BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WKU volleyball head coach Travis Hudson announced the signings of a pair of Michigan standouts on Wednesday, as Rachel Anderson (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis/DFFO) and Taylor Dellinger (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston/Legacy) have signed National Letters of Intent with the Lady Toppers for 2015.
"Obviously coming off the class that we signed for 2014 that was really athletic, the one thing we wanted to concentrate on with the 2015 class is that we wanted to be more physical—just big, physical kids," Hudson said. "Our 2014 class with as athletic as they are, are a bit undersized. Certainly the young ladies we have coming in will fit that bill nicely, and will allow us to match up with—from a physical standpoint—some of the top teams in the country."
Anderson comes to The Hill from Sturgis, Mich., playing all four years at Sturgis High School. An AVCA Under Armour All-America Third-Team member, Anderson has also garnered All-State, All-Conference and MVP honors during her career. A 6-1 middle hitter, Anderson was named a PrepVolleyball.com Top 50 Junior and Top 100 Senior. Anderson broke a 39-year-old school record for career kills and season kills while being named a three-time MaxPreps Player of the Week. Anderson posted 675 kills with a .427 hitting mark to go with 150 total blocks during her senior season while she also played club volleyball with DFFO.
"We have had a legacy of great middle hitters here," Hudson said. "I think Rachel Anderson is right there with Megan Argabright as the most ready walking in the door. She is a big-time talent along with a big, physical kid. Her game translates perfectly with the system we run here, so I'm really excited about her and expect her to have a tremendous career."
"WKU was my last college visit," Anderson said. "All the visits I went on before didn't wow me like WKU. I felt at home and that that's where I was meant to be. Then when I met Travis and (assistant coach) Kristi (Griffin) that pretty much sealed the deal. The girls were very nice, welcoming and a lot of fun. Everyone made it seem as though they are a family, and I believe they are. I'm excited to start this new journey in my life and being a part of a great family."
Dellinger hails from Clarkston, Mich., where she was a three-year letterwinner for Clarkston High School. The 6-0 outside hitter was a member of the Legacy Volleyball Club that won the 16 Open AAU National Championship and finished fifth in the Junior Olympics at the Minneapolis 17 Open. Dellinger also played a year with Alabama's Hartselle High School, helping the Wolves with 593 kills, 489 digs, 74 blocks and 66 aces to its first-ever state title. She was then named the Class 5A State MVP along with garnering All-State, All-Region and All-Area honors. Earning the Decatur Daily and Hartselle Area Player of the Year, Dellinger was also named a PrepVolleyball.com Top 79 Sophomore in 2012 and an AAU All-American in 2014.
"Taylor Dellinger—when you hear that name the first thing you think of is winner," Hudson said. "She is a kid that has done nothing but win everywhere she has been. She won a high school state championship when her family moved to Alabama. Then she moved back to Michigan and helped her club team win a championship for the first time. The kid is just a winner. She, too, brings a physical presence to the left side for us. She is just a kid that you know walking in the door that you are never sorry she is in your gym. She is just a hard worker, great kid and a winner, and what coach wouldn't want those characteristics in a young person."
"The first time I visited WKU, I knew it was the place for me," Dellinger said. "The campus was beautiful, the coaches were awesome, and they had a great volleyball program. The whole team was very friendly and welcoming, and I couldn't be more excited to get to know them better. I can't wait to spend the next four years playing volleyball at WKU."
The 2014 Lady Toppers look to finish the regular season strong, as the team carries a 25-5 record overall and 13-1 mark in Conference USA play into its last pair of home matches. On Thursday, WKU takes on UTEP for a 7 p.m. CT contest, as it is HAF Night with all Hilltopper Athletic Foundation members receiving one free ticket.
The season closes on Saturday with a 7 p.m. CT match against Middle Tennessee. WKU's two seniors, Heather Boyan and Mollie Pajakowski, will be recognized prior to the match while fans can get in free with a ticket from the WKU men's basketball game against Austin Peay at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday.
The 2014 WKU volleyball season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For all the latest news and information on WKU volleyball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program on Twitter via @TravisHudsonWKU and @WKUVolleyball.
