TicketsJune 1, 2009
For the second year in a row, the University of Cincinnati volleyball team has its recruiting class ranked in the Top 30 in the country according to Prepvolleyball.com, the website released today. The group of middle blocker Jordanne Scott, middle blocker Emily Hayden, setter/right side Megan Turner, middle blocker Becca Refenes, and defensive specialist Karen Onuki give the Bearcats the No. 29 recruiting class for 2009.
Cincinnati is the only team in the BIG EAST and one of two teams in the state of Ohio to rank in the Top 30 of the 2009 top college recruiting classes.
"I believe this class is arguably one of the most athletic recruiting classes we've had at UC," said 10th-year head coach Reed Sunahara. "This group has the ability to make an immediate impact and will add a diverse set of skills to what we have returning."
Scott, Hayden, and Turner all rank in the Top 150 on Prepvolleyball.com's Senior Aces list, led by Scott and Hayden, who rank No. 61 and No. 74, respectively.
Scott comes to UC from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Ind., where she was the Marion County Player of the Year and a first-team all-Indiana selection during her senior season. At Lawrence North, Scott helped the Wildcats win back-to-back conference titles and played club volleyball for Indiana Volleyball Academy.
Hayden makes the short trip to Clifton from Louisville, Ky., where she helped Assumption High School to three state titles and a national championship in 2005. A Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association first-team all-state selection in 2008, Hayden also played club volleyball for a successful KIVA squad that captured AAU and USA Volleyball national championships.
A third-team all-New York recipient in 2008, Turner comes to Cincinnati from Ontario, N.Y., where she helped Wayne High School capture a league title, a regional crown and a Class A championship. A three-time Daily Messenger First-Team All-Star, Turner played club volleyball for VolleyFX.
Following in the footsteps of her sister Rachel, who played college volleyball at Ole Miss and Ball State, Becca Refenes comes to UC with a long list of accolades and accomplishments as a three-sport athlete at Lutheran Westland High School in Westland, Mich. In volleyball, Refenes was a three-time all-state, all-conference, and all-region player and also earned all-state honors in basketball and all-conference plaudits in track and field.
Onuki, who was a four-year letterwinner at Troy High School, was an all-Ohio selection during her senior campaign. Onuki was a four-time all-league selection, and captured first-team honors and North Division MVP accolades her junior and senior seasons. Additionally, Onuki played club volleyball for Team Atlantis.
The Bearcats open their 2009 season at the Utah Classic Aug. 28-29 in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by the University of Utah.