Volleyball adds five players to its 2015 roster

Women's Volleyball | 6/1/2015 1:16:00 PM

ABILENE - Abilene Christian second-year head volleyball coach Jason Bibler Monday announced the additions of Mikai Brown, Lillian Drever, Gabrielle Grindele, Jennifer Mendez and Jacey Smith to his team's roster for the upcoming 2015 season.

This batch of recruits brings ACU's number of incoming student-athletes to eight as Kendall Bosse, Amy Pflughaupt and Lauren Walker all signed their National Letter of Intent last fall. The Wildcats also return the core of last year's roster led by seniors Jennie Loerch, Madison Hoover and Sarah Siemens in addition to juniors Lexi Mercier and Dorothy Swanson and sophomores Stephanie Schoelman and Corinne Grandcolas. 

"With eight freshmen coming in our biggest battle will be to get everyone on the same page," said Bibler. "It will be a big adjustment for everyone, but I think that with our seven returners leading the way we should be able to adapt and mold together really well as a team. 

"We'll have an extremely talented team," he continued, "and we're excited about getting them all into the gym together and seeing what they're capable of. 

"Mikai has great speed on defensive and athletically has the ability to play six rotations for us, while Lily possesses a tremendous work ethic and always goes hard. 

"Gabby has a strong and consistent platform and she'll push our serve receive passers to be better, and Jennifer has great play making ability - she is very consistent and steady in her back court play.  

"Jacey spent a lot of time playing middle in high school and club, so I think that's where she will spend some time early on; however, she is a great athlete who can score from any front row position, which will make her extremely beneficial."  

Profiles of each of this spring's signees are listed in alphabetical order.
 

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Mikai Brown (5-8 | OH | Longview, Texas / Spring Hill HS)
Brown played at both the outside hitter and defensive specialist positions, and her career stat line includes 268 kills, 279 digs and 68 aces. She also is a former Offensive Player of the Year at Spring Hill High School and recipient of an Academic All-State Award.

Her senior-year team went 24-2 this past season, making it all the way to the semifinals of the regional tournament.

Brown intends to major in nursing at ACU.
 

 

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Lillian Drever (5-3 | L | Copperas Cove, Texas / Copperas Cove HS)
A libero and defensive specialist at Copperas Cove High School, Drever collected 788 digs and 565 serve receptions during her four-year career to go along with 60 aces. And just this past season her team won the 2014 district, bi-district and area championships.

Away from the court, Drever serves as her school's senior class vice president and is a member of the National and Spanish National Honor Societies. She also is ranked among the top-10 percent of her class and is listed on the 'A' Honor Roll.

The Academic All-State honoree hopes to work in the medical field post graduation from ACU.
 

 

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Gabrielle Grindele (5-8 | DS | Rowlett, Texas / Rowlett HS)
Grindele was part of a team that won the 2014 district championship as she received second team all-district honors for her efforts as a defensive specialist. 

For her work in the classroom Grindele received Garland ISD's Academic Excellence award four consecutive years, and while at ACU she plans to study graphic design and advertising.
 

 

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Jennifer Mendez (5-8 | DS | New Braunfels, Texas / New Braunfels HS)
Mendez comes to ACU following three rewarding seasons at New Braunfels, which went 46-5 and was the state runner-up during her sophomore year of 2012. Her junior and senior-year teams were quite good as well, logging records of 37-12 and 33-13.

After her team won the 2014 District 25-6A Co-Championship, Mendez was named first team all-district and earned 'Game Ball' recognition from the San Antonio Express-News. In 2013 her team won the area championship and reached the regional quarterfinals. 

A 2014 Academic All-State honoree and member of the National Honor Society, Mendez plans to major in kinesiology at ACU with plans to become a physical therapist.

Mendez' career stats include 694 digs and 43 aces in 203 sets played.
 

 

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Jacey Smith (5-11 | MB | Wimberley, Texas / Wimberley HS)
Smith's career at Wimberley was nothing short of distinguished as she received the title of First Team All-District on three occasions in addition to being named District Newcomer and Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive years (2012, 2013) before winning MVP honors as a senior in 2014.

Smith also was honored by the TGCA with spots on its 2013 and 2014 All-State Team as well as its 2014 All-Star Team.

Additionally, Smith's teams advanced deep into the postseason with her 2012 squad reaching the area finals, while her 2013 and 2014 clubs made it to regionals.

A member of the National Honor Society, Smith is a three-time Academic All-District selection and 2014 Academic All-State honoree. She plans to study kinesiology and recreation and sports management at ACU.