Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Sign Talented 2016 Class
11/11/2015 4:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana volleyball head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan has announced the 2016 signing class, which comes to Indiana after a combined 131-24 record in their senior year of high school.
The class includes Ally Badowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), Victoria Brisack (Verona, Wis./Verona), Hayden Huybers (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Meaghan Koors (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and Deyshia Lofton (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South).
The class features a State Champion, an AAU National Champion, two Honorable Mention All-Americans and two conference Player of the Year honorees.
IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said she is very excited about what this group of future Hoosiers will bring to the program.
"This is an impact class," she said. "Individually they have many accolades, and as a large class will fill in a lot of gaps with the departure of five seniors this year. They are a very goal oriented class and above all else, they win. At every level they have won, and I think that is so important when you come into the Big Ten. You have to expect to win and train with that mentality every day."
Badowski is a 6-0 outside hitter and was named a 2015-16 Under Armour Girls High School Honorable Mention All-American.
Badowski was a key component on the Brunswick High School team, which went 21-6 in her senior season and was Great Cleveland Conference Champions, Northeast District Division I Champions and a Division I Regional Finalist.
In addition to the All-American honor, Badowski was an All-Ohio First Team selection, 2015 Conference Player of the Year, 2015 District Player of the Year and 2015 Medina Gazette MVP. Badowski recorded 300 kills (4.2/set) in her senior season while hitting .300 and posted 262 digs (3.0/set).
"Ally is a typical Big Ten outside hitter in my book," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I think she will end up being a six rotation outside hitter for us. She is a long athlete that jumps very well. She is someone that if she puts her mind to it can come in and help us immediately."
Brisack is a 6-0 setter and the 2015 All-Big Eight Conference Player of the Year. This season she was named Wisconsin First Team All-State.
Brisack helped Verona Area High School in Verona, Wis., to two Conference Championships, two Regional Championships and the Sectional Championship and a state tournament appearance in her senior year. She is a two-time team captain, four-time All-Conference selection, four-time All-Area selection and a three-time All-State honoree, including three times First Team All-State.
In club volleyball, Brisack has been a three-time JVA team captain and three-time All-National Team selection. She has been the team captain for the No. 1 ranked 17s club team, which has produced three AAU open top-10 finishes.
Brisack has twice been named a USA A1 honoree and the USA A1 team captain. She has been part of High Performance Team that have earned the Bronze and Gold Medals and is a three-time Badger Region High Performance Team Member.
A strong student academically, Brisack has a 4.0 cumulative GPA, is a National Honors Society Member and a two-time AAU Academic All-American. She will graduate early and join the Hoosiers for the spring semester at Indiana.
"Tori is a special player and a special person," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She is a natural born leader and is super competitive. I think she will add a great dynamic to our setter position with Megan and Makayla. I think that will be a great group working together to help move us forward offensively to how we want to play in this conference."
Hayden Huybers is a 6-1 middle blocker and was named a 2015-16 Under Armour Girls High School Honorable Mention All-American and an IHSAA First Team All-State honoree. Huybers was also one of 250 in the country named a PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace.
Huybers was the MVP her junior and senior seasons at Hamilton Southeastern and helped the Royals to 2015 Class 4A Sectional and Regional Championships and a Final Four appearance as a Semi-State Finalist.
Huybers ranked first in Indiana 4A in hitting percentage at .470 and recorded a school record 532 kills her senior year, which ranked eighth best for all classes. She also totaled 116 blocks, good for eighth in the state for 4A. In all Huybers re-wrote the Hamilton Southeastern Record Book with nine school records and six team records during her four years.
"Hayden exploded her senior year so it was great to see her take that step up, not only on the court, but as a leader," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She is very versatile. She will come in as a middle and might end up playing right side or outside for us. She is fast twitch and can play defense and pass. Her potential is unlimited."
Meaghan Koors is a 5-8 defensive specialist and helped No. 1 in the country, Cathedral to an undefeated 36-0 season and an Indiana State Championship in class 4A. Cathedral was the State Runner Up in her junior season.
Koors ranked second on the team in digs and third on the team in kills with a .323 hitting percentage.
Meaghan comes from a winning family with two brothers having won high school state championships, Alex with football in 2006 and went on to become a Division III All-American and Tyler with baseball in 2007 and went on to become a four-year starting pitcher in Division I.
"Meaghan had a fantastic senior campaign at Cathedral where she only knows winning going undefeated this season," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She's a fantastic athlete that will be a defensive specialist for us but also be offensive in the back row. I'm so happy to keep another Indiana player at home, especially one of her caliber."
Deyshia Lofton is a 6-2 middle blocker from Plainfield, Ill., and was on the 2015 AAU National Championship Team for Sports Performance volleyball club.
Lofton was the MVP and earned the captain award in her senior season for Plainfield South High School. She was also an All-Conference selection.
In her senior season Lofton totaled 131 kills and 125 blocks and 25 digs.
"We look at the transition from high school to club to college, and we think Deyshia will get better and better," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She has all the tools to be a productive middle blocker in the Big Ten. She is long, jumps well and has good lateral speed."
"I think this class will add a lot to the group we already have," Dunbar-Kruzan added. "They are full of personality and I'm looking forward to coaching them during their careers."
