BYU NewsNet - V-Ball to Gain Top Recruits

By: BYU Communications

Two highly regarded high school athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the BYU women’s volleyball program for the 2006 season.

The class includes outside hitter Hailey Jeppson, who was named the most valuable player in the state of Utah after leading Pleasant Grove High School to the state title as a senior, and setter Kiana Rogers, a Diamond Springs, Calif., native who was listed as one of the top 100 volleyball players in the nation by prepvolleyball.com.

Jeppson will add to BYU’s already powerful collection of outside hitters that includes All-Mountain West Conference performers Chelsea Goodman, Erica Lott and Kim Wilson. Rogers brings depth at the setting position for BYU, which recently lost All-American Lauren Richards Evans to graduation.

“As we seek to improve our program, it is important for us to recruit athletes who not only excel on the court but also understand our process and add to our competitive environment,” said BYU head coach Jason Watson. “Both Hailey and Kiana have embraced the expectations of our team. Their commitment to improving our program will be proven in the years to come.”

Named the 5-A State MVP by both the Deseret Morning News and the Salt Lake Tribune in 2005, Jeppson helped her team compete for the state title as a sophomore, junior and senior, bringing home the crown in her final season. She was named first-team All-State as a junior and a senior and second-team All-State in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter was also recognized as the 5-A State Tournament MVP in 2005. Jeppson set Pleasant Grove High School records in both kills and aces.

“Hailey has shown tremendous improvement during her high school career,” Watson said. “She capped her high school career by winning a state championship. Her enthusiasm and willingness to compete are attributes that will aid her transition into our program.”

Rogers was an all-league selection at Union Mine High School all four years, receiving first-team Sierra Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior and second-team honors as a sophomore and freshman while leading her team to the outright league title in 2002 and 2003 and a share of the crown in 2004 and 2005. The Diamondbacks also finished seventh at the California State Volleyball Championships in Rogers’ junior and senior seasons while taking second place at the California Interscholastic Federation Volleyball Championships all four years. The 5-foot-11 setter has competed at the USA Junior Olympic Championships four times in addition to playing on the 2002 and 2003 USA High Performance teams.

“Kiana understands and embraces the commitment needed to be successful at the college level,” Watson said. “As our staff watched her during the past year we became drawn to her competitive nature. She is a great addition to our program.”