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Volleyball Adds Seven For 2014
5/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - First-year head coach Reed Sunahara has announced the addition of seven players who will be joining the Bulls for the 2014 season. This class will mark Sunahara's first recruiting class at UB.
"I'm excited to announce the incoming class of 2014," said Sunahara. "This is our first recruiting class as a coaching staff and I believe their contributions will help take UB Volleyball to the next level. They will be a great complement to the already strong core we have here."
Skylar Cavazos
Outside Hitter
Minooka, IL
Minooka High School
Sports Performance Volleyball Club
Cavazos has been a three-year varsity starter at Minooka High School and she has been an All-Conference player in each of those three years. She has also been named the Morris Daily Herald Player of the Year twice and a Chicago Tribune Top 50 player. Cavazos has set Minooka High School and Southwest Prairie Conference records for kills in a single season and has won numerous all-tournament awards in her career.
"Skylar will add great ball control and can make an impact as an offensive threat," said Sunahara. "She is a very dynamic player who will compete for a starting position. Coming from one of the premier clubs in the country, she knows what it takes to compete at the highest level."
Hannah Varley
Middle Blocker
Plainwell, MI
Plainwell High School
DFFO Volleyball Club
Varley has been a four-year varsity starter at Plainwell High School where she has been an Allegheny County All-Area selection each of her four years. Varley has been named All-Conference each of the last two seasons and was named an All-Region selection following her senior year. Varley has also participated in numerous USA Volleyball High Performance Events.
"Hannah will add size to our front line and compete for a spot as a middle blocker and right side," said Sunahara. "After watching her play during the club season, she will add to the culture we are trying to build in the gym with her positive attitude."
Nakita Bozinoski
Defensive Specialist
Burlington, Ontario
Abbey Park High School
Defensa Volleyball Club
Bozinoski comes to UB with a distinguished club and beach volleyball resume. Most recently, she led her team to a High School Provincial Championship with a perfect 35-0 record. It was the second straight year that her high school had won a Provincial Championship. On the club circuit, Bozinoski won an 18U Canadian National Championship in 2013 after finishing as runners up in 2012. Bozinoski was named the Canadian National All-Star Libero that year. In 2011, her club won a 16U Canadian National Championship.
"After losing the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season, Niki will be an ideal candidate to lead our defense," said Sunahara. "With her club and beach experience, she has a great feel for the game and very good ball control. She plays with intensity and has good court awareness."
Marissa Prinzbach
Setter
Cincinnati, OH
Mother of Mercy
UConn
Prinzbach transfers to Buffalo from the University of Connecticut and she will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2014. Prinzbach was the starting setter for the Huskies last year and she had 1,221 assists in 33 matches, averaging 9.69 assists per set. She finished the year with 48 kills, 22 aces, 58 blocks and 261 digs, recording nine double-doubles on the year. Prinzbach started 23 matches as a freshman in 2012, finishing with 874 assists. She was four-year letterwinner in high school at Mother of Mercy and was named to the All-Girl's Greater Cincinnati League First Team in 2011.
"Marissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience at the Division I level, as a two-year starting setter," said Sunahara. "She has an opportunity to lead our offense and help UB compete for a MAC Championship. We are looking forward to the leadership that she will provide for the team."
Cassandra Shado
Middle Blocker
Indianapolis, IN
Park Tudor High School
Indy Juniors Volleyball Club - 18 Phusion
Shado has been a standout at Park Tudor High School where she was named to the ICC All-Conference team during her senior season. She hit .213 on the year while recording 173 total kills and 98 total blocks. Shado is on the 2014 JVA 18s Watch List.
"Cassie is an athletic middle blocker with a lot of potential, who comes from a volleyball family," said Sunahara. "As a defensive force at the net, she will provide depth to our middle blocking position. We are looking forward to seeing her develop through out her career."
Danielle Marotto
Defensive Specialist
Lancaster, NY
Lancaster High School/UMass - Boston
Buffalo Volleyball Academy
Spent two seasons at UMass - Boston before returning back to Western New York. Marotto was sidelined by a knee injury in 2012, but saw action in seven matches during 2013. She had a season best 10 digs against Clark University. Following the season, Marotto was named to the Little East Fall All-Academic Team. At Lancaster High School, Marotto was named the Defensive Player of the Year and a Division I All-Star.
"Danni, a Buffalo native, will be returning to her home town after two years at UMass Boston," said Sunahara. "She will add much needed depth on the defensive side of the ball, and will set the tone in our gym with her high energy and work ethic."
Tessa Ooyama
Defensive Specialist
Fairport, NY
Fairport High School
VolleyFX Volleyball Club
Ooyama was a four-year varsity player at Fairport High School and played her club volleyball for Rob Werkmeister and Lindsey Schlegel at VolleyFX. Ooyama was a 2012 Monroe County All-League First Team selection and an All-Greater Rochester honoree. She has also been a four-year scholar-athlete. Ooyama served as her team captain in both 2012 and 2013 and is on the 2014 JVA 18s Watch List.
"We are excited to have Tessa join the Bulls' family," said Sunahara. "She played for VolleyFX, one of the best clubs in Western New York, where defensive intensity is preached. This attitude, along with her character, will help her find success both on and off the court at the next level."
These seven newcomers will join a core of seven players who return for the Bulls from the 2013 season.
