Volleyball Announces Six Incoming Student-Athletes

The Central Connecticut volleyball team will welcome six student-athletes for the fall 2012 season.  Four freshmen and a pair of transfers will be joining the Blue Devil squad that finished third in the Northeast Conference last season, but lost a pair of seniors to graduation.

Veronika Ban - Junior - 5'9" Middle/OPP

The 5'9" junior college transfer comes to Central from Los Angeles Pierce College where she helped lead her team to back-to-back California State Championships.  Ban was an All-Tournament selection at Pierce College following both of her seasons.  Before college, she attended Newbury Park High School in Newbury Park, CA.  Blue Devil head coach Linda Sagnelli said of Ban, "Veronika is coming off of a very successful career at Pierce College.  The two time California Junior College Champion will add a great deal of athleticism to the middle and right side positions."

Rachel Dunlap - Sophomore - 6'0" Middle

While at Lee College her freshman year, Dunlap was an All-Tournament selection as well as NJCAA Region XIV All-District selection.  "Rachel joins us after having a productive freshman year at Lee College.   She is a dynamic middle who has great lateral speed at the net.  She brings a tremendous love for the game and competitive attitude," said Sagnelli.  During her time at Summerville High School in Tuolumne, CA, Dunlap earned District MVP honors her junior and senior years.  She was named All-Area MVP as a senior as well as being her team's Most Outstanding Offensive Player as a sophomore.  Dunplap helped lead Summerville to back-to-back district championships and an overall record of 52-7.  In 2010, Dunlap was named to the USA High Performance A3 team.

Kerry Chavoya - Freshman - 5'2" 

A team captain her senior year, Chavoya helped lead her team to a Southern Connecticut Conference Championship at Cheshire High School in Cheshire, CT.  She earned multiple awards her senior year gathering Most Outstanding Player of the SCC, the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award and the Women's Leadership Conference Award.  Chavoya was named to the SCC All-Housatonic Team both junior and senior year.  She was tabbed Most Improved Player her junior year and was also a member of the team that won the SCC Conference Championship as a sophomore.  Chavoya earned High Honors every semester at Cheshire High School and earned the Diversity Scholarship for her freshman year at Central.  Sagnelli said of Chavoya, "Kerry joins us after having a successful high school career at Cheshire.  She will add important depth to our backcourt play."  In addition to her high school volleyball career, Chavoya played on the Husky Travel Team for three years (2008, 2009, 2010).

Heather Trueman - Freshman - 6'0" Outside Hitter

The 6'0" outside hitter joins the Blue Devils from Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, CA.  Trueman was a team captain her senior year at Chino Hills where she earned First Team All-League honors and Best Offensive Player honors her junior and senior years.  During her junior season, Trueman was named First Team All-CIF, tabbed San Gabriel Player of the Week, helped lead her team to a league championship and a CIF runner-up finish.  Trueman received numerous awards during her high school career including the Student-Athlete Award all four years and the Husky Award her freshman, sophomore, and junior years. "Heather is a very athletic outside hitter who has tons of potential.  As she gains physical strength she has the ability to become a terminating offensive player," said Sagnelli.

Ashley Lenington - Freshman - 5'7" Setter

Lenington is a 5'7" setter coming to New Britain from Lutheran High School of Orange County in Tustin, CA.  "Ashley will carry responsibilities at both the setting position and as a defensive specialist.  We love the tempo of the offense that she runs at the club level and she gives us the flexibility to change systems," Sagnelli had to say about Lenington.  As a team captain her junior season, Lenington was named All-Team Setter in the Redondo Beach Tournament.  She earned two varsity letters during her time at Lutheran High School.

Makenna Lommori - Freshman - 5'11" Setter

Lommori helped lead her Yerington High School volleyball team to a 2A State and Divison Championship her junior and senior years.  As a junior and a senior, she earned Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, RGJ Northern Nevada 2A MVP, Nevada 2A MVP, and Lahotan League MVP honors.  Junior year, Lammori was a three-time AVCA Nevada Player of the Week and a member of the NCVA Youth High Performance Team.  Her sophomore year she was a Sophomore 79 Elite Honorable Mention and Sierra Nevada Honorable Mention.  Lommori was also named to the Nevada 3A All-State First Team and Northern Division 3A First Team as a sophomore.  "Makenna is a very talented setter whose is very physical in the front court.  She put up a great block, is aggressive offensively and is a student of the game."

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