ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop volleyball head coach Joel McCartney has announced the signing of three high school standouts to national letters of intent during the NCAA early signing period. The trio of new signees for the 2006 season includes Katy Mackey, a 5-9 outside hitter from Dripping Springs, TX; Kelley Taylor, a 6-1 outside hitter from Tampa, FL; and 5-11 outside hitter Emily Stockman from Colorado Springs, CO.
“Although we are not finished addressing the recruiting needs for the 2006 season, I am incredibly pleased to begin with this trio of talented athletes,” said McCartney while announcing his fifth recruiting class at Winthrop. “Katy, Kelley and Emily give us great versatility and ball control for an already powerful group of athletes who will be returning.”
Mackey played for Dripping Springs High School and the Austin Metro Volleyball club program. “Katy is an undersized overachiever and reminds me a great deal of another undersized overachiever from Texas we recruited four years ago. If she puts the hard work into her game, I don’t see what would be in her way of becoming an integral part of our line-up.” She graduated from high school in December and is enrolling at Winthrop for the spring semester. “Having Katy join us this January will be a great advantage for her and our program. She not only will have the opportunity to learn the particulars of our system, but she will also get a jump start on her strength and fitness for the fall season,” said McCartney, who has guided the Eagles to four consecutive Big South Conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances.
Taylor played for Cambridge High School and the Sandspurs volleyball club program. “Kelley has good size and is pretty physical at the net. She is a versatile athlete with the capability of playing in any one of the three front court positions.” Taylor’s Sandspur’s team qualified and competed in the 2005 USAV Junior National tournament and she will remain with that team in pursuit of another bid to the 2006 event. “Kelley is the type of athlete that we foresee on the court sooner rather than later. The size of her block is the most compelling element to her game and I could see her working into the line-up as a freshman, but her development into that role will be determined a great deal by her dedication over the course of this spring and summer,” said the Winthrop coach.
Stockman played for Doherty High School and the Colorado Juniors volleyball club program. “Emily is a great ball handler with a smooth approach to her game. She most likely will factor into our serve- receive in some way and compete for a role as an outside hitter,” said McCartney. Stockman’s Colorado Juniors team won the club division in the 2005 USAV Junior National tournament as Emily was named All-American for her performance. “Emily is a fluid athlete with a pretty high ceiling of potential. We believe she has the talent to get onto the floor right away for the Eagles and provide stability in the area of our ball control. She is an athletic defender and could be a solid all-around outside hitter for us.”
“Although there is more work to be done to refuel the line-up for our 2006 team, we have landed on a gold mine with Katy, Kelley and Emily. As our program continues to build we are pleased to have these caliber of athletes committed to help the Eagles win Big South Championships and become a more recognized program on the national level.”
