Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Volleyball Signs Three
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan volleyball team has signed three players to National Letters of Intent.
Megan Kern of La Grange, Ill., Allison Knoll of Grand Haven, and Jayla Wesley of Lansing will join the Chippewa program in 2016.
Kern, a libero/defensive specialist, was named in 2015 to prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces, a list of the top 250 players in the country.
She helped lead Lyons Township High School to regional championships in each of the past two seasons, and she was a member of Chicago-based 1st Alliance Volleyball Club that placed fifth at the AAU Nationals in 2014. In 2015, she helped 1st Alliance to a first-place finish in the AAU Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis.
"Meg is very fast, she fits into our program like a glove," CMU associate head coach Theresa Beeckman said. "Her character is off the charts and she's just a ball of energy. She's very versatile. It will take her a minute to get used to the speed of the serve and some of the attacks, but she's really going to bring so much to our program.
"She is just so committed to being a good person and player and that's pretty phenomenal."
Knoll, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker, was named to All-Ottawa-Ken Conference Red last season, when she helped Grand Haven advance to the Class A state semifinals.
"Ally has great size and work ethic," Beeckman said. "We're excited about her block and the improvement she's shown in becoming an even more versatile attacker, especially in going off one foot.
"She comes from a great high school program, so she's a Michigan kid and that's always a special thing for us. Ally works tremendously hard, she's a great teammate and she has a skill set that we're very excited about. Both academically and character-wise, she's off the charts."
Wesley is a 6-1 middle blocker who prepped at Walled Lake Central High School.
"Jayla is very athletic, a big get for us, and a great fit," Beeckman said. "From her first visit, she just fit in with our program and with the school perfectly.
"We feel very fortunate that she chose to become a Chippewa. On the court, she is dynamic, high-flying and adaptable. I think she is fast enough to run quick-tempo sets from anywhere on the court and her lateral speed is going to allow her to be a successful middle blocker in the MAC.
"She's a legitimate big-time player and we couldn't be happier to add her to our family, or more excited to see her develop."
 | Megan Kern • libero/defensive specialist • 5-6 • LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township HS High school: Named to prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces list of top 250 players in the country (2015) … Mizuno Sports Performance President's Day Challenge All-Tournament Team (2014) … member of regional championship teams in 2013 and 2014 … placed fifth on club team at AAU Nationals (2014) … member of first place team at the AAU Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis (2015) … member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society … named to honor roll all semesters at Lyons Township High School. | |
 | Allison Knoll • middle blocker • 6-3 • Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS High school: All-Ottawa-Kent Conference Red (2014) … helped lead Grand Haven High School to Class A state semifinals … Muskegon Chronicle All-Area (2014) … Dead Frog Far Out Volleyball Club most improved player (2013) and best team player (2014) … played club volleyball for Michigan Volleyball Academy under Coach May Veilstra. | |
 | Jayla Wesley • middle blocker • 6-1 • Lansing, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS High school: Oakland Press All-County honorable mention (2014 and 2015) … earned All-State honors in two events in track and field (2015) … Played for coach Kate Price in the Legacy Volleyball Club … recorded 478 career kills and 272 career blocks at Walled Lake Western. |