The class includes Ally Badowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), Victoria Brisack (Verona, Wis./Verona), Hayden Huybers (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Meaghan Koors (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and Deyshia Lofton (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South).
The class features a State Champion, an AAU National Champion, two Honorable Mention All-Americans and two conference Player of the Year honorees.
IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said she is very excited about what this group of future Hoosiers will bring to the program.
"This is an impact class," she said. "Individually they have many accolades, and as a large class will fill in a lot of gaps with the departure of five seniors this year. They are a very goal oriented class and above all else, they win. At every level they have won, and I think that is so important when you come into the Big Ten. You have to expect to win and train with that mentality every day."
Badowski is a 6-0 outside hitter and was named a 2015-16 Under Armour Girls High School Honorable Mention All-American.
Badowski was a key component on the Brunswick High School team, which went 21-6 in her senior season and was Great Cleveland Conference Champions, Northeast District Division I Champions and a Division I Regional Finalist.
In addition to the All-American honor, Badowski was an All-Ohio First Team selection, 2015 Conference Player of the Year, 2015 District Player of the Year and 2015 Medina Gazette MVP. Badowski recorded 300 kills (4.2/set) in her senior season while hitting .300 and posted 262 digs (3.0/set).
"Ally is a typical Big Ten outside hitter in my book," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I think she will end up being a six rotation outside hitter for us. She is a long athlete that jumps very well. She is someone that if she puts her mind to it can come in and help us immediately."
Brisack is a 6-0 setter and the 2015 All-Big Eight Conference Player of the Year. This season she was named Wisconsin First Team All-State.
Brisack helped Verona Area High School in Verona, Wis., to two Conference Championships, two Regional Championships and the Sectional Championship and a state tournament appearance in her senior year. She is a two-time team captain, four-time All-Conference selection, four-time All-Area selection and a three-time All-State honoree, including three times First Team All-State.
In club volleyball, Brisack has been a three-time JVA team captain and three-time All-National Team selection. She has been the team captain for the No. 1 ranked 17s club team, which has produced three AAU open top-10 finishes.
Brisack has twice been named a USA A1 honoree and the USA A1 team captain. She has been part of High Performance Team that have earned the Bronze and Gold Medals and is a three-time Badger Region High Performance Team Member.
A strong student academically, Brisack has a 4.0 cumulative GPA, is a National Honors Society Member and a two-time AAU Academic All-American. She will graduate early and join the Hoosiers for the spring semester at Indiana.
"Tori is a special player and a special person," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She is a natural born leader and is super competitive. I think she will add a great dynamic to our setter position with Megan and Makayla. I think that will be a great group working together to help move us forward offensively to how we want to play in this conference."
Hayden Huybers is a 6-1 middle blocker and was named a 2015-16 Under Armour Girls High School Honorable Mention All-American and an IHSAA First Team All-State honoree. Huybers was also one of 250 in the country named a PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace.
Huybers was the MVP her junior and senior seasons at Hamilton Southeastern and helped the Royals to 2015 Class 4A Sectional and Regional Championships and a Final Four appearance as a Semi-State Finalist.
Huybers ranked first in Indiana 4A in hitting percentage at .470 and recorded a school record 532 kills her senior year, which ranked eighth best for all classes. She also totaled 116 blocks, good for eighth in the state for 4A. In all Huybers re-wrote the Hamilton Southeastern Record Book with nine school records and six team records during her four years.
"Hayden exploded her senior year so it was great to see her take that step up, not only on the court, but as a leader," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She is very versatile. She will come in as a middle and might end up playing right side or outside for us. She is fast twitch and can play defense and pass. Her potential is unlimited."
Meaghan Koors is a 5-8 defensive specialist and helped No. 1 in the country, Cathedral to an undefeated 36-0 season and an Indiana State Championship in class 4A. Cathedral was the State Runner Up in her junior season.
Koors ranked second on the team in digs and third on the team in kills with a .323 hitting percentage.
Meaghan comes from a winning family with two brothers having won high school state championships, Alex with football in 2006 and went on to become a Division III All-American and Tyler with baseball in 2007 and went on to become a four-year starting pitcher in Division I.
"Meaghan had a fantastic senior campaign at Cathedral where she only knows winning going undefeated this season," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She's a fantastic athlete that will be a defensive specialist for us but also be offensive in the back row. I'm so happy to keep another Indiana player at home, especially one of her caliber."
Deyshia Lofton is a 6-2 middle blocker from Plainfield, Ill., and was on the 2015 AAU National Championship Team for Sports Performance volleyball club.
Lofton was the MVP and earned the captain award in her senior season for Plainfield South High School. She was also an All-Conference selection.
In her senior season Lofton totaled 131 kills and 125 blocks and 25 digs.
"We look at the transition from high school to club to college, and we think Deyshia will get better and better," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She has all the tools to be a productive middle blocker in the Big Ten. She is long, jumps well and has good lateral speed."
"I think this class will add a lot to the group we already have," Dunbar-Kruzan added. "They are full of personality and I'm looking forward to coaching them during their careers."
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
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Setter
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Middle Blocker
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Defensive Specialist
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Middle Blocker
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