LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's volleyball program has added six talented players to its 2015 roster. Five will come in as true freshmen while one is a transfer. The announcement was made Tuesday by head coach Ricci Luyties.
The incoming class includes outside hitter Molly Dalziel (Lafayette/Acalanes HS), libero Kayla Evans (San Diego/Del Norte HS), middle blocker Jacqui Kientzler (Tucson, Ariz./Valley Vista HS), outside/opposite hitter Morgan Kissick (Temecula/Great Oak HS), setter Madelaine Mahone (Murrieta/Murrieta HS) and outside/opposite hitter Shaelyn Perez (Temecula/Irvine Valley College).
"I'm very excited about the incoming class, they will immediately add a new level of competition within our team," said Luyties, who completed his fifth season as head coach in 2014. "In August we'll see which ones will rise to the top of the class, but I expect some will be getting playing time right away and have big roles while integrating with our strong core of returning players."
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Molly Dalziel
5-9 • Outside Hitter
Lafayette, Calif. • Acalanes High School
• Two-time All-Diablo-Foothill League First Team selection
• Two-year team captain
• Team MVP as a senior and Best Defensive Player as a junior
• Acalanes advanced to semifinals of 2014 North Coast Section tournament
• Four-time CIF Scholar-Athlete
• California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Member
• Qualified for Junior Nationals twice with Xceleration Volleyball Club
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Kayla Evans
5-10 • Libero
San Diego • Del Norte High School
• First Team All-Valley League as a senior
• Selected for San Diego Senior All-Star game
• Won Varsity Leadership Award as a senior
• Two-time all-league second team pick
• Varsity MVP as a junior
• As a sophomore, Del Norte advanced to state semifinals
• Placed third at 2012 Junior Nationals, named to all-tournament team
• Junior varsity MVP as a freshman
• Also played four years of varsity basketball
• Maintained a 4.0 grade point average
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Jacqui Kientzler
6-2 • Middle Blocker
Tucson, Ariz. • Valley Vista High School
• Three-year varsity player
• Team captain as a senior
• Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Division 1 All-Section Second Team as a senior
• Two-time all-tournament pick at White Tanks Tournament
• Four-year AIA Scholar-Athlete
• 2015 AIA Scholar-Athlete of the Year finalist
• Four-year Valedictorian
• A National Merit commended student
• Played club with High Altitude Thunder, Ultimate, Verrado and Surprise Academy
• Set two school records as a four-year varsity track and field athlete
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Morgan Kissick
5-11 • Outside Hitter/Opposite Hitter
Temecula, Calif. • Great Oak High School
• Four-year varsity starter for GOHS
• First Team All-Southwestern League
• Team MVP
• GOHS Female Athlete of the Year
• CIF SS Division 1-AA semifinalist in 2013 and 2014
• Wolfpack won league championships in 2013 and 2014
• Also played basketball and softball
• A four-year Scholar-Athlete
• Played club for Forza1 and Temecula Viper
• Won bronze medal at 2014 Junior Nationals
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Madelaine Mahone
5-11 • Setter
Murrieta, Calif. • Murrieta High School
• Played four years of varsity at MHS
• Team MVP as a sophomore
• A four-year Scholar-Athlete
• California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Member
• Played club for Goldenwest and Club West
• Captained Goldenwest in 2015
• Prep Volleyball's "Most Offensive Setter" at 2014 Junior Nationals
• Goldenwest finished 13th nationally in 2013
• Club West won every qualifier and mandatory in 2012, placing seventh nationally
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Shaelyn Perez
5-8 • Outside Hitter/Opposite Hitter
Temecula, Calif. • Irvine Valley College/Great Oak High School
• Played 2013 and 2014 seasons at Irvine Valley College
• Helped IVC go 27-0 and win its first-ever state championship in 2014
• Lasers won Orange Empire Conference titles both seasons
• Won sand state championships in 2014 and 2015
• A two-time Scholar-Athlete at IVC
• Second Team All-Southwestern League at GOHS in 2013
• Four-time Scholar-Athlete at GOHS
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UCSD finished its 2014 campaign with a 14-12 overall record. The Tritons went 12-10 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matches, tying for sixth place in the 12-team league. They were ranked as high as 11th in the country.
UC San Diego's 2015 campaign kicks off with a tournament hosted by Point Loma on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.
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