ITHACA, N.Y. –
Trudy Vande Berg, The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach Of Volleyball, has announced the incoming class of 2019, as
Alex Basler,
Shae Bauchens,
Natalie Danenhauer,
Lauren Donnelly,
Gabby Goodall,
Zoe Lequeux,
Kara Rogers, and
Carla Sganderlla will join the Big Red for the upcoming 2015 season.
"I am very excited about our 2015 class," said Vande Berg. "Each of these student-athletes will bring something to our program that will help us accomplish our goal of getting back to the top of the Ivy League. They are the definition of "student-athlete" and combined will have an incredible impact on Big Red volleyball."
Alex BaslerBasler was a three year starter at Libertyville high school, serving as team captain as a junior and senior. She helped her team to a pair of regional championships (2012, 2014), a pair of sectional championships (2012, 2014) and a pair of super sectional championships (2012, 2014). The squad posted a runner-up finish at the 2014 state championships after a fourth place finish at the 2012 championships. Basler was named to the 2014 all-star team. She also earned all-area, all-conference, all-county, and first-team all-state honors. Basler also played for the Balance Volleyball Club.
Coach Vande Berg on Basler: The first time I saw Alex block a ball I knew she would be great for Big Red volleyball. She is very competitive and is an emotional leader for her teams. She expends as much energy celebrating a great play by her team as she does playing. Alex fits perfectly with everything it takes to be a successful student-athlete at Cornell.
Shae BauchensA four-year letter winner and three year captain at Brooklyn high school, Bauchens was a three-time team MVP and was named first-team All-Pac four consecutive seasons. She was also a Gatorade Player of the year nominee as a senior. Bauchens competed for the Academy Volleyball Cleveland (AVC) club team, serving as team captain in 2014-15. She was named to the 2012 North Coast Power League All-Tournament team and was named the 2011 Midwest Power League All Tournament MVP.
Coach Vande Berg on Bauchens: Shae is competitive. Plain and simple. She loves volleyball and is constantly working to improve any way that she can. She makes ball control look easy with natural platform awareness and the ability to anticipate situations.
Natalie DanenhauerDanenhauer was a three year starter at St. Ursula Academy where she broke the school record for career aces and career digs. She helped her team to consecutive district championships in 2013 and 2014 and was awarded the team's Bulldog Award as a senior. Danenhauer was named honorable mention all-state and second-team all-district in 2014, while picking up a highest honorable mention Prep Volleyball Academic All-American accolade. She was a two-time second-team all-league selection and was named to the district Senior All-Star team in 2014. As a member of the NKYVC Danehauer served as team captain in 2013 and 2014 and helped the squad qualify for Junior Nationals four times. She participated in the JVA World Championships in 2013 and was named to the Tri-State Elite in 2015.
Coach Vande Berg on Danenhauer: It was easy to see what Natalie brings to her team. She is calm and collected while excelling at serve receive. She has the natural ability to track a serve early and has her platform out and ready to nail the pass. Her size (5-10) enables her to cover ground and her anticipation skills make it look easy.
Lauren DonnellyDonnelly was a four-year letter winner at Vanguard High School, helping the team to consecutive Florida Class 6A State Champions in 2012 and 2013 and a Florida Class 6A State Finalist performance in 2014. Following her senior season, she was named a finalist for the Prep Volleyball Andi Collins award, given to the best setter in the nation. Donnelly served as team captain as a junior and senior and was named the 2014 AVCA Florida 6A Region 2 Player of the Year. Donnelly was a three-time first-team all-county selection and was named the County Player of the Year in 2013. She was named the team MVP as a senior after setting school records for assists (1,157) and assists per game (11.5). Donnelly also played for the Ocala Power United Volleyball club team, serving as team captain for three consecutive seasons. She helped the team to three AAU National Championships, earning titles in the Club Division in 2012, the National Division in 2013 and the Premier Division in 2014. Donnelly was named to the USAV National Championships All-Tournament Team in 2013.
Coach Vande Berg on Donnelly: Lauren comes from a background of just plain old winning. Her high school team has won 3 of the last 4 Florida State Championships. Her club team has won national championships. She quietly gets things done and ensures the success of her team with her leadership and volleyball IQ.
