BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Western Kentucky University volleyball head coach Travis Hudson has announced the signings of Louisville natives Georgia O'Connell and Kaelin Grimes to National Letter of Intents. The duo will join the Lady Toppers in 2013.
"We feel the biggest thing we are going to have to replace more than anything else losing our two seniors is ball control and defense, and we feel like we have signed two of the elite defenders in the country," said Hudson. "We think they will come in and impact us right away."
O'Connell comes to the Hill from Male High School and is a member of the KIVA club volleyball team. The 5-2 defensive specialist has been a three-year varsity starter and co-captain the past two years. An all-district selection the last three years and two-time all-region honoree, O'Connell was voted one of the top 250 "Senior Aces" by PrepVolleyball.com. A three-time team defensive award winner at Male, O'Connell was an all-tournament selection and has maintained above a 3.4 GPA throughout her high school career.
"I've always been interested in WKU, and once I found out they were interested in me, I was automatically drawn towards them," said O'Connell. "The campus is absolutely beautiful, and the team is like a family. I already feel welcomed there. I'm so excited to be a part of this team and to finally play collegiate volleyball."
Grimes joins the Lady Toppers as a 5-8 defensive specialist from nationally-ranked Assumption High School and is also a member of KIVA. A varsity starter for the past three years, Grimes has helped the Rockets to three-straight KHSAA titles and 17th in school history. Team captain as a senior and given the 2012 AHS Captain Award, Grimes received the 2012 Volleyball Uncommon Excellence Award and named to the 26th District All-Tournament. Carrying a 4.0 GPA, she was named to the KHSAA Academic All-State First-Team for three-consecutive years.
"Western Kentucky University was my first unofficial visit," said Grimes. "After my visit I knew that it was the perfect place for me. Travis and (assistant coach Kristi Griffin) are amazing coaches, and I am lucky I get to play for them next year at a great university. All the girls on the team are like one big family, and I can't wait to become a part of that family.
"I knew I wanted to be a part of another nationally-ranked volleyball program. I want to help contribute making new history to the continued success on a national level. The volleyball program is not only successful on the court, but in the classroom too. I knew WKU was a place I could see myself in the future. It had everything I wanted in a college so that I could become a successful student-athlete."
O'Connell and Grimes will join a WKU program that is coming off of its fifth Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and will play in its third-straight and seventh overall NCAA Tournament. The Lady Toppers will find out their opponent and destination on Sunday, November 25 during the NCAA Selection Show that will air at 3 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
