Emory head volleyball coach Jenny McDowell has announced that the following student-athletes will be attending Emory in the fall of 2017 and be competing for the Eagles' program.
"This is an incredibly special group of young women," McDowell said. "They have excelled in the classroom, on the court and in the community. We believe they are going to be difference makers for us and we are excited to watch them put a stamp on our program."
Murphy Powell (OH, 6-0, Lexington, KY/Paul Laurence Dunbar HS) – Played two years of high school volleyball at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School … Kevin Guillaume and Katie Rose served as her prep coaches … Outstanding stint with the Lexington United Club program … Helped Lexington United to three third-place finishes at the UAA National Championships (2011, 2012, 2014) … Led her teams in hitting percentage, 2011-2016, and was tabbed as the MVP on three occasions (2013, 2015, 2016) … Erin Grupe served as her club coach … National Honor Society … German Honor Society … Math, Science and Technology AP Program.
Maggie Rimmel (MH, 6-0, Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon HS) – Four-year member of the volleyball program at Mount Lebanon High School … Three-year starter … Was a member of Mount Lebanon's Leadership Team … WPIAL AAAA Section 5 First Team All-Section on two occasions … Second Team All WPIAL AAAA as a junior and senior … Final campaign saw her earn Big 56 Conference First Team acclaim … As a sophomore, she helped the Blue Devils to a berth in the WPIAL AAA state semifinals … Also lettered in track and field while in high school … National Honor Society Member as a junior and senior … Recipient of Team Travel Source's (official housing partner of USA Volleyball) College Bound and Proud Scholarship … Earned the school's Scholar-Athlete Award all four years … High Honor Roll member … Played for the Renaissance Club Team under the guidance of coach Brian Begor … Club team earned a bid to the 2017 National Tournament in Dallas … Selected for the 2015 USA Girls' Youth National A2 Program.
Leah Saunders (RS, 5-8, Simpsonville, SC/St. Joseph's Catholic HS) – Four-year member of the volleyball program at St. Joseph's Catholic School where she played for head coach Jan Carino …Helped her team to three Class A and one Class AA state championships … No. 3-ranked player in the state of South Carolina … As a senior, she totaled 331 kills and hit .391 in leading her squad to a 29-9 record and a Class AA championship … All-region selection on three occasions … All-State honoree her junior and senior seasons … Chosen to play in the North-South All-Star Match … Plays club volleyball for Axis Elite where she is mentored by Sean Fitzgerald and Mike Whitten … Also played on the basketball team while at St. Joseph's.
Jessica Schwenke (OH, 5-11, Austin, TX/Westlake HS) – Played four years of volleyball for Westlake High School where she was coached by Al Bennett … Three-time letterwinner … Served as team co-captain as a senior … WHS compiled an overall record of 115-25 during her career and captured three district titles … Pounded out 217 kills and added 197 digs and 38 blocks her final season … As a senior, she helped her team to a Texas District 25 6A crown along with a berth in the Region IV quarterfinals ….First Team All-District honoree … 2016 Prep Volleyball Second Team Academic All-American … Academic All-District her final three seasons … 2016 TGCA Academic All-State … Received Westlake's 2016 Scholar Athlete Award … AP Scholar with Distinction … Member of the National Latin Honor Society (2013-17) … National Latin Exam Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal) in 2014 and 2015 and earned a Silver Medal in 2016 … Plays for the Austin Performance Volleyball Club program (2011-17), where she is coached by Tara Hatfield … Helped her AP 18 Asics squad to a second-place finish in the USA Division at 2017 junior nationals in Dallas.
Haley Stevenson (MH, 5-11, Libertyville, IL/Libertyville HS) – Four-year competitor for the volleyball program at Libertyville High School where she was coached by Greg Loika and Jenny Smith … Posted 150 kills and 125 total blocks her final season, helping her team to an overall record of 27-12, which included a berth in the Class 4A sectional finals … First Team All-Area … 2016-17 Academic All-Conference … Landed all-conference playing honors … Plays for the Rolling Thunder Club Team where she is coached by Spencer Kaszuba.
Logan van Reken (L/DS, 5-6, Las Vegas, NV/Faith Lutheran HS) – Four-year veteran of the Faith Lutheran High School volleyball program … Was coached by Amy Fisher … Served as team captain as a freshman, sophomore and senior … Member of three Division 1A state championship teams … Totaled 454 digs her final year of action … Helped her 2015 squad to a 30-11 won-lost record, including a first-place mark of 14-0 in the Sunset Conference … Earned first-team honors on conference and region teams … Division 1A Second Team All-State as a junior … Closed out her prep career with the school's top two seasonal marks in digs and service aces … Was a Nevada Academic All-State honoree twice … Was chosen as the team MVP her final campaign … Plays club volleyball for Nevada Junior 18's Black where she is coached by Jessica Acuna.
Finn Wilkins (MH, 6-2, Scottsdale, AZ/Desert Mountain HS) – Competed four years in volleyball at Desert Mountain High School … Was coached by Tammy Butler … Totaled 179 kills and 82 blocks her final season … Recorded a career mark of 172 blocks (119 solos) … Recipient of the school's Wolf Award, symbolic of an all-around good teammate who drives and supports their team … Two-year member of the AZ Desert Sky 18-Rise club program, where she is coached by Tammy Butler.