Volleyball Inks Four On Signing Day

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State volleyball team and head coach Christy Johnson announced Wednesday that four preps have signed to play for the Cyclones beginning in the fall of 2008.

Kelsey Petersen, a 6-1 outside hitter from Kearney, Neb., is the 60th ranked recruit according to PrepVolleyball.com and a four-year letterwinner at Kearney High School. Petersen, who PrepVolleyball.com calls a high flyer with a super fast arm and an excellent slide blocker, averaged 4.1 kills and 1.1 blocks for the Bearcats this season. She was an Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska honorable mention selection as a junior after averaging 4.38 kills and 1.86 digs. The 2007 awards are yet to be announced.

Petersen played club for NVA and her team earned a spot in the national tournament.

“Kelsey is what I would consider a prototypical Big 12 outside hitter,” said Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson. “She's tall, very athletic and has a great arm. I really believe she will develop into an exceptional Big 12 outside hitter. She's got the potential to be a terminator for us and I think she'll be the kind of hitter that can carry a big load and have some huge nights offensively.”

Debbie Stadick, a 6-3 middle blocker from Watertown, Wis., and member of PrepVolleyball.com's “250 Senior Aces” led Watertown High School to the Wisconsin Division I state title, racking up 20 kills and hitting .459 as the Goslings beat West Bend East in the championship match. In three matches in the tournament, Stadick had 73 kills and 17 total blocks to earn all-tournament team honors. In her senior season she had 513 kills and 173 blocks en route to earning first-team all-state honors for the second time in her career. She was also named the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference Player of the Year.

Stadick played five years for Club Breakout.

“Debbie is an incredible blocker that will help us continue our tradition of being one of the best blocking teams in the country,” said Johnson. “She's a bit of a late bloomer, but she has really come into her own in the last year and has developed into one of the best middle blockers in the Midwest. She has family in the area and is just a perfect fit for our program.”

The Cyclones also received a commitment to walk-on from Nebraskan's Carly Jenson and Caitlin Mahoney.

Jenson, a 5-11 outside hitter from Omaha, Neb., helped lead Millard North, the same high school that Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson attended, to a top-seed in the Class A Nebraska state tournament. The Mustangs fell in the semifinals despite 25 kills and four blocks from Jenson, who earned all-tournament team honors. On the season she had 401 kills and 63 service aces, while helping Millard North to a 33-3 record. She's earned all-state honors twice in her career with 2007 awards yet to be announced.

“Carly gives us some depth at the outside hitter position,” said Johnson. “I was very impressed with her play this past club season. She's a terrific athlete, jumps very well and is very explosive. I see her developing into a great all-around player who will be able to pass and play defense for us and terminate on the left side.”

Caitlin Mahoney, a 5-10 outside hitter that also hails from Omaha, Neb., had 390 kills and 330 digs while leading Marian High School to the semifinals of the Class A Nebraska state tournament. While Mahoney was at Marian, the Crusaders made the state tournament all four years. She led the state in service aces for three straight years, including a career-best 125 in 2007, and became the Class A record holder for aces in a match, season and career. At the state tournament last week, Mahoney earned all-tournament team honors after recording 32 kills in two matches. Mahoney is a two-time all-state honoree with the 2007 awards yet to be announced.

Mahoney and Jenson played club together in 2007 for Nebraska Elite.

“Caitlin is likely going to help us right away defensively,” said Johnson. “She's a great passer and defensive player who makes great reads and seems to always make things happen in the backcourt. She's also got a great jump serve that will help our serving stats. With Caitlin's addition we will continue to be one of the best defensive teams in the country.”

2007-08 Iowa State Volleyball Signees
Kelsey Petersen, 6-1, OH, Kearney, Neb. (Kearney)
Debbie Stadick, 6-3, MB, Watertown, Wis. (Watertown)
Carly Jenson, 5-11, OH, Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)
Caitlin Mahoney, 5-10, OH, Omaha, Neb. (Marian)

Iowa State University Athletics

Volleyball Inks Four On Signing Day

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