Tampa Volleyball Announces Incoming Players for 2012 Season

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa volleyball team has announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2012 season, as announced by head coach Chris Catanach.

Among the newcomers are Kim Amerell (Lynchburg, Va.), Caroline Clark (Winter Park, Fla.), Gina Clarke (Fort Myers, Fla.), Megan Heffron (Parker, Colo.), Emilee Larger (Ocala, Fla.), Marissa Lisenbee (Seminole, Fla.), Jen Scholz (Winter Park, Fla.), Jessica Wagner (Cape Coral, Fla.) and Demery Zachery (Brunswick, Ga.).

Kim Amerell - Outside Hitter - 5'8" - Jr. - Lynchburg, Va. - Pfeiffer University
As a Sophomore (PU): Attended Pfeiffer University where she led team with 242 kills…Played in 24 matches, starting 11…Tallied a .207 hitting percentage with 15 assists, nine service aces, 121 digs and 26 total blocks.
As a Freshman (PU): Began her collegiate career at Pfeiffer University where she became record-holder with 19 kills in a four-set match…Named Conference of the Carolinas Freshman Player of the Year in 2011...Concluded season with 177 kills and 111 digs while playing in 26 matches as a true freshman.
High School: Attended E.C. Glass High School where she played for coach David Cardwell…Was named second-team all-district in 2007 and first-team all-district in 2008…Received the coaches award and named most improved player…As a junior, was named first-team all-district and regional honorable mention…Was Lynchburg News Advance Player of the Week…Member of Western Valley all-academic team…Chosen to play in all-star tournament…Played club volleyball for TCA and coach Athena Aronson…
Personal: Invited to play with USA Athletes International team in Holland in summer of 2012…Volunteered at Big Brothers, Big Sisters…Part of the Ambassadors Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes…Full name is Kimberly Marie Amerell…Daughter of Jac and May Amerell…Father played collegiate baseball…Has a younger brother, Patrick…Allied health major, psychology minor…Birthdate: 5/11/1992.
Catanach on Amerell: "Kim brings experience (as a transfer), ball control and a hunger to play and compete. She is a little undersized but plays fast and hard. I expect her to challenge for playing time every day."

Caroline Clark - Defensive Specialist - 5'9" - Fr. - Winter Park, Fla. - Winter Park High School
High School: Graduated from Winter Park High School, where she played libero and outside hitter for coach Stephanie Gibson…Earned the WPHS Sportsmanship Award in 2011 and served as varsity co-captain as a senior for the Wildcats…Part of state regional semi-final victory over Timber Creek High School during senior season…Also played for OVA 18 Molten and coach Betsy Markham…Helped team advance to Junior Olympics in Columbus, Ohio.
Personal: Named an Academic Honor Scholar and International Baccalaureate…Member of the National Honor Society and recipient of Minaret Scholarship…Volunteered with Coalition for the Homeless, Winter Park Day Nursery, Relay for Life, Winter Park Public Library as a biology tutor…Has attended UT volleyball camps since eighth grade…Daughter of Tim and Jennifer Clark…Has two younger siblings, Thatcher and Greycyn…Biology major, psychology minor…Birthdate: 12/18/1993.
Catanach on Clark: "Caroline will compete for playing time at the DS/Libero position. She is an outstanding student-athlete who played for a great high school and Orlando Volleyball Academy. She will make us a better team. We look forward to working with her."

Gina Clarke - Setter - 5'10" - Fr. - Fort Myers, Fla. - Bishop Verot High School
High School: Graduate of Bishop Verot High School, playing for coach Wynn Depasquale…Attended same high school as former Spartan Eva Dupay…Named Offensive Player of the Year and member of all-area team…Also played for USA South club team and coach Danny Mahy…Made it to USAV Junior Olympics in 2006 and 2012.
Personal: Full name is Gina McKenzie Clarke…Daughter of Richard and Sharon Clarke…Has an older sister (Paige) and younger brother (Hayden)…Took two mission trips to Panama to aid indigenous tribes…Worked for Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House…Also volunteered at middle school…Recipient of UT Minaret and Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship…Pre-med/biology major…Birthdate: 12/3/1993.
Catanach on Clarke: "Gina will be joining us this fall but she will redshirt and become a freshmen setter for us in 2013. She makes great decisions and delivers a very hittable ball. Gina is a good blocker and can attack as well. We are excited that she will be running our offense in the future."

Megan Heffron - Outside Hitter - 6'0" - Fr. - Parker, Colo. - Ponderosa High School
High School: Graduate of Ponderosa High School where she played for Rob Graham…First-team all-league selection for the Mustangs…Was second in the state in kills per game…Set school record 32 kills in a match…Was second-team all-league as a junior and member of state championship team as a sophomore…Played for Colorado Juniors, where she helped team to Colorado Crossroads-American title.
Personal: Full name is Megan Renae Heffron…Daughter of Tim and Traci Heffron…Has an older brother (T.J.) and younger sister (Brittany)…Business management major…Birthdate: 5/17/1994.
Catanach on Heffron: "Megan comes to us from Colorado Juniors, one of the outstanding southwestern volleyball clubs. She will compete for playing time at the left or right pin. Meghan has the potential of being a 6 rotation (pass and play defense in the back row and attack in the front row) player for us. Players with this ability are becoming more difficult to find. She plays very good defense and is an aggressive attacker. With added strength and experience, she will make a big impact."

