Volleyball Signs Three To National Letters Of Intent

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team has added three very potent offensive weapons to its 2015 roster with the signing of Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove Ill./Kaneland), Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison Consolidated) and Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) to National Letters of Intent according to head coach Steve Shondell.

Dunn is a 6-foot outside hitter from Kaneland High School near Sugar Grove, Ill., Holland is a 6-foot-3 middle hitter from Madison Consolidated High School in Madison, Ind., and Goodsel is a 6-2 right side hitter from Corry Area High School in Corry, Pa. All three players will join the Cardinals for the 2015 season.

Dunn concluded her three-year playing career for coach Cynthia Violett at Kaneland High School as a three-time All-Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference selection. She led her team in kills in each of her three seasons, racking up 797 over her career, including 313 as a senior. A two-year team captain, Dunn also led the squad in digs in two seasons. Dunn capped her high school career by helping Kaneland earn a share of the conference title and post the most wins in a season (24) in program history.

“A year ago, Ellie was one of the best kept secrets in high school volleyball,” Shondell said. “But that quickly changed when she joined the Club Fusion VBC and took the nation by storm when the high-flying outside attacker was promoted to the nationally known Club Fusion 18-and-under team late during the spring. At the AAU junior nationals last summer in Orlando, Ellie became the talk of the tournament after helping lead the Fusion's 18 Black team to a ninth-place finish. Ellie has the tools to become an elite six rotation player in college. She is a do-it-all type player who has as much potential on the back line as she does playing high above the net.”

An American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) honorable mention all-American as a senior, Dunn was also a Prep Volleyball High Honorable Mention as a sophomore and a senior ace. She was also named to the all-area team for three consecutive years. Dunn's club accolades include leading the Kane County Juniors 18 Gold team to a 17th-place finish at USVA Nationals in 2013 and helping the Fusion 18 Black team to a ninth-place finish at the AAU Open in 2014.

Holland concluded her four-year playing career for coach Jeff Lawson at Madison Consolidated High School as a three-time First Team All-Hoosier Hills Conference honoree. She played a large role in helping her class finish their careers with the best winning-percentage (106-33 / .763) of any four-year graduating class in program history. In addition, her freshman team set the program record for single season wins (28), while her senior squad finished second (27). During her senior season, Holland smashed 400 kills, logged 177 total blocks and served up 51 aces.

“Emily burst onto the volleyball scene last year with a blockbuster season in her first year of high-level club volleyball at one of America's premier club programs in KIVA,” Shondell said. “A strong and physical middle attacker, Emily can attack the ball as well as any high school middle in the nation. As a blocker, she moves quick along the net and is extremely good at closing the block at both pins. As a high school player, Emily helped lead the Cubs to back-to-back 20 win seasons and is a two time all-state player.”

In addition to earning first team all-state honors on the court, Holland picked up first team academic all-state accolades for her work in the classroom as a senior. An Indiana All-Star Team selection as a junior, Holland earned second team all-state honors as a junior and was a four-year Varsity Kill Award winner and three-year Varsity Blocking Award winner at Madison Consolidated. Her club accolades include leading the KIVA 17 Red team to a third-place finish in the 17-open division at the JVA World Challenge, and a first-place finish at the in the 17-and-under division at the Mideast Power League in 2014.

Goodsel finished her four-year playing career for her father Kelly Goodsel at Corry Area High School by earning Under Armour First Team All-American honors as a senior. A two-time all-state selection, Goodsel led the Beavers to a 9-1 conference mark her senior year to help Corry Area finish first in the District 10 – Region 5 standings. She also finished her career as the program's all-time leader in kills at 1,505, including setting the program's single season mark in back-to-back seasons with 440 kills as a junior and 577 kills as a senior. Goodsel also logged 860 digs, 301 blocks and 168 service aces over her high school playing career.

“Brooklyn is coming off a storybook high school season, where she helped lead her team to the state semifinals,” Shondell said. “What makes Brooklyn extremely unique is her ability to play any front row position at a very high level. As an attacker, Brooklyn has one the best arm swings in America and has a wide variety of shots in her arsenal. She has a volleyball IQ that you almost have to watch her play to believe. Brooklyn is a fierce competitor and loves the heat of battle, which will bode well for her in college. Brooklyn was recently selected to the Under Armor High School All- America First Team and will compete in Under Armor High School All-American match being played in Oklahoma this December.”

Before looking forward to next season, however, the Ball State women's volleyball team must turn its attention to this week's MAC Tournament where it will enter as the No. 4 seed and have a first-round bye before playing the winner of No. 5 Western Michigan vs. No. 8 Buffalo. Ball State's first match in the tournament is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.

- BallStateSports.com -

Ball State University Athletics

Volleyball Signs Three To National Letters Of Intent

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