Montana State Head Coach Kyle Weindel
Photo by: Randy Sartin
Montana State Spikers Add Three High School Standouts to Program
11/17/2014 4:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“This class combines both skill and power,” Weindel said. “I like that we are adding skill position players and a physical presence in the middle. With numerous returning starters in 2015, I expect this class to battle and push the upperclassmen for playing time, which ultimately makes the program better on a daily basis.”
Fresh off back-to-back victories to close out its 2014 season, Montana State head volleyball coach Kyle Weindel announced the signing of three high school standouts to play for the Bobcats next fall.
Signing National Letters-of-Intent are Katie Ireland, a 5-10 setter from Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Natalie Passeck, a 5-11 outside hitter/libero from Parker, Colorado; and Marissa Quilici, a 6-3 middle blocker from El Dorado Hills, California.
"This class combines both skill and power," Weindel said. "I like that we are adding skill position players and a physical presence in the middle. With numerous returning starters in 2015, I expect this class to battle and push the upperclassmen for playing time, which ultimately makes the program better on a daily basis."
Ireland, who preps at Mountain Vista High School, is a three-year letterwinner with the Golden Eagles. During her tenure at MVHS, she has led her squad to a 69-26 overall mark. Ireland has dished out 643 assists this season, in addition to recording 236 digs and 99 kills as a senior. She is a two-time All-Continental League honoree and has led Mountain Vista to a pair of 5th place finishes at the Colorado State Tournament. Ireland is also a two-time captain for her Front Range club team.
"Katie comes to us after playing several years in Colorado's top club Front Range," Weindel said. "Front Range is known for training some of the best setters in the country. What I love about Katie the most is her ability to deliver a consistent killable set. She has set millions of balls in her career and with that has become very good at running an offense and being very comfortable leading her team."
Passeck is a four-year varsity starter at Chaparral High School and helped guide the Wolverines to 18-9 mark and a fifth place showing in Colorado 5A, this fall. She is a two-time all-tournament team selection; a Cheyanne Mountain Tournament team pick; a 2014 Regis Jam All-Tournament and MVP honoree; and a four-time All-Continental League choice. Passeck also garnered 2014 all-state accolades. She is a seven-year member of the Front Range Volleyball Club, which produced multiple medal winners in the USAVB Open Division.
"Natalie is a unique player at 5-11," Weindel said. "Not only will she be able to compete for a starting position as a left side, but she will also battle for playing time as a libero. Natalie also has played several years with Front Range Volleyball Club. She possesses an incredibly high volleyball IQ, which allows her to be very successful in two very different positions. Natalie is someone who always competes, and possesses incredible ball control skills. We will be looking for someone to anchor the passing duties with the departure of Kasey Schlatter."
Quilici is a two-year letterwinner at Oak Ridge High School where she was a Delta River All-League player. In her two-year stint with the Trojans, she has totaled 318 kills, 200 blocks and 23 aces. Quilici's team is currently tied for first in the Sierra Foothill League. In addition, she plays club ball for NCVC out of Sacramento, California. Her club team captured first place at the 2014 Chris Craft Tournament; was second in American Division at 2014 USA Junior National Championships; and 11th in the National Division at the 2013 USA Junior National Championships. An outstanding student, she is a three-year National Honor Society honoree.
"Marissa is no stranger to high level volleyball as she comes to us from the NCVC program," Weindel said. "Marissa is a very physical player and natural blocker. We will utilize her physicality and blocking abilities for years to come. She adds much needed depth to the middle blocking position and will have the ability to push the other middles, while making our pin attackers better with her formidable block."
2015 Montana State Recruiting Class:
Katie Ireland S 5-10 Fr Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS
Natalie Passeck OH 5-11 Fr Parker, CO/Chaparral HS
Marissa Quilici MB 6-3 Fr El Dorado Hills, CA/Oak Ridge HS
Signing National Letters-of-Intent are Katie Ireland, a 5-10 setter from Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Natalie Passeck, a 5-11 outside hitter/libero from Parker, Colorado; and Marissa Quilici, a 6-3 middle blocker from El Dorado Hills, California.
"This class combines both skill and power," Weindel said. "I like that we are adding skill position players and a physical presence in the middle. With numerous returning starters in 2015, I expect this class to battle and push the upperclassmen for playing time, which ultimately makes the program better on a daily basis."
Ireland, who preps at Mountain Vista High School, is a three-year letterwinner with the Golden Eagles. During her tenure at MVHS, she has led her squad to a 69-26 overall mark. Ireland has dished out 643 assists this season, in addition to recording 236 digs and 99 kills as a senior. She is a two-time All-Continental League honoree and has led Mountain Vista to a pair of 5th place finishes at the Colorado State Tournament. Ireland is also a two-time captain for her Front Range club team.
"Katie comes to us after playing several years in Colorado's top club Front Range," Weindel said. "Front Range is known for training some of the best setters in the country. What I love about Katie the most is her ability to deliver a consistent killable set. She has set millions of balls in her career and with that has become very good at running an offense and being very comfortable leading her team."
Passeck is a four-year varsity starter at Chaparral High School and helped guide the Wolverines to 18-9 mark and a fifth place showing in Colorado 5A, this fall. She is a two-time all-tournament team selection; a Cheyanne Mountain Tournament team pick; a 2014 Regis Jam All-Tournament and MVP honoree; and a four-time All-Continental League choice. Passeck also garnered 2014 all-state accolades. She is a seven-year member of the Front Range Volleyball Club, which produced multiple medal winners in the USAVB Open Division.
"Natalie is a unique player at 5-11," Weindel said. "Not only will she be able to compete for a starting position as a left side, but she will also battle for playing time as a libero. Natalie also has played several years with Front Range Volleyball Club. She possesses an incredibly high volleyball IQ, which allows her to be very successful in two very different positions. Natalie is someone who always competes, and possesses incredible ball control skills. We will be looking for someone to anchor the passing duties with the departure of Kasey Schlatter."
Quilici is a two-year letterwinner at Oak Ridge High School where she was a Delta River All-League player. In her two-year stint with the Trojans, she has totaled 318 kills, 200 blocks and 23 aces. Quilici's team is currently tied for first in the Sierra Foothill League. In addition, she plays club ball for NCVC out of Sacramento, California. Her club team captured first place at the 2014 Chris Craft Tournament; was second in American Division at 2014 USA Junior National Championships; and 11th in the National Division at the 2013 USA Junior National Championships. An outstanding student, she is a three-year National Honor Society honoree.
"Marissa is no stranger to high level volleyball as she comes to us from the NCVC program," Weindel said. "Marissa is a very physical player and natural blocker. We will utilize her physicality and blocking abilities for years to come. She adds much needed depth to the middle blocking position and will have the ability to push the other middles, while making our pin attackers better with her formidable block."
2015 Montana State Recruiting Class:
Katie Ireland S 5-10 Fr Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS
Natalie Passeck OH 5-11 Fr Parker, CO/Chaparral HS
Marissa Quilici MB 6-3 Fr El Dorado Hills, CA/Oak Ridge HS
Players Mentioned
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