Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Volleyball Announces Four Signees for Class of 2008
11/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2007
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball head coach Cathy George announced today that four student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University next fall. Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich./Livonia Churchill), Natalie Emro (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette), Carli Weiler (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) and Rebecca "Becca" Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) make up the Spartan volleyball Class of 2008.
Kyndra Abron is one of the most highly-touted high school volleyball seniors in the state of Michigan. Abron, a middle hitter, was recently tabbed as "Miss Volleyball 2007" by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA), following up her first-team all-state, all-region and all-conference accolades earlier in the season. Nationally, she is ranked No. 14 on Prepvolleyball.com's "Senior Aces" list, highlighting the top high school volleyball players in the country, and was also selected to the USA Volleyball National A2 team. As a junior, Abron led Livonia Churchill to the Michigan Class A State title, posting 35 kills in the title game, a Class A championship game record. In addition to her senior year honors, she was a MIVCA First Team All-State selection as a junior and an honorable mention choice as a sophomore. Additionally, as a sophomore and a junior, Abron was first team all-region, all-conference and academic all-state. She currently competes with the M-Junior Volleyball Club out of Ann Arbor, Mich. Aside from being a three-year letterwinner in volleyball, she also twice lettered in track & field, earning All-State honors in 2006 after placing eighth in the shot put at the state championship.
"Kyndra has amazing athletic potential," said George. "She will dominate matches in Green and White, as she continues to develop her game."
Natalie Emro, like Abron, was recognized by PrepVolleyball.com on its "Senior Aces" list, placing No. 33 nationally. Emro led the St. Louis metro area in assists as a senior, averaging 10.62 per game, earning her First Team All-State honors. She also garnered all-conference, all-region and all-district first team honors, while leading Lafayette to a third-place finish at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) 4A State Championships this season. As a junior, she shared team most valuable player honors and accepted first team all-conference, all-district and all-regions acknowledgments. In her sophomore year, Emro won a USA Volleyball National Championship in the 16-National Division and earned all-tournament team honors in the process. Additionally as a sophomore, she trained with the USA Volleyball Youth National Team. Emro is currently a member of the Team St. Louis Volleyball Club in St. Louis, Mo. A honor roll student, Emro also lettered two seasons in basketball.
"Natalie combines athleticism, size, desire and playing ability, which will allow her to have a major impact in the Big Ten," said George. "Her ability to set and attack makes her a multi-dimensional weapon that will be difficult to defend."
Carli Weiler finished her high school career as one of the top liberos in the nation, being honored by PrepVolleyball.com as one of the top-five liberos in the country and named to their "Defensive Dandies" list. As a senior Weiler anchored the Mother McAuley defense with 553 digs and lead them to a second-place finish at the Illinois Class 4A State Championship. After the season, she was named second team all-state, and first team all-conference and all-area, the same honors she had received as a junior, when she posted 473 digs. She is part of the 1st Alliance Volleyball Club in Chicago. Off the court, Weiler has been an "A" and "B" honor roll student in each semester of high school.
"Carli brings a wealth of volleyball experience and competitive attitude to our team," said George. "Her passing and defensive abilities will help solidify our ball control in 2008 and beyond. Spartan fans will love watching her make defensive plays look easy."
Rebecca "Becca" Zlabis was also a member of PrepVolleyball.com's "Senior Aces" compilation, ranked No. 73 in the nation. A three-year letterwinner at Wheaton Warrenville South, Zlabis earned first team all-conference and all-area honors as both a junior and a senior, along with being named the school's "Offensive Player of the Year" three times. During her sophomore year, Zlabis helped lead the Sports Performance 16-Elite team to the USA Volleyball 16-Open National Championship, starting every match at outside hitter. She currently competes for the Sports Performance Volleyball Club out of Aurora, Ill. An all-academic selection, Zlabis boasts a cumulative grade point average of 4.4 and has been a member of the honor roll in every semester.
"Becca is a perfect addition to the Michigan State roster," said George. "She is a six-rotation player who combines athleticism, passing, defense and shot- making ability to make her a solid all-around player, who can draw on her experience early in her collegiate career."
