Volleyball Finalizes 2023 Recruiting Class
5/25/2023 1:43:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons welcome four newcomers to Lincoln Park for fall season
CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball head coach Marie Zidek and her coaching staff have announced their 2023 recruiting class on Thursday. The Blue Demons welcome four newcomers for the upcoming fall season including freshmen Noria Mannion, Meghan Scholz and Yagmur Yavuz in addition to graduate transfer Audrey Klemp.
The quartet is set to join a nucleus of 13 returners from last season's squad including eight seniors and a total of 11 letterwinners with two or more seasons of collegiate experience.
"The 2023 incomers will add depth in playing pieces and competitive personalities that will help the returning group get back into the hunt for a post-season championship opportunity. The returning group has put in a phenomenal amount of work into their off-season development, specifically in the weight room with lots of personal bests and on the court with hours of competing together better for longer" said Zidek.
'We are so proud of the group coming back and super excited to add these four incomers. Folding in these new additions should compound this program's progress exponentially as we head into the fall, and we are eager to see what this group is capable of as one DePaul Volleyball Team.'
Nora Mannion | 5-6 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Freshman | San Francisco, Calif.
Mannion joins the Blue Demons after spending four seasons in the volleyball program at St. Ignatius College Prep. The San Francisco, Calif. native was a First Team All-League performer in her senior season while also serving as a team captain. A stout defensive specialist, Mannion averaged 9.4 digs per set and 2.4 assists per set in her career, leading her team to the NorCal Open Playoffs in her junior and senior campaigns. Mannion also lettered in Track & Field in her final two years with the Wildcats.
Zidek on Mannion: 'Nora adds nice depth to our DS/L position as tenacious ball control continues to be at the foundation of how we play here at DePaul. She can play any position in the backcourt and has strong serve reception skills. She will no doubt elevate our first contact along with her team mindset, and we look forward to getting her here.'
Yagmur Yavuz | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Freshman | Ankara, Turkey
Yavuz, a transfer student from Rutgers, landed in Lincoln Park in January after redshirting her freshman season with the Scarlet Knights. Prior to coming to the United States for her collegiate career, Yavuz won three European Championships at the youth level and also participated in the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovakia. Yavuz came up through the ITU ETA Vakfi Doga Schools system in Turkey.
Zidek on Yavuz: 'Yagmur brings seasoned volleyball experience from her development days in Turkey. She comes from a tremendous sporting family. What I am most excited about in Yami is her thirst to be great. She has all of the skills needed to be a high-level point scorer, and her passion for her own development and willingness to help the team is what is going to propel her there. I am thrilled to have Yami here already working with the team and am excited to help her rise to expectations.'
Meghan Scholz | 6-3 | Middle Blocker | Freshman | Tomahawk, Wis.
Scholz, a 6-3 middle, joins the Blue Demons after a dominant four-year high school career at Tomahawk. A three-time All-Conference First Team selection, Scholz registered over 1,000 kills in her career with a hitting percentage at a blistering .420. In her senior campaign, Scholz notched 455 kills to go along with 102 blocks while delivering 60 service aces en route to earning Conference Player of the Year recognition. A native of Tomahawk, Wis., Scholz led her team to a 30-8 record and a regional championship in her senior campaign. Scholz capped her career with an AVCA Second Team All-American nod.
Zidek on Scholz: 'Meghan brings athleticism and length at the net that should allow us to be very competitive against our opponents' attacks. She comes to us on the front end of her talent potential and with a pure joy for the game, two things that can be a great match for a coaching staff that prides itself on player development. Her length will allow us to evolve some of our blocking schemes and we look forward to seeing what she can do offensively for us both from the middle and pin.'
Audrey Klemp | 6-3 | Pin Hitter | Graduate Student | Lansing, Kan.
Klemp joins the DePaul program after spending four years at Loyola Marymount and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. A versatile-pin hitter, Klemp was named an All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention selection in three-consecutive seasons while amassing 600+ kills in 246 sets played for the Lions. The Lansing, Kan. native owns a career hitting percentage of .273 while also recording 148 blocks. A four-year letterwinner at St. James Academy, Klemp led her team to back-to-back state titles in her junior and senior seasons while finishing runner up in her sophomore campaign. Klemp was selected Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018 and also earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors.
Zidek on Klemp: 'Audrey will bring a competitive maturity and proven game that will help the current group continue to reach for higher competitive excellence. She has length to be terminal from the left or the right, and we expect her to bring points in addition to a tremendous playing personality. She has a full collegiate career of experience already as a collegiate student-athlete in the West Coast Conference, and we look for her to reach for even more as a Blue Demon.'
