July 6, 2009

Women's Volleyball Welcomes Five Freshman This Fall

Head Coach Jennifer Weiss has recently announced the addition of five freshmen to the women's volleyball team in the fall of 2009.

Three of Harvard's five newcomers hail from California, while the other are natives of Illinois. The group includes two outsider hitters, a setter, a defensive specialist/outside hitter and a middle blocker.

The Crimson welcomes Ann Carroll (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Taylor Docter (Los Altos, Calif.), Beth Kinsella (Wheaton, Ill.), Jennifer Martin (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Olivia Staffon (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).

Harvard finished 10-16 overall and 5-9 in Ivy League play last fall and returns the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and two honorable mention All-Ivy League selections.

Ann Carroll/Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey/Middle blocker
Three-year starter at middle blocker ... Served as captain during senior year ... Earned all-conference and all-area in 2007 and 2008 ... Received honorable mention all-state honors in 2008 ... A 2008 Prep Volleyball Academic All-American second team selection ... High school team won district, conference and regional champions and was ranked 24th by PrepVolleyball.com ... Played for Sports Performance for three years ... Team finished third at AAU National Competition in Orlando, Fla. ... Illinois Scholar .. AP Scholar ... Eight semesters on Highest Honor Roll ... Graduated with highest honors ... Coached sixth grade volleyball team ... St. James School of Religion helper.

Taylor Docter/Los Altos, Calif./Castilleja School/Outside Hitter
Earned first-team all-league honors in 2007 and 2008 ... Named first-team All-Palo Alto News and honorable mention All-Mercury News in 2007-08 ... Earned all-tournament honors at the Mt. Madonna Tournament in 2007 ... Three-time Division 5 state finalist ... State champion in 2008 and league champion in 2005 ... National Merit Commendation ... Involved in student government ... All student body athletics coordinator in 2007-08 ... Volunteer assistant coach for middle school ... Volunteered for Saferide Organization .. Peer tutor ... Father, Eric played baseball at Ohio State ... Cousin, Anne Dugan plated basketball at Kenyon.

Beth Kinsella/Wheaton, Ill./Benet Academy/Setter
Three-year letterwinner in volleyball ... Missed senior season with injury ... All-conference selection as a sophomore and junior ... Named honorable mention all-area by Naperville Sun as a junior ... Earned all-tournament honors at Glenbard West Invitational ... Won East Suburban Catholic Conference and regional title as a junior ... Team was ranked 35th by PrepVolleyball.com ... Set school record for assists in a season and career assists in just three seasons ...  Illinois State Scholar ... National Merit Finalist .. Member of National Honor and German National Honor Societies ... AP Scholar ... Sister, Sarah graduated from Harvard in 2007.

Jennifer Martin/Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar/Outside Hitter
Three-time letterwinner in volleyball and two-year starter ... Served as captain during senior season ... Named most improved player in 2006 ... Earned all-league honors in 2007 and was second-team all-league selection in 2008 ... Three-time PCL champions and two-time CIF finalist ... Earned a spot on Academic Honor Roll as a freshman and sophomore ... Academic Lamp with Honors as a junior and Academic Lamp with Highest Honors as a senior.

Olivia Staffon/Laguna Niguel, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic/Defensive Specialist/Outside Hitter
Two-year member of high school varsity team ... Served as captain as a senior ... Also participated in track and field ... Earned all-tournament honors at the University High School tournament as a freshman and the Tesoro High School Tournament as a sophomore ... League and CIF Division 1AA Southern Section champions as a senior ... California Scholarship Federation ... National Honor Society ... Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS) Academic Award in AP biology, journalism and AP calculus BC .... Received the 2009 Bank of America Achievement Award in the field of communications (newspaper) ... SMCHS Academic Award as Eagle Gold Scholar, AP Scholar with Honors, Excellence in International Baccalaureate Certificate and Athlete Award in volleyball (9-12) and track and field (9) ... SMCHS Highest GPA Award ... Broadcasted school announcements on Eagle Television ... Member of Peer Court and Eagle Pack ... Involved with Boys and Girls Club ... Played for the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club.