Akin, Jones, Merten and Russell Commit to Marquette
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2007
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University volleyball team announces the signing of Laira Akin, Ciara Jones, Holly Mertens and Tiara Russell to a National Letter of Intent. Akin will join the squad beginning in January 2008 and play in the spring season, while Jones, Mertens and Russell will play for the 2008 season.
Akin is a setter from Kansas City, Mo. and a four-year letterwinner at Oakwood Academy, She played Junior Olympic Volleyball for eight years and competed in five consecutive USAV Girls Junior National Tournaments. Akin earned four All-American honors at the Homeschool National Tournament and was a four-time regional champion. As a senior Akin helped her team to a 43-1 record, winning the Missouri State Championship in 2007.
"We're really excited about Laira Akin joining the team," head coach Pati Rolf said. "Besides the fact that her size will be a big assest for us in the BIG EAST, and across the country, we have plans to play the 5-1 offense with her. I feel Laira will get the opportunity to start for us. She brings a lot of experience to our team."
Jones is an outside hitter from Orlando Fla. where she earned four letters playing at Edgewater High School. She was a First Team All-Metro district runner-up for Orange County. As a senior, Jones posted 297 kills, 71 digs and 35 blocks helping her team to the regional state semifinals in 2007. Jones comes from a strong athletic family background. Her father played football at Eastern Kentucky and had a successful career in the NFL, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins over a nine-year career. Her older brother Aaron played football at Florida State and Eastern Kentucky.
"Ciara Jones is from a great sports family, they are good friends with the Rivers' family and I think that will all work together to have a great reputation for Marquette. She knows what Marquette is about," Rolf said. "Ciara has tremendous playing ability and playing experience, also playing at the Orlando Volleyball Club. She will be a starter for us in 2008. She is a hard worker, but likes to have fun and get along with her teammates."
Mertens is an outside/middle hitter from Stanley, Wis. who played volleyball at Stanley-Boyd High School. As a senior, Mertens was a First Team All-Conference selection, First Team All-County and First Team All-State. Mertens was named the Chippewa County Player of the Year in 2007 where she helped her squad to a conference and regional championship. As a junior, her team was the D3 Wisconsin State Champions.
"Holly is just a great athlete, who has a huge ability to leap. She'll see some playing time in her first year," said Rolf. "She is completely unselfish, and plays for her team. She is a good person and great student; a typical Marquette kid that we want to have on our team."
Russell is an outside hitter who played at Osseo Senior High School in Brainerd, Minn., where she was a three-year letterwinner. Russell was an All-Conference selection and a Channel 12 All-Area team selection in 2006 and 2007. She posted 81 total blocks in 2007, ranking 26th in the state. She also tallied 119 kills on the season.
"Tiara Russell is a great athlete out of Minnesota. I saw her jump and block and about fell out of my chair, I was impressed," Rolf said. "She is a developmental player with a lot of potential. She will be a serious player over her four years. She has a great ability to jump."
"The assistant coaches over the last two years, Erin Freer, Erica Heisser and Todd Nelson have done a tremendous job in bringing these recruits. They showed them what our Marquette family was about. Heisser has done a great job showing these kids what we are about and what we bring as a family," Rolf said.
