Bowling Green, Ky. Two incoming WKU volleyball athletes were honored on Monday by being named PrepVolleyball. com High School All-Americans. Senior Jordyn Skinner was named an All-American for the second time in her high school career while Paige Wessel was named a Highest Honorable Mention All-American for the first time. The 150 All-Americans hail from 41 states and are selected based on the impact that each athlete has on her team and school.
Skinner, an outside hitter, is one of ten finalists in the state of Michigan for the coveted Michigan Miss Volleyball Award and was recently named as one of the Top 50 recruits in the class of 2009 by PrepVolleyball.com.
"She is going to be special," head coach Travis Hudson said. "She is maybe the most complete volleyball player that we have ever signed here. In a day and age when the game has become more specialized, she is a young lady that does everything very well. She is a tremendous offensive player but she also handles the ball well and plays great defense. She is a very complete player and she doesn't have any weaknesses. I think she will make an immediate impact on our program."
Playing for the FarOut volleyball club, Skinner helped guide her team to the under 16 Junior Olympic National Championship in 2007 by being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Also a standout in basketball and soccer at Grand Rapids South Christian High School, she is a two-time All-State, All-Region and All-Area selection as well as a three-time All-Conference honoree.
Wessel, a member of the MAVA volleyball club, is a four-time AAU All-American team selection and a two-time Junior Olympic All-Tournament team member.
"Athlete is the first word that comes to mind when you watch Paige," Hudson said. "She is a little bit undersized but is a tremendous leaper. She is as athletic as any player that we have ever signed here and all she has ever done is win. She is an exciting kid to watch. She will be making a position change when she gets here because she's been a middle hitter but she will move to an outside position. But, I think we'll make that transition smoothly with her level of athleticism. She is just a flat out winner in every level that she has played and I cannot wait for her to get here so I can start working with her because her athleticism is as good as there is."
A product of Mercy Academy, Wessel led her team to the 2008 Kentucky State Tournament title and was honored in 2006 and 2008 by being named to the All-State Tournament team. In addition, she is a two-time All-State First Team honoree.
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