“This is a big class for us, and a very, very talented class,” said Hudson. “This group is the future of our program, and we’re really excited to have all five ladies joining our program.”
Western didn’t have to go far to add a pair of defenders to the mix, going to Louisville to sign Kelly Potts (Sacred Heart Academy) and Lindsey Gould (Assumption HS). “If our team this year has a weakness, I think it’s that we can be better defensively,” said Hudson. ”In Kelly and Lindsey we’ve got two kids that can be anchors on defense for us the next several years.”
Potts will be reunited with three prep teammates — Alli Christian, Megan Argabright and Julia Noe — that guided SHA to its 2003 state championship. This past season, she was named all-district and all-region while helping the Valkeries to the region championship match. Potts has also played for the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy (KIVA) the past six years, qualifying for the club national tournament each year. Also a standout in the classroom, Potts is a three-time academic all-state selection.
“The people made WKU stand out the most to me during the recruiting process,“ said Potts. “It’s the perfect opportunity for me, and I’m so excited to be part of Lady Topper volleyball.”
Gould has also experienced a great deal of success in the high school ranks, helping Assumption to back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005. AHS also grabbed a high school national title this past season, finishing a perfect 43-0. A three-year varsity letterwinner, Gould was named to the district all-tournament team as a senior. She has also played her club volleyball with KIVA, participating in both the AAU Nationals and the Junior Olympic Nationals.
“I chose Western because the coaching staff and team is very much a family,” said Gould. “WKU also has a great nursing program, and I love the beautiful campus.”
With the loss of senior outside hitters Jessie Wagner and Crystal Towler after this season, WKU will add a trio of 6-foot hitters — two outside hitters and one middle.
Aquila Orr (pronounced uh-KEY-luh) will join the Lady Toppers from Forest, Ind., where she set the Clinton Central High School record with 1,570 career kills. She finished with 585 kills, 244 digs and 176 blocks as a senior, helping CCHS to a 33-5 record and a trip to the state finals for the second straight season. During her four-year prep career, Orr was a four-time all-conference and all-county selection. She also earned all-state honors three times, including first-team accolades in 2004 and ‘05.
“Aquila is going to make an immediate impact in our program,” said Hudson. “From a physical standpoint, she is going to be able to compete at a very high level. I really feel that Aquila is going to be a star in our program.”
“Western was the best all-around fit for me,” added Orr. “I love the campus, the team, the education and, of course, the successful volleyball program that I’m excited to be a part of.”
While Orr will do her attacking from the right side, Abbie Siljendahl (pronounced sil-YEN-doll) will fill in on the left. Siljendahl has been a two-time all-conference and all-city selection during her career at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill. She has played two years with the Sports Performance club team.
“The second I stepped out of the car, I knew that Western was where I wanted to be,” said Siljendahl. “The coaching staff was everything I was looking for, and the girls are just amazing.”
“Abbie is a big, physical kid that has experience in both the middle and right side, but we are going to train her as a left,” added Hudson. “She comes from one of the best club programs in the country, so we know we are getting a great competitor and a great athlete that can impact our program as well.”
Brittany Bowen will join the Lady Toppers after spending four years as a starter at Forest Hills Central High School in Ada, Mich. During her career at Forest Hills Central, Bowen earned all-conference honors three times, was a two-time all-region and all-area selection, and was twice named team MVP. She has also been the team leader in both kills and blocks throughout her career. As a member of the Farout 17 National Team, Bowen helped her squad to a second-place finish at the 2005 Junior Olympics.
“Everything about Western Kentucky felt right to me — the location, the school, the coaching staff and the team,” said Bowen. “I knew right away that this was a place I would really enjoy both academically and athletically.”
“I’m as excited about Brittany as I am with anybody in this class,” said Hudson. “She’s a little more inexperienced, than the other members of this class, but her upside is phenomenal. Physically, she is as good as anybody in the country at her position and has the potential to follow in a long line of dominant middle hitters we’ve had come through our program.”
The Lady Toppers will wrap up the 2005 regular season this weekend, visiting Middle Tennessee on Friday and hosting Troy at 1 p.m. (CST) on Sunday. A win over the Blue Raiders Friday night would secure Western its sixth straight Sun Belt Conference East Division title, and the top seed in next week’s Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Lady Topper Volleyball Signees Name Ht. Class-Exp. Pos. Hometown (Previous School) Brittany Bowen 6-0 Fr.-HS MH Ada, Mich. (Forest Hills Central HS) Lindsey Gould 5-3 Fr.-HS DS Louisville, Ky. (Assumption HS) Kelly Potts 5-5 Fr.-HS DS Louisville, Ky. (Sacred Heart Academy) Aquila Orr 6-0 Fr.-HS OH Forest, Ind. (Clinton Central HS) Abbie Siljendahl 6-0 Fr.-HS OH Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley HS)