Gabby GoodallA five-year letter winner at Cape Henry Collegiate School, Goodall was a three-time captain and three-time team MVP. Following her senior season, she was named a finalist for the Prep Volleyball Andi Collins award, given to the best setter in the nation. She was a three-time first-team TCIS all-conference selection and was named the TCIS Conference Player of the Year following her senior season. Goodall was also a three-time VISAA D1 All-State selection and a three-time first-team All-Tidewater selection. She helped her team to a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) DII State Champions in 2010 and 2011 and was named to the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) first-team all-tournament team four times. Goodall also played for the Coastal Virginia Volleyball Club, leading the 15s to a national runner-up finish at the AAU Junior National Championships, earning All-American accolades in the process. She was named team captain for the Coastal 15 Blue, Coastal 16 Blue and Coastal 17 Blue programs and was named the Best Setter after winning the team championships at the Capitol Hill Classicin 2013 and 2014.
Coach Vande Berg on Goodall: There is always a team that you love to watch when recruiting and for me that was Gabby's team. Gabby is their setter. They consistently took down the "big dogs" and Gabby was the one running the show. She sees the game very well and quickly figures out the weaknesses of the opposing team and goes after them relentlessly until her team wins.
Zoe LequeuxLequeux was a three-time letter winner at Cleveland high school, earning her team's offensive MVP award as a senior. She was named first-team all-league in 2014 after an honorable mention selection in 2013. Lequeux was also named a fifth-team Prep Volleyball Academic All-American in 2014. She helped her team to earn the 6A Academic All-State Award as the volleyball team with the highest GPA in Oregon. The team was also the 2014 Conference Champions 6A, the 2013 Conference Champions 5A, and the 2012 Co-Conference Champions 5A. Lequeux also lettered three times in track and once in tennis. She played for both the Oregon Junior Volleyball Association (OJVA) and the Athena Volleyball Club.
Coach Vande Berg on Lequeux: Zoe is a late addition to our 2015 class. She sent me an email early this year and I knew I needed to see her play in person as soon as I could. She is a physical player who loves the weight room. Zoe has the ability to play all three front row positions for us. She has a very high ceiling and I look forward to helping her reach it.
Kara RogersRogers earned three varsity letters at Saline high school, serving as team captain as a senior. She was a two-time all-state selection and was a three-time all-region and all-conference honoree. Rogers was also named a fifth-team Prep Volleyball Academic All-American in 2014. As a member of Legacy Volleyball Club, Rogers was named an AAU Academic All-American in 2014, and won an AAU National Championship in 2013. She helped her squad take fifth place at the 2014 Junior Olympics after a seventh place finish at the 2013 Junior Olympics.
Coach Vande Berg on Rogers: Kara plays for one of the top club teams in the country and has the ability to train every day against players that are going to the Big 10 and SEC. Her transition to the speed of the college game will be seamless but I believe that Kara has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential. Her quick arm-swing and big block will enable Kara to contribute at many positions for the Big Red.
Carla SganderllaSganderlla earned four varsity letters at St. Agnes Academy, serving as team captain her senior season. She was a four-time TAPPS 5A all-district selection, including three consecutive first-team honors from 2012-14, and was also a three-time TAPPS 5A all-state selection, including a first-team honor in 2012.Sganderlla was also named to the TAPPS 5A All-State all-tournament team in 2014. Following her senior season, she earned St. Agnes Academy's Tiger Pride Award, as well as the team's MVP award. She was also named highest honorable mention Prep Volleyball Academic All-American. Sganderlla played for the Houston Skyline Juniors club team and earned a second place finish at the 2013 Junior Nationals 16 American tournament. She was named to the all-tournament team at the 2013 Junior Nationals 17 American tournament and helped the club to a fifth place finish at the 2014 Junior Nationals 17 American tournament.
Coach Vande Berg on Sganderlla: Carla has a whip of an arm and can beat the block by moving around and hitting a fast tempo set. She attended camp last summer and just solidified her spot on our roster. She has endless potential and I'm excited to see where she goes.
