HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's volleyball program has a longstanding tradition of excellence, as shown by their 13 straight Landmark Conference Championships, 39 straight conference championships overall, and 39 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. They are also one of only two teams to appear in every AVCA national poll since its inception in 1992.
Head Coach Heather Pavlik and Associate Head Coach Casey Dale welcome seven incoming student-athletes to the team for the 2020 season.
Kristin Bishop (Ennis, Texas/Scurry-Rosser HS)
Positions: Outside Hitter/Opposite
Club Team: Skyline Juniors
Bishop was a four-year letter winner at Scurry-Rosser during her career. Her freshman season saw her take home the District Newcomer of the Year award. Her sophomore season, she was named First-Team All-District. As a junior, she was District MVP and THSWA Second Team All-State at outside hitter. Her final season saw her again named District MVP, TGCIA First Team All-State, TGCIA Academic All-State, and THSWA Second Team All-State. The team won three District and three Bi-District Championships during her career. Bishop was a team captain her final two seasons.
During her club career, she was a team captain for two years. In 2016, she was in the top five for most kills in the entire club and was an AAU Academic All-American.
"Kristin's terminating skills at the net are the first thing that you notice about her game, but she has a nice balanced game as well," said Pavlik. "She has solid passing and defensive skills to go with the offense. She a great team player with a quietly competitive demeanor, and we very much looking forward to watching her develop in our gym."
Kennedy Christy (Saxonburg, Pennsylvania/Knoch HS)
Positions: Libero/Outside Hitter
Club Team: Renaissance VBC
Christy lettered all four years during her career at Knoch HS. She was named to the WPIAL 3A Section All-Star First Team, the All WPIAL All-Star Second Team, and made the PIAA 3A, All-State First Team, during her sophomore year. In each of her final two seasons, she was to the WPIAL 3A Section All-Star 1st Team, the 3A All-Star First Team, and to the PIAA 3A All-State First Team. After her junior season, she was named WPIAL 3A Player of the Year and Butler Eagle Co-Player of the Year. Her team won the WPIAL 3A Championship each of her final three seasons.
"Kennedy's ball control skills will elevate our training gym immediately," said Pavlik. "She is a wonderful passer and defender but also hits the ball very well. This balanced game will give her opportunities to compete in multiple positions. She is a great competitor who will bring a relaxed intensity to the team. She has good experience playing with and against top-level competition."
Olivia Foley (Coldwater, Michigan/Coldwater HS)
Position: Setter
Club Team: Team Pineapple VBC
Foley stayed busy while at Coldwater HS as she was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, along with earning three letters in basketball and Track and Field. She also played two years of varsity soccer.
She was the Most Valuable Player in each of her final two seasons. She made the All-Conference Individual Team and the Branch County Dream Team in her junior and senior seasons. Her team won the Interstate 8 Conference Championship in her sophomore and junior seasons. She is third all-time in school history in digs and assists. She is second all-time in school history in career serving percentage.
"Olivia is a wonderful setter who is efficient and consistent in getting the ball to either pin," said Pavlik. "She also does a nice job of connecting with her middle hitters effectively. Olivia serves the ball well and is a tough and hard-nosed defensive player. She is calm and cool on the court while being a consummate competitor, and we cannot wait to get her into our gym and watch her flourish."
Sophia Parlati (New Bloomfield Pennsylvania/Cedar Cliff HS)
Positions: Middle Hitter/Opposite
Club Team: Spooky Nook VBC
Parlati is a four-year competitor and two-year letter winner in varsity volleyball, her first three years at West Perry HS, and her final year at Cedar Cliff HS. She was named a First-Team All-Star in 2018 at West Perry. She was also a two-year basketball athlete early in her high school career. She has played for Spooky Nook Volleyball club for the last two years.
"Sophia is a really good athlete who is barely scratching the surface of her abilities," said Pavlik. "She moves well and is a quick and explosive jumper. She has a relaxed and fun demeanor, which will be a very nice element within our group. We are excited to begin working with her to develop all of her natural abilities to their fullest."
Maddy Eby (Ephrata, Pennsylvania/Ephrata)
Position: Defensive Specialist
Club Team: Central Pennsylvania VBC
Eby was a three-year letter winner during her career at Ephrata. During her sophomore season, she was Ephrata Co-Defensive Player of the Year. During her junior campaign, she was Defensive Player of the Year, Team MVP, and broke the Ephrata HS single-season dig record (655). She was also an LL-League First team All-Star at libero. During her final season, she again won Defensive Player of the Year, Team MVP, again broke the single-season dig record (689), was named to the LL-League First Team All-Star at Libero and was an LL-League Academic All-Star. She also made the PVCA District 3 All-District Third team at Libero. She was a team captain in her final two seasons.
"Maddy is a hard-working and passionate defensive player," said Pavlik. "She has quick feet and can cover quite a bit of court defensively and is a good passer as well. She is a wonderful teammate who will help the people around her reach their potential as she works to reach hers. We are really looking forward to watching her develop in our gym."
Jenna Nymick (South Park, Pennsylvania/ South Park HS)
Positions: Middle Hitter
Club Team: Pittsburgh Elite VBC
Nymick was a three-year letter winner while at South Park HS. She made the WPIAL Section All-Star team as a junior and as a senior. She was named Offensive Player of the Year her final season. She was also the team captain as a senior.
"Jenna has great size and length for the middle position," said Pavlik. "She is a cerebral middle hitter who has the ability to process information quickly. She has played with and against good players in her club experience over the past four years. She is a quiet competitor and a really good teammate who we are excited to see compete in our gym."
Lilli Harding (Apollo, Pennsylvania/Kiski Area HS)
Positions: Opposite/Outside Hitter
Club Team: Pittsburgh Elite VBC
Harding earned three varsity letters during her time at Kiski Area HS. Her freshman year, she was a Class 3A Section 1 Second Team All-Star. At the end of her sophomore campaign, she was named a Class 3A Section 1 First Team All-Star and a BIG 56 Third Team All-Star. During her junior year, she was a Class 3A Section 1 First Team All-Star and a District 7 WPIAL Third Team All-Star. She also received High Honors all four years of high school.
"Lilli is a quick and athletic player who can play multiple positions," said Pavlik. "She has been working very hard on her passing and defensive skills while she has been recovering from an injury during the last year. Lilli has a fun personality that will mesh nicely with the rest of the group. We are excited to watch her develop her skills at a couple of different possible positions."
