Volleyball Welcomes Three for 2019

Head coach Cathy George has announced the addition of three future Spartans who have committed to continuing their education and volleyball career at Michigan State University.

The Spartan freshman class enrolling in the fall of 2019 includes defensive specialist Hannah Grant (Northville, Mich.), outside hitter Biamba Kabengele (Burlington, Ontario) and middle blocker Emma Monks (Louisville, Ky.).

"We're very pleased to put together a class that will add so much to our team," said George. "This is a third straight year of highly-rated recruiting classes for Michigan State. These three will be strong additions to an already talented team which gained valuable experience this year. There is no doubt that they will provide the strength, depth and skill to make our team very competitive day-to-day within the Big Ten."

All three are coming from highly successful backgrounds. As a team captain, Grant has helped guide Northville High School into this weekend's MHSAA State Semifinals, the furthest the school has advanced in the postseason in school history. Monks' undefeated Assumption High School squad is ranked atop the USA Today national poll and won a second-straight State Championship in 2018. Kabengele helped her high school to a 2017 Ontario All-Catholic Volleyball championship and four Ontario Volleyball Association Indoor Provincial Championships.

"It matters that these players are coming from situations where they have experienced not only personal success but also team success," continued George. "It's so valuable to add players with championship experience – they have had opportunities to make decisions when it's all on the line and found a way to win."

Welcome grant

Hannah Grant
5-8   DS/ L    Northville, Mich./Northville     Club: Legacy

Club: Played for Jen and Ricky Cottrill of the Legacy Volleyball Club… Two-time AAU/USAV All American Award recipient… Two-time Prep Volleyball Defensive Dandy … All-Tournament Team honoree in multiple tournaments… Starting Libero for three top-10 Nationally Ranked Open Division Teams (Legacy 18 Elite, Team Detroit 16-1 and Team Detroit 15-1)…

High School: Helped Northville to a regional championship in 2018 and is still active in the state semifinals … Four-time All-State Academic award selection… Two-time All-Conference, All-Area, All-Region and All KLAA Tournament team… Third team All-State in 2017… Four-year letterwinner… Varsity starter all four years…

Personal: Daughter of Steve and Andrea Grant… Has a younger sister, Mackenzie… Father is a 1991 graduate of the University of Michigan – Dearborn where he played basketball… Mother is a 1995 graduate of Madonna University where she played softball… Uncle Roy Rutherford was a football letterman at Eastern Michigan, graduating in 1982 … Member of the Athletic Leadership Council at Northville HS … Plans on majoring in Kinesiology.

Cathy George on Hannah Grant: "One of the things I love about Hannah is what a determined young athlete she is – I love her competitive nature.   She is a tremendously talented back-row player who has also been a setter and a hitter, so she also brings some versatility to the lineup. She has a great sense for the game and a very high volleyball IQ. Her team is playing in the state semifinals last week, so we're thrilled for her that her high school career is going to end with a championship run.

Biamba Kabengele
6-0      Outside Hitter        Burlington, Ontario, Canada / Corpus Christi Catholic          Club: Halton Region Volleyball Club

Club: Played for Gaby Jobst of the Halton Region Volleyball Club… Four-time Ontario Volleyball Association Indoor Provincial Champion … Finished fourth at the 2017 Canada Games and fifth at 2017 Volleyball Canada … 16U and 18U Team Ontario member…   National Team Challenger Cup silver medalist in 2016… Ontario Volleyball Association 16U Indoor Provincial silver medalist in 2016…Volleyball Canada 15u and 16u Indoor East National Champion and All-Star in 2015…

High School: 2017 Ontario All-Catholic Volleyball champion... 2017 Ontario OFSAA Girls "AA" champion… 2016 Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School senior volleyball MVP… 2016 Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School Junior Female Athlete of the Year… 2014 Alexander's Public-School Female Athlete of the Year…

Personal: Daughter of John and Tshilongo Kabengele… Has a two siblings, Nseya and Mfiondu… Brother, Mfiondu, is on the basketball team at Florida State … Uncle, Dikembe Mutombo, graduated from Georgetown in 1991 where he played basketball and played in the NBA for 18 seasons… Plans on majoring in Journalism.

Cathy George on Biamba Kabengele: "Biamba is explosive – she is a dynamic, powerful hitter and blocker who is a six rotation player. Her game is very physical, aggressive and competitive. Biamba has a ton of personality when she plays. We're looking forward to her growing into a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten as her game develops.

Welcome Monks

Emma Monks
6-3 Middle Blocker Louisville, Ky./ Assumption Club: KIVA

Club: Played for Ron Kordes of the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy … 2018 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American … Two-time Central Zone Invitational Champion (2016,2017)… JVA Summerfest champion and JVA All-American Team in 2016… Took first place at SPVB Junior Nationals in 2017… SPVB Junior Nationals All-Tournament Team…

High School: Helped Assumption to the 2017 and 2018 Kentucky State championships and the No. 1 national ranking by USA Today … Asics Challenge All-Tournament team as a senior … Helped her team to LIVT and A sics Challenge championships in 2018 … Two-time Durango Fall Classic champion (2017,2018) …Three-time Avon Tournament champion (2016, 2017, 2018) … JV LIVT Champion in 2016… AHS Freshman Tournament Champions in 2015 … Providence Tournament and Freshman LIVT championship winner in 2015… Kentucky HS Athletic Association Academic All – State honoree … Three-year letterwinner…

Personal: Daughter of Toby and Anita Monks… Has two younger siblings, Brady and Jay…Uncle, Brandy Monks, played basketball at Bellarmine University… Made the Principal's List as a freshman and the Honors List as a sophomore and junior… Planned Biology major.

Cathy George on Emma Monks: "Emma comes from very successful high school and club programs. We saw her early in her career and we felt that she had a ton of potential – as now she is really growing into her game, she's becoming fantastic blocker and attacker and we are looking forward to her continued growth as a Spartan. It's really nice seeing that all the work that she's put in is paying off and we are very proud of her."

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