Nov. 29, 2005
CLEVELAND - On the heels of its best regular season in more than two decades, the Cleveland State volleyball team has netted some of the top talent in Ohio, signing five of the state's top players during the early signing period. Head coach Chuck Voss made the announcement on Tuesday.
Natalie Bauer (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne HS), Maggie Bonomini (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton), Beth Greulich (Troy, Ohio/Troy HS), Kayla Lefeld (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry) and Courtney Ripley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley HS) have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Cleveland State and will play volleyball beginning in the fall of 2006.
"This is the most athletic group we've ever signed," Voss said. "This is a very important class because we are losing six seniors from this year's team. I was looking for players with good ball control and the ability to terminate offensively and I think we were able to more than meet our needs with these five outstanding athletes."
Bauer was a first team all-area selection this fall. A 5-8 setter/outside hitter, she dished out 315 assists, while recording 92 kills and 122 digs. A member of the National Honors Society, she was a two-time scholar-athlete award recipient.
Bonomini helped lead her team to the 2005 Ohio Division I state title and a 24-5 record after earning a berth in the state semifinals her junior season. A 5-4 defensive specialist, she tallied 181 digs and 15 aces in 2005.
Greulich was a two-time first team all-league selection at middle hitter and the team's most valuable player her junior and senior seasons. A 6-0 middle hitter, she hit .625 with 276 kills and 198 digs in 2005.
A first team All-Ohio selection, Lefeld was the district and conference player of the year after leading the team to a 17-5 record and the conference title. A 5-8 outside hitter, she posted 281 kills, 166 digs and 131 aces as a senior.
Ripley, a two-time first team All-Ohio pick, was the 2005 district player of the year and a three-time all-district and all-conference honoree. A 5-9 outside/middle hitter, she holds the school records for kills in a match (29), season (369) and career (902), as well as the season mark for blocks (211). She attends the same high school as current senior outside hitter Emily Clark.
Cleveland State recently completed its best season in over two decades, posting a 19-10 overall mark while finishing second in the Horizon League with an 11-3 record.
