Volleyball Adds Seven for 2011
WILMORE, Ky. – Asbury volleyball head coach JP Rader has announced the signing of seven student-athletes for the 2011 season. The Eagles are coming off of a school-record 33-win season and their second KIAC Regular Season Championship.
Coach Rader announced the signings of outside hitters Sarah Sterling (Owensboro, Ky. / Owensboro Catholic) and Abbe Huffer (Indianapolis, Ind. / Heritage Christian), middle hitter Cat Starr (Lexington, Ky. / Lafayette), defensive specialists Maddie Lewis (Elizabethtown, Ky. / Central Hardin), Alyssa Downs (Pound Ridge, New York / Fox Lane) and Hannah Bracken (Johnson City, Tenn. / Science Hill) as well as setter Jessie Bartlow (Nampa, Idaho / Nampa Christian).
"We are very fortunate to have signed this strong a class of recruits on the heels of last year's outstanding group of freshmen,” said Coach JP Rader. “This group of players are athletic, have very good ball skills and get off the floor well. I am excited to see their contribution to our team in the coming year."
Sarah Sterling was named 3rd Region Player of the Year as a senior. She played three years under Brian Hardison, winning two district championships and one region championship in 2008. Sterling was an All-District Team selection as a junior and a senior as well as All-3rd Region Selection both years. As a senior she was named Honorable Mention All-State by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association. She also was a member of the track and field team and was an Academic All-State member all four years in high school.
Abbe Huffer was a two-year member of the Heritage Christian Eagles under Coach Michelle York. Huffer helped lead the Eagles to a 2A Regional and Sectional Championship in 2010, the school’s first sectional championship. She was second on the team with 244 kills and led the Eagles with 270 digs. Huffer was an All-City selection by the Indianapolis Star and was an Academic All-State Honorable Mention selection.
Cat Starr help lead the Lafayette Generals to a 27-15 record in 2010. Starr has been an All-City selection for the past three years playing under Coach Chris Langston. Lafayette was ranked preseason No. 13 by the KVCA and finished the season No. 19 after a loss in the first round of the district tournament. Starr will join former Lafayette teammate Mackenzie Burke at Asbury.
Maddie Lewis led Central Hardin to a 35-6 record, winning the 17th District and 5th Region Championships on their way to the KHSAA State Tournament. Lewis led the Bruins with 372 digs in 88 games as well as a team-high 63 service aces. Lewis was selected to the All-District and All-Region 1st Team from 2007 through 2010 and was a member of the 2010 All-State Team. She also played soccer for Central Hardin.
Alyssa Downs played three years for Coach Joel Stanford and the Fox Lane High School Foxes. Downs led the squad with 119 kills in only 26 games played. The Foxes finished 12-6 overall and atop the Section 1 Conference 3-B standings with an 8-1 mark. Downs was an All-Section and All-League selection in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was also a 2009 All-State selection as well as the HVVCA conference 3 Player of the Year in 2009. Downs was also a member of the lacrosse, track and field, basketball and softball teams at Fox Lane.
Hannah Bracken spent three years on varsity as part of the Science Hill Hill Topper program under the direction of Kim Hycutt. Bracken tallied 154 kills, 86 service aces, 223 digs and 23 blocks in 97 games as a senior. She was named Big 8 All-Conference in both 2009 and 2010. She was given the 2010 Senior Award for playing all four years at Science Hill. Downs was also on the wrestling and track teams. Bracken will be a second generation Asbury volleyball player, following in the footsteps of her mother Kellie (Rowe) Bracken who played from 1983-1987.
Jessie Bartlow spent three years under the guidance of Leslie Hughes and the Nampa Christian High School program. Bartlow was named 1st Team 2A Western Idaho All-Conference in both her junior and senior seasons. She was named All-Area by the Idaho Press-Tribune as well as Volleyball Athlete of the Year. She averaged seven assists per game and totaled 119 kills and a .228 hitting percentage leading the Trojans to the 2A Consolation State Tournament Title. She was also part of the basketball, softball and track teams at Nampa Christian.
