Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Four recruits, including two top-100 players, have signed on to play for the Kansas volleyball team next season. Jessie Allen, Marianne Beal, Kara Wehrs and Amy Wehrs will all be donning crimson and blue for the 2010-2011 season.
Kara Wehrs, the No. 44 recruit in 2010 according to PrepVolleyball.com, is a 5-foot-10 setter from Hampshire, Ill. and holds her high school record for both serving aces and assists. Kara was also named to the Courier News All-Area team all four years of high school and was state runner-up in 2007. Bechard said Kara could compete at a very high level as a setter.
“When you combine her quickness and physical presence and good delivery, you’ve got a young lady who has a chance to have a very good career in our league,” Bechard said.
Kara will be joined by her twin sister Amy, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, who holds her high school record in kills. Bechard said Amy was a big competitor.
“She can influence the match with her attacking skills and also make an impact with her backcourt skills,” he said. “She is a six-rotation player with a high volleyball IQ.”
Beal is a 6-foot middle blocker from Lee’s Summit, Mo. She won this year’s Evelyn Gates Award, which is awarded to the Kansas City area’s top female volleyball player. She is the No. 91 recruit according to PrepVolleyball.com.
Beal is an All-State First Team player and is the all-time kill leader for Lee’s Summit North High School. Bechard said he hoped Beal could play on both the right side and the middle, and said he thought Beal would add a lot to the Kansas roster.
“She has the potential to be an outstanding six-rotation contributor, impacting our program in a number of technical areas, and she competes with great enthusiasm and intensity,” Bechard said.
Allen, from Aurora High School in Aurora, Neb., is a top 250 recruit according to PrepVolleyball.com. Allen helped her high school earn a fourth place finish at the state tournament in 2008. Bechard said Allen would be helpful in replacing seniors Paige Mazour and Brittney Williams.
“She has good length, very good lateral quickness and she is capable of attacking in front of and behind the setter,” Bechard said. “She will also be a physical presence at the net defensively.”
Follow Zach Getz at twitter.com/zgetz.
— Edited by Amanda Thompson
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