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Iowa State University Athletics
Volleyball Welcomes Five in 2022 Signing Day Class
11.10.2021 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball welcomed five newcomers to their program for the 2022 season during the November National Letter of Intent signing period, head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch announced Wednesday. ISU will welcome setter Morgan Brandt from Sumner, Iowa, outside hitter Maya Duckworth of Hurst, Texas, middle blocker Kelsey Perry of Frisco, Texas, outside/right side/setter Kiersten Schmitt of Epworth, Iowa and outside/right side hitter Lilly Wachholz of Waconia, Minnesota. Perry will be enrolling at Iowa State in January 2022, while the remainder of the class will join the team in the summer ahead of the Fall 2022 season.
"The signing class of 2022 is going to be very fun to watch," Johnson-Lynch said. "They are a great combination of talent, skill and winning mentality. There were so many challenges in recruiting a big class virtually, so huge props to Associate Head Coach Jen Malcom for keeping us on track and helping us form great relationships with this group. I also applaud these student-athletes for navigating a very tricky recruiting process, for taking their time, getting to know our coaches and players and trusting that Iowa State is the right place for each of them. I could not be more excited to work with and coach this group."
Morgan Brandt: S, Sumner, Iowa
Brandt, a 2020 Iowa Class 2A First Team All-State honoree, did a little bit of everything in her career at Sumner-Fredericksburg, including leading the Cougars to the State Tournament in 2020 as a junior. Playing as a back-row setter/front-row hitter across her high school career, Brandt racked up 1,669 assists, 921 digs, 855 kills, 190 service aces and 139 blocks. A four-time First Team All-Conference honoree, Brandt also earned Second Team All-State in basketball and Third-Team All-State in softball. She played her club volleyball for Six Pack Volleyball out of Cedar Falls.
"Morgan is a great athlete and a great setter," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's got quick feet and understands how to run an offense, absolute musts for a setter. She has really strong and smooth hands, I've seen her push a set to the outside from beyond the right sideline. Morgan comes from a wonderful Cyclone family and of course we love keeping our home-grown talent here. I am very excited about Morgan's potential to develop into a top collegiate setter. She, along with Jaden (Newsome) and Addi (Heidemann) will be an incredible group to lead our offense."
Welcome to Iowa State Morgan Brandt, a setter from Sumner, Iowa!#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/TN5pfPiizm
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 10, 2021
Maya Duckworth: OH, Hurst, Texas
Duckworth has compiled massive numbers across her high school career, a career which has seen her named a 2021 AVCA Girls High School Second Team All-American and to the AVCA All-Region 4 Team. Her four years with the Birdville Lady Hawks saw Duckworth amass 2,038 career kills (which she has gotten at a .301 hitting percentage), 1,797 digs, 236 blocks and 103 aces during her high school career. Her work has helped Birdville to plenty of success, reaching the Class 5A Regional Finals in 2018. A three-time Class 5A All-State honoree, she has also been an Academic All-District each high school season and has been a Team Captain the last two seasons. Duckworth plays club for MadFrog Volleyball, earning Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) All-National Team honors in 2020.
"Maya is a six-rotation outside who is very well trained and polished in every skill," Johnson-Lynch said. "What I first noticed about her was her passing and defensive play – her ability to handle the ball and pass to target is as good as the best liberos in the Class of 2022. She may seem undersized for a front-row player, but as soon as you see her jump and attack – you forget about her height. She can sky, she can terminate and she can do it from the front or back row."
Welcome to Iowa State Maya Duckworth, an outside hitter from Hurst, Texas!#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/or23hf3SAn
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 10, 2021
Kelsey Perry: MB, Frisco, Texas
A 2021 2021 AVCA Girls High School Honorable Mention All-American and another 2021 AVCA All-Region 4 Team member, Perry has only played varsity volleyball the last two years, but has made a massive impact for Reedy High School in that time. A 2020 First Team All-District and Class 5A-District 9 Blocker of the Year, Perry has 231 career kills and 157 blocks in only 163 career varsity sets played. She played her club volleyball first at Lonestar Volleyball Club in Frisco and now DriveNation Volleyball in Dallas. She has been to the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships Twice and was invited to the 2021 Under Armour All-America Camp, where she earned MVP honors.
"Kelsey is one of the tallest and longest players we've recruited," Johnson-Lynch said. "I believe she will be an absolute force in the Big 12 as a blocker – she takes up so much space and really intimidates hitters. Kelsey is not even close to her full potential yet, and plans to enroll this spring at Iowa State meaning she is going to be even more ready and confident this fall. She will do very well in our system – with her size and lateral speed, Kelsey will be an elite Big 12 middle blocker."
Welcome to Iowa State Kelsey Perry, a middle blocker from Frisco, Texas!#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/fWaQfeL4S8
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 10, 2021
Kiersten Schmitt: OH/RS/S, Epworth, Iowa
One of the state of Iowa's best athletes, Schmitt put up huge numbers as a senior en route to leading Beckman Catholic (Dyersville) to a pair of State Tournament appearances, including the quarterfinals last week. After playing as a back-row setter/front-row hitter in 2019 and 2020, Schmitt moved to a full-time hitting role and excelled, finishing third in Iowa across all classes with 593 kills. For her high school career, the All-State honoree posted 1,165 kills, 575 assists, 520 digs, 177 blocks and 60 aces. She also lettered for the Trail Blazers in softball and track and field, earning a trip to state in the high jump along with being a member of Beckman's school-record shuttle hurdle relay team. She plays club for Club Iowa Juniors, and was a member of the 2020 USA Volleyball A2 High Performance Team.
"Kiersten is going to be so much fun to work with and watch over the next few years," Johnson-Lynch noted. "She reminds me a ton of Alexis Conaway – an incredible athlete and competitor that can play multiple positions. She is very quick-twitch, strong and jumps out of the gym. Like many of our athletes, Kiersten has played multiple sports, and does a lot of things very well. Once she specializes in volleyball in college, she will really blossom while training as a six-rotation outside/right side."
Welcome to Iowa State Kiersten Schmitt, an OH/RS/S from Epworth, Iowa!#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/fzDnflH3il
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 10, 2021
Lilly Wachholz: OH/RS, Waconia, Minnesota
A 2021 AVCA Girls High School Second Team All-American and 2021 AVCA All-Region 7 Team member, Wachholz has become one of the top players in Minnesota, leading her Mayer Lutheran Crusaders to No. 1 in Class A heading into this week's State Tournament in St. Paul. Wachholz has amassed 1,028 kills, 306 digs and 232 blocks in her high school career, and is currently hitting .442 during her senior season and ranks in the top-15 of all of Minnesota for kills and blocks on the year. A two-time Class A First Team All-State honoree, she is also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, earning honorable mention all-conference. Wachholz plays her club volleyball for Vital Volleyball Club.
"Lilly is a very physical player, the type of player I just love to coach," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's got a big-time arm swing – simple, powerful and can attack on the left or right side. She is comparable to Eleanor Holthaus in terms of her build and athleticism. I am really excited to see Lilly's development as both a front row and back-row player. She has the potential to become a great six-rotation player who can terminate from anywhere on the court."
Welcome to Iowa State Lilly Wachholz, an OH/RS from Waconia, Minnesota!#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/V6r6WvRV7H
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 10, 2021
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