June 2, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke volleyball program signed two high school seniors to join the team in 2010, head coach Jolene Nagel announced. The duo includes 6-2 middle blocker Chelsea Cook and 5-6 libero Ali McCurdy.
Cook and McCurdy will enroll at Duke as freshmen for the 2010 season and will join 11 returning letterwinners from a Blue Devil squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season in 2009.
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“We are very excited to add our 2010 recruiting class to the Duke volleyball team,” said Nagel, who will coach her 12th season at Duke in 2010. “They both have been very successful on their high school teams as well as their club teams and competed with the best in their state and across the country. Winning has been a big part of their experience both in high school and club. As our team tries to continue to reach new heights, we look for both Chelsea and Ali to be a huge part of helping us succeed. Their commitment to volleyball and their academics will continue to help Duke volleyball grow, compete and excel on and off the court.”
Ali McCurdy is a 5-6 defensive specialist and four-year letterwinner out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. An AVCA All-American second team choice as a senior, McCurdy collected 1,647 digs and 203 aces in her four-year career while leading Plant to four consecutive Florida State Championships. She was also named to the Under Armour All-American second team in 2009 while earning Florida All-State first team honors and Hillsborough All-County first team honors as a junior and senior.
“We are thrilled that Ali decided to become a Duke Blue Devil and bring her skill, athleticism and competitiveness to Durham,” Nagel said. “We have known about Ali for a long time with her brother, Ryan, playing baseball and graduating from Duke and with our current setter, Kellie Catanach, playing high school volleyball with her at Plant. We had the luxury of seeing Ali at a young age and getting to know her as well. She is one of the best liberos in the country, and we look forward to having her represent Duke and be a defensive force on the court.”
McCurdy also competed with the Tampa Bay Junior volleyball club and helped her 17-under squad capture the 2007 Junior National Volleyball Championship. Additionally, she led her 15-under squad to a Junior Olympics National Title and was named to the JO All-Tournament Team for her performance.
Off the court, McCurdy is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and the Plant High School Executive Board and the Student Advisory Committee. She also volunteers at the Faith Café serving lunch to the homeless and individuals in need and is active with the Best Buddies mentor program for special needs individuals.
McCurdy is also a four-year letterwinner on the Plant track team where she ran the 100 meter, 330-meter hurdles and 4x100 relay while qualifying for the Florida Regionals in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Her brother, Ryan, graduated from Duke in 2010 and was a four-year starter at third base and catcher on the Duke baseball team.
Chelsea Cook is a 6-2 middle and outside hitter and four-year letterwinner out of Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. A Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection and Prep Volleyball Senior Ace, Cook ended her high school career as Blue Valley North’s all-time kills leader with 1,278 kills in her four-year career. As team captain as a senior, she posted a .500 hitting percentage with 484 kills and broke her own Blue Valley North single-season records for kills and total attacks while earning Kansas’ Gatorade Player of the Year award and the Sun Newspaper’s Player of the Year award. She ranks among the top five at BVN in 11 categories, including hitting percentage, aces and blocks and is Prep Volleyball High School All-American.
“Chelsea is a talented volleyball player with excellent blocking skills,” Nagel said. “She is well trained and has played at the highest junior club levels in the US. We look for her size, skill and experience to enhance our play at the net. She is one of those middle blockers who has also gained valuable experience playing six rotations during her development. Her academic and athletic success makes her a perfect fit for Duke.”
Cook helped Blue Valley North to semifinals of the 2009 Kansas State Volleyball Championship and was pegged as a Kansas 6A All-State first team selection. She also garnered AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors and was a finalist for the Evelyn Gates Award, which honors the top high school volleyball player in Kansas. She played five seasons with the Asics MAVS club – serving as team captain every year – was named the East Kansas League MVP and also participated in the GKCVCA Missouri-Kansas All-Star Match.
Also a Prep Volleyball Academic All-American, Cook is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year member of the Principal’s Honor Roll. She has served as a Student Council Representative, a co-leader of Club 121 and a member of the Clean Team. Outside of the classroom, she is a volunteer with the Blue Valley District Student Activity Committee where she works with elementary and middle school children on their volleyball skills.
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