Lady Badgers volleyball team

ready to play after losing six

players, but gaining seven

 

By Lyle Fletcher

Staff writer

Nov. 30, 2017

 

EPHRAIM—Jeff Reynolds, head coach of Snow College women’s volleyball, announced last week that seven new players have committed to play volleyball for the Badgers in 2018.

The announcement comes on the heels of the women’s volleyball team at Snow enjoying one of the best seasons ever, which included the Badgers’ first conference championship in 31 years.

The Snow College press release enumerates the six players leaving, along with the seven being added.

Four players will graduate: Riley Lyman, the 2017 Region XVIII Player of the Year; Kelsie Evans, first-team All-Region performer; Thea Leiataua, second-team All-Region standout; and two-year starter Rebecca Bigler.

Two players have announced their intentions to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the 2017-18 school year: Freshman All-Region honorable mention libero Brielle Fowler, along with defensive specialist Hannah Lee.

Reynolds commented on recruiting to replace the six leaving: “It’s no easy task to replace these six outstanding players, but with the players we have coming back, in addition to the players who have committed for the 2018 season, we will be in pretty good shape.”

The seven players joining the Badgers include six players from Utah and one player from Idaho, some of whom played on state championship volleyball teams:

Belle Anderson (6-2, Right Side/Middle) is a four-year varsity player at Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho. She was named team captain as a senior and earned top offensive player honors.

Ashlen Bell (6-3 • Outside/Middle) led Northridge High School in South Weber in kills as a senior and earned All-State honorable mention honors. She ranked fourth in the state in overall hitting percentage and was named the Northridge High School team MVP.

Taela Laufiso (6-0 • Setter/Opposite) helped lead Copper Hills High School in West Jordan to its first-ever Region III Championship and was named 6A Deseret News All-State.

Andreanna Mckee (6-1 • Outside) helped lead Box Elder High School in Brigham City to the 2017 5A state championship and was a 2017 KSL first-team All-State selection.

Marcie Stapley (5-11• Middle) helped lead Morgan High School in Morgan, Utah, to three-straight 3A state championships and was a Deseret News first-team All-State selection. She led the state of Utah in hitting percentage as a senior and earned Utah Volleyball Coaches Association first-team All-State honors.

Bridget Triplett (6-2 • Middle) earned Deseret News All-State honorable mention honors as a senior at Weber High School in Huntsville. She was named to the Utah Volleyball Coaches Association Third Team.

Hunter Vernon (5-10 • Outside) helped lead North Summit High School in Coalville to back-to-back 2A State Championships as a junior and senior and was named the 2A MVP by the Utah Volleyball Coaches Association. She earned 2017 Deseret News 2A MVP honors.

Reynolds said, “We are excited that so many top-level players have made the decision to play for Snow College. We are grateful for their commitment and believe their contributions will go a long way to help us keep things rolling in 2018.”

He added Snow is “still looking at bringing in a couple more players to fill specific needs.”