Bulls Sign Four For 2010 Season
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – Head coach Todd Kress has announced the signing of four players who have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Bulls for the 2010 season. Joining UB will be Dani Reinert (Cincinnati, OH/Ursuline Academy), Kelly Svoboda (Cleveland, OH/Trinity), Christine Fritsche (Parma, OH/Padua) and Carissa McKenna (West Bloomfield, MI/Walled Lake Northern) .
Reinert is a setter from Cincinnati, OH and was named as the GGCL Player of the Year and District 16 Player of the Year as she led her team to a 26-0 record. She averaged 10.7 assists per game with 141 digs on the season, serving at a 90.4 percent mark. As a junior, Reinert was also named District 16 Player of the Year as she picked up first-team All-State and All-GGCL honors.
"Dani is a high-level setter and a proven winner on and off the court," said Kress. "She is going for a state title and undefeated season and we are excited for her to bring that winning mentality to Buffalo. I am very excited about her potential and watching her grow over the next four years."
Svoboda comes to UB from an excellent high school and club team and will expect to contend for the starting libero role right away. As the team's libero, Svoboda led the Cleveland Volleyball Club to the 2009 National Championship in the 17's National Division. Svoboda's club team has qualified for Nationals in each of the last three years. At Trinity High School, Svoboda played outside hitter where she recorded 326 kills and 609 digs on the year. For her career, she has 1,510 digs at Trinity. She has been Team MVP for each of the last three seasons and a four-year All-North Coast League Team member. Svoboda is also a two-year first-team All-Northeast District selection and has been on the honor roll for every semester during high school.
"I think that Kelly is one of the best liberos in the 2010 class," said Kress. "She has an outstanding work ethic and a great attitude. She expects great things from herself and her teammates and I believe that she can truly be a program changer here at Buffalo."
Fritsche, an outside hitter, is another player who has led her team to a club national championship, where she was named the tournament's most valuable player. In 2008, she led her high school to the Division 2 state championship, where she was named to the North Coast League All-Conference First Team. This season, Fritsche has helped lead her team to a 23-2 record, including a 12-0 mark in league play.
"Christine is a little bit undersized, but she is great athlete," said Kress. "She plays with a chip on her shoulder and is a very versatile player. She can run it quick to the outside, she can pass and she plays great defense. I love her attitude when she is on the court."
Unlike the first three players all from the state of Ohio, McKenna joins the Bulls from West Bloomfield, MI. McKenna has been a three-year varsity starter and this past season recorded 487 kills, 409 digs and 224 total blocks for Walled Lake Northern High School. She hit .320 on the season as she led her team to a Co-Division championship and for the third straight year a city championship. McKenna has also been an All-Tournament team selection at the Junior Olympics and was an All-American at Nationals.
"Carissa is another versatile kid who can play opposite or in the middle," said Kress. "She was kind of a late bloomer into the sport and I feel that her best volleyball is still ahead of her. I am excited to see her potential and she is going to be an impact player here."
The 2009 version of the Bulls continue their season tonight night as they head to Akron to face the Zips at 7:00 pm.