Schedule and ticket information for the 2023 fall season will be available in the coming weeks.
The quartet is set to join a nucleus of 13 returners from last season's squad including eight seniors and a total of 11 letterwinners with two or more seasons of collegiate experience.
"The 2023 incomers will add depth in playing pieces and competitive personalities that will help the returning group get back into the hunt for a post-season championship opportunity. The returning group has put in a phenomenal amount of work into their off-season development, specifically in the weight room with lots of personal bests and on the court with hours of competing together better for longer" said Zidek.
'We are so proud of the group coming back and super excited to add these four incomers. Folding in these new additions should compound this program's progress exponentially as we head into the fall, and we are eager to see what this group is capable of as one DePaul Volleyball Team.'
Nora Mannion | 5-6 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Freshman | San Francisco, Calif.
Mannion joins the Blue Demons after spending four seasons in the volleyball program at St. Ignatius College Prep. The San Francisco, Calif. native was a First Team All-League performer in her senior season while also serving as a team captain. A stout defensive specialist, Mannion averaged 9.4 digs per set and 2.4 assists per set in her career, leading her team to the NorCal Open Playoffs in her junior and senior campaigns. Mannion also lettered in Track & Field in her final two years with the Wildcats.
Zidek on Mannion: 'Nora adds nice depth to our DS/L position as tenacious ball control continues to be at the foundation of how we play here at DePaul. She can play any position in the backcourt and has strong serve reception skills. She will no doubt elevate our first contact along with her team mindset, and we look forward to getting her here.'
Yagmur Yavuz | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Freshman | Ankara, Turkey
Yavuz, a transfer student from Rutgers, landed in Lincoln Park in January after redshirting her freshman season with the Scarlet Knights. Prior to coming to the United States for her collegiate career, Yavuz won three European Championships at the youth level and also participated in the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovakia. Yavuz came up through the ITU ETA Vakfi Doga Schools system in Turkey.
Zidek on Yavuz: 'Yagmur brings seasoned volleyball experience from her development days in Turkey. She comes from a tremendous sporting family. What I am most excited about in Yami is her thirst to be great. She has all of the skills needed to be a high-level point scorer, and her passion for her own development and willingness to help the team is what is going to propel her there. I am thrilled to have Yami here already working with the team and am excited to help her rise to expectations.'
Meghan Scholz | 6-3 | Middle Blocker | Freshman | Tomahawk, Wis.
Scholz, a 6-3 middle, joins the Blue Demons after a dominant four-year high school career at Tomahawk. A three-time All-Conference First Team selection, Scholz registered over 1,000 kills in her career with a hitting percentage at a blistering .420. In her senior campaign, Scholz notched 455 kills to go along with 102 blocks while delivering 60 service aces en route to earning Conference Player of the Year recognition. A native of Tomahawk, Wis., Scholz led her team to a 30-8 record and a regional championship in her senior campaign. Scholz capped her career with an AVCA Second Team All-American nod.
Zidek on Scholz: 'Meghan brings athleticism and length at the net that should allow us to be very competitive against our opponents' attacks. She comes to us on the front end of her talent potential and with a pure joy for the game, two things that can be a great match for a coaching staff that prides itself on player development. Her length will allow us to evolve some of our blocking schemes and we look forward to seeing what she can do offensively for us both from the middle and pin.'
Audrey Klemp | 6-3 | Pin Hitter | Graduate Student | Lansing, Kan.
Klemp joins the DePaul program after spending four years at Loyola Marymount and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. A versatile-pin hitter, Klemp was named an All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention selection in three-consecutive seasons while amassing 600+ kills in 246 sets played for the Lions. The Lansing, Kan. native owns a career hitting percentage of .273 while also recording 148 blocks. A four-year letterwinner at St. James Academy, Klemp led her team to back-to-back state titles in her junior and senior seasons while finishing runner up in her sophomore campaign. Klemp was selected Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018 and also earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors.
Zidek on Klemp: 'Audrey will bring a competitive maturity and proven game that will help the current group continue to reach for higher competitive excellence. She has length to be terminal from the left or the right, and we expect her to bring points in addition to a tremendous playing personality. She has a full collegiate career of experience already as a collegiate student-athlete in the West Coast Conference, and we look for her to reach for even more as a Blue Demon.'
Schedule and ticket information for the 2023 fall season will be available in the coming weeks.
Episode 24: Marie Zidek, Women's Volleyball
Tuesday, September 02
Bowling Green vs. DePaul - NIVC Great 8
Saturday, December 07
Omaha vs. DePaul - NIVC Second Round
Friday, December 06
Volleyball vs. Omaha - NIVC Super 16
Friday, December 06