is a three-time all-conference and two-time all-section pick. Dousette's team has won two conference titles, and as a senior, she passed the 1,000 career kills mark.
Dousette plays club volleyball for Mizuno Northern Lights for coaches Jackie Richter and Rachelle Sherdan. In 2014, her squad traveled to Croatia and Spain for international play.
Dousette carries a 3.6 GPA and is a member of the honor roll. She plans to major in psychology at UNO.
"Chloe is a big above-the-net, hard-hitting outside," Shires said. "She is an aggressive competitor who will bring force and size to our pin attack."
OLIVIA SPANTON
DS, 5-9, Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake)
Spanton has lettered three years for coach Mike Dean at Prior Lake High School. An all-conference selection, she helped her team to a conference title in 2014 and a section championship and state tournament appearance in 2015.
Spanton plays club volleyball for Mizuno Northern Lights for coaches Eric Poppleman and Jack Richter. In 2014, her club team also finished first at the AAU National Championship in the 16 Premier Division, and she was named an All-American as an outside hitter. Spanton was also honored as the most valuable player at the Mizuno SPVB National Junior Classic. The following year, Northern Lights finished third at the national tournament in the 17 Premier Division, and Spanton was chosen as an All-American as an outside hitter.
Spanton plans to major in marketing/advertising with an emphasis in studio art at UNO.
"Olivia is a dynamic and fluid libero who controls the court," Shires said. "She is a solid passer and reads the game exceptionally well."
HANNAH ANGELI
S, 6-0, Maplewood, Minn. (Hill-Murray)
Angeli is a four-year letterwinner for coach Tim Walen at Hill-Murray High School. A two-time first-team all-state selection, she has also earned four straight all-conference awards and served a two-year team captain at Hill-Murray. As a senior, Angeli led the conference in both assists and aces and helped her team its third conference championship. Her squad also finished as state runner-up in 2013 and Class AA consolation champions in 2015.
Angeli also plays club volleyball for coach Dave Menka of Mizuno Northern Lights. Her club team finished second at the 2013 AAU National Championships and third at AAUs and Junior Olympics in 2014. Angeli's squad also won the Global Challenge championship in Pula, Croatia in 2014.
Angeli is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a 3.78 GPA. She plans to major in physical therapy at UNO.
"Hannah is a setter who is an outstanding student of the game," Shires said. "She delivers a fast offense and makes outstanding decisions as the setter."
ELLIE BROWN
MB, 6-1, Holdrege, Neb. (Holdrege)
Brown has lettered three years for coach Janet Fiene at Holdrege High School. Brown was an all-state honorable mention selection as a junior and a two-time all-conference pick the last two seasons. She also plays club volleyball for Nebraska Juniors and coaches Cola Svec and Jake Moore, and helped her squad to a fifth-place finish at the national tournament.
Brown has also lettered two years in soccer and carries a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of the honor roll and the National Honor Society. Brown plans to major in architectural engineering at UNO.
"Ellie has a huge block presence at the net," Shires said. "She is the type of middle who will take a lot of space and be a force at the net. Ellie works hard to always be in position to attack a first-tempo ball."
ASHLEY SMITH
DS, 5-6, Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City)
Smith is a four-year letterwinner for coach Craig Pitcher at Iowa City High School. A four-time first-team all-conference pick, she led her squad to a state tournament appearance as a junior and holds the school record for most digs in a match. Smith plays club volleyball for coach Candice Burke of Club Iowa Juniors, which has qualified for the national tournament five times.
Smith has also lettered two years in both soccer and track & field and qualified for the state track meet as a freshman. She is a two-time all-academic honoree and a four-year member of the honor roll. Smith plans to major in business and sports medicine at UNO.
"Ashley is a dynamically quick defensive player," Shires said. "She is high-energy and ultra-competitive."
MACY ANDERSON
RS, 6-0, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Kennedy)
Anderson is a four-year letterwinner for coach Michelle Goodall at Kennedy High School. A two-time all-conference and two-time all-metro selection, she helped her team to a state tournament appearance and a Mississippi Valley Conference championship as a senior. Anderson plays club volleyball for coaches Candice Burke and Kekailoa Paleo of Club Iowa Juniors and played at the High Performance Championships in 2012. She has also been part of three teams to make regional final appearances and two squads with national tournament berths.
Anderson is a member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of the honor roll. She plans to major in communications at UNO.
"Macy is a heavy-swinging rightside hitter," Shires said. "She will bring some real fire power to the pin."
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
