Volleyball Signs Quartet For 2007

Jan. 9, 2007

Indianapolis, Ind. - Butler volleyball head coach Sharon Clark announced the signing of four high school players to national letters of intent on Tuesday (Jan. 9) during the early signing period. High school seniors Katie Daprile, Jalesa Lee, Holly Knight and Jessica Wolfe will attend Butler and play volleyball beginning in the fall of 2007.

Daprile, the sister of current Butler setter Dana Daprile, is a 5-10 outside hitter and defensive specialist from Center Grove High School in Indianapolis and is a member of the Circle City Volleyball Club. She led the Trojans with 368 digs in the regular season last year and tallied 145 kills, 36 service aces and 17 blocks. She helped her team to a No. 4 ranking in Class 4A in the 2006 state coaches' poll.

"Katie will be another exceptional addition to the Butler 2007 class," Clark said. "She comes from a volleyball background that has a tradition of winning and brings a fiery style of play with her which exudes that. She is exceptional ball handler and floor leader, and we look forward to her being part of the team."

Lee, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Indianapolis, earned Indianapolis Star All-South honors this past season after leading Perry Meridian High School in both kills and blocks. A true middle blocker who can reach over 10 feet on a jump, she plays travel ball with the Circle City Volleyball club team and competed at the USAV Nationals Team in Atlanta this past summer. This spring, she will play for the Circle City 18 Purple Team.

"Jalesa has a tremendous work ethic, and she loves to be in the gym preparing herself for the next level," Clark commented. "She is a great blocker with a dynamic and explosive jump, and, with added strength, she will become one of the premier middle blockers in the Horizon League."

Knight, a 6-0 middle blocker from Marietta, Ga., was named to the all-state team after helping Harrison High School to the 2006 state championship. She set the state record for single-match attack percentage her junior year against Grayson, registering 12 kills on 12 attempts with no errors. A member of the A5 Volleyball Club, she was selected to play in the 2006 Senior All Star Match.

"What impressed us most about Holly is her versatility," Clark said. "She can hit both on the outside and the middle with a great arm swing, and she will fit right into what our needs will be in the next four years. She is a great athlete and was excited to come in early to get started, so she should have a very comfortable freshman campaign."

A highly touted 6-foot outside hitter from Plainfield, Ind., Wolfe is considered one of the top 150 recruits in the country according to prepvolleyball.com, the nation's leading juniors volleyball website. The Plainfield High School graduate was recently named Indianapolis Star All-West Player of the Year and First-Team All-West. She was a member of the Circle City Purple Team that finished fifth in the nation at the USAV Junior National Championship. A multi-talented athlete, she also garnered ICGSA All-State basketball honors last season and was one of the top basketball prospects in the state.

"Jessie has grown so much in the last year, and she has the potential to be one of the best outside hitters in the Butler history," Clark said. "She is a very athletic and physical player with great work ethic who will have an immediate impact on our program."

"We are very excited to have three great young women with great determination and experience in our program," Clark added. "Each of our recruits is a great competitor and will be an impact player at Butler."