Riverdale, N.Y. (May 23, 2007)?Manhattan Volleyball head coach Ray Green recently announced his finalized class of newcomers for the upcoming 2007-08 academic year. Eight new student-athletes will be joining the program once the new season commences in August.
Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.), Cayla Roberts (Urbana, Ill.), Lindsay Haley (Middletown, N.Y.), Katherine Kerbstat (Saddle River, N.J.), Jennifer Haggerty (Springfield, Pa.) all signed National Letters of Intent, while Jaclyn Rahey (West Milford, N.J.), Giulia Mondoro (Franklin Lakes, N.J.), Elissa DiSalvo (Massapequa, N.Y.) will also be joining the program.
“I am pleased to welcome these young ladies into our program for the upcoming season,” said Green. “It is a very exciting class with athletes capable of making an immediate impact. We were able to address our needs, while continuing to stay true to our belief of bringing in good people that appear committed to work hard.”
Strutner was one of two players to sign an NLI during the early period in November. The outside hitter, who Green referred to as “super athletic,” will be bringing her game across the nation from California to Riverdale. While competing on the club level for City Beach, Strutner was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 2004 Junior Olympic Invitational where she also helped her team capture a bronze medal. Strutner and her City Beach team, which was also home to former Jasper Meghan Plunkett and current senior Ashley Watson, recently qualified for a return trip to Junior Olympic Nationals.
When Strutner arrives at this year's JO Tournament, she will likely see one of her new collegiate teammates as Haggerty helped her club team Stew's Crew gain entry to the 2007 tournament. Green believes the 6-1 Haggerty has the potential to make an immediate impact for Manhattan at the middle blocker position. Playing for Cardinal O'Hara High School in Pennsylvania, Haggerty twice earned All-Catholic League and All-Delco honors. Haggerty, who was co-captain of her team at Cardinal O'Hara, also excelled in the classroom as a four-year Honors student.
The signing of Roberts, who earned four varsity volleyball letters at Urbana High School in Illinois, adds another setter to a roster that featured only one true setter in 2006. In Roberts, Manhattan gets a former team captain and the 2006 Urbana MVP. She has earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors and was also a Big 12 Scholar Athlete.
Haley, a right-side hitter, was a New York State Section Nine Second Team All-Star in 2006 at Pine Bush High School. That same year she also won the Pine Bush Varsity Team Coaches' Award. After helping her team to the New York State Championship Semi-finals in both 2005 and 2006, Haley was nominated for the 2006 Late Bloomers List, which recognizes players who turned themselves into Division I players.
Kerbstat, who is only a short ride away from Manhattan College on the other side of the George Washington Bridge, comes to Riverdale from a successful program at Immaculate Heart Academy, which appeared in the New Jersey State Finals in 2004 and 2006. As a defensive specialist, Kerbstat garnered All-League Honors in both 2005 and 2006. In 2005, Kerbstat was part of the GEVA 16 Open Division Championship team.
An outside hitter and defensive specialist at Indian Hills High School in Bergen County, N.J., Mondoro was a First Team All-League selection in 2005 and 2006. The team captain was also a 2006 All-Bergen Honorable Mention.
Rahey, a four-year varsity starter at New Jersey's DePaul Catholic High School, served as team captain for her senior season. The attacker has garnered numerous honors including being selected First Team All-Conference, First Team All-County, First Team All-North Jersey, and the Newark Star Ledger's Athlete of the Week during October 2006.
DiSalvo, a middle blocker, is another student-athlete that comes from a winning program. She served as team captain of a team that conquered the county championship seven times. In 2006, DiSalvo was named to Newsday's Players to Watch List, and was also selected the Class AA All-County Player of the Year.
