Temple Volleyball Adds Three Talented Recruits for Upcoming Season

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Temple Volleyball Adds Three Talented Recruits for Upcoming Season

PHILADELPHIA – Three true freshmen will join Temple first-year head coach Bakeer Ganes’ volleyball team for the 2011 season this fall. Tiffany Connatser (Fairfax, Va./Robinson), Jennifer Iacobini (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) and Alex Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) have signed national letters of intent to play for the Owls.

“I’m very excited about this incoming class,” said Ganes. “I think they're going to give us height, depth and very good ball handling skills. I’m looking forward to working with all of them and I think all of them are going to have an immediate impact on our team and on the program.”

Connatser, a 5-9 setter, was an all-region first team selection as a senior at Robinson High School, helping her team to the district title and a 15-8 record. She was a two-time all-district honoree and played all four years with the varsity team at Robinson. As a junior, Connatser set a state record with 1,090 assists. In addition to her high school team, Connatser played with Metro American Volleyball Club and coach Silvia Johnson.

“I’m really thrilled to have Tiffany on the team,” said Ganes. “She will really help us in the setter’s position and give us a lot of depth. She is already very established after playing at a high level with her club team.”

Iacobini, a 6-1 outside and rightside hitter, was a first team all-league and all-county selection as a senior at Palm Springs High School. With 468 kills, Iacobini helped her team to a 26-3-1 record and the Desert Valley League Championship. She also played for the club team 951 Elite and coach Dennis Pallpatoc.

“Jennifer is a great, versatile player who can play in three different positions for us,” said Ganes. “She’s going to give us some height on the outside, and is also very stable in serve receive which is going to help us with our ball handling.”

Schmitt, a 6-1 middle blocker, was a standout at Shaler Area High School for coach Chris Rupert where she was named first team all-league as a senior and second team all-league as a junior. Schmitt played club volleyball for Renaissance and coach Brian Begor.

“Alex is a big, physical player, and we really need that in the middle,” said Ganes. “She is going to have a big impact on the middle position. She is a very hard hitter and can become a dominant blocker in the middle as well.”


-Temple Owls-