Emilee Larger - Libero - 5'2" - Fr. - Ocala, Fla. - Trinity Catholic High School
High School: Graduate of Trinity Catholic High School where she played for coach Cristie Mitchell…Served as the team captain for the Celtics and was a two-time first-team all-county selection in 2010-11…Also named 2011 team MVP and helped team to Elite Eight in state tournament in 2010 and 2011…Led the county in digs as a junior and senior…Chosen to play in the Gatortown Classic…Also played for the Ocala Power Volleyball Academy and coach Carol Martin…Won the Molten pre-qualifier in 2012.
Personal: Four-year academic honor recipient…Inducted to National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars…Received the ROX Volleyball Scholarship…Also awarded the USAV Commissioners' Scholarship…Volunteered with Operation Shoebox, where she helped put together care packages for soldiers overseas…Also volunteered as high school volleyball camps and Vacation Bible School…Full name is Emilee Ann Larger…Daughter of John and Nancy Larger…Has three younger brothers, Davis, James and Thomas…Nursing major…Birthdate: 1/20/1994.
Catanach on Larger: "Emilee is a DS/Libero who will compete for game time along with the other two freshmen and two returning players. She is a highly motivated young lady inside the classroom and on the court. Emilee brings a wealth of experience to our program and will work hard every day. We are excited to have her."

Marissa Lisenbee - Right Side Hitter - 6'2" - Fr. - Seminole, Fla. - Seminole High School
High School: Attended Seminole High School, playing for coach Dexter Rogers…Was a four-year varsity starter for the Warhawks…Earned all-county honors all four years…Four-time all-PCAC selection and all-Suncoast honors…Named Most Valuable Player in 2011…Recipient of 2012 United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award…Selected to play in 2011 Pinellas County Senior All-Star game…Was a member of the 2011 Northside Christian all-tournament team…Also earned all-academic honors all four years while carrying a 4.5 overall GPA…Also played for Tampa Bay Juniors and coach Randy Dagastino…Helped team qualify for Junior Nationals Open Division…Club was ranked No. 1 in the nation…Also qualified for Big South and Northeast Qualifier Championships, which her team won…Played for Pinellas Heat in 2010, where team was 16's AAU runner-up…In 15's, club won Big South title…Was a national participant in 14's-17's in 2008-11 with Heat…Also played for Team Florida - High Performance and coach Steve Bishop…Finished second in the 2008 silver division, fourth in the 2009 gold division and first in the 2010 gold division…Member of the all-tournament team was also named best blocker.
Personal: Volunteered as a math tutor at Pinellas county schools…Member of Principal and Honor Rolls…Recipient of Bright Futures scholarship…Full name is Marissa Michelle Lisenbee…Daughter of John and Bridget Lisenbee…Mother played volleyball at Oakland University (1983-87)…Grandfather, Michael Bohnet, played basketball at Ferris State from 1958-61, and earned a 2008 Hall of Fame induction by school…He also played professional basketball for the Kansas City Steers…Uncle, Mike Bohnet, played basketball at Olivet College, from 1980-84…Pre-med/chemistry major…Birthdate: 4/19/1994.
Catanach on Lisenbee: "Marissa could impact us immediately. Her size, athleticism and volleyball IQ are three of the qualities that make her an outstanding new player for our program. She has received the highest academic scholarship (President's Scholarship) that UT offers. Marissa and our sophomore setter, Kahley Patrick, played club together and they should have an instant connection. We expect Marissa to play on the right pin, providing us with a big block and powerful attack."

Jen Scholz - Libero - 5'6" - Fr. - Winter Park, Fla. - Winter Park High School
High School: Attended Winter Park High school where she played for coach Stephanie Gibson…Played libero and outside hitter for the Wildcats…Named team MVP, and captain…Also received the Christian Leadership Award…Chosen to compete in North-East Qualifier, South-East Qualifier, Junior Olympics and in-town tournaments…Also led team to state tournament Final Four match…Played club volleyball for Orlando Volleyball Academy and coach Betsy Markham…Helped team qualify for Junior Olympics.
Personal: Member of Honor Roll and dual enrollment program…Regularly volunteers with outreach organization through Orlando Children's Church where she serves as mentor for underprivileged children…Daughter of Mike and Debbie Scholz…Has four older siblings, Nicole, Cynthia, Amy and Hannah…Physical education major…Birthdate: 10/18/1993.
Catanach on Scholz: "Jen will compete for playing time at the DS/Libero position. She and Caroline (Clark) played for Winter Part High School and Orlando Volleyball Academy. Jen has grown up around the game, with two older sisters who played in college, and brings experience and ball control to our program. She is a great volleyball player with instincts and intangibles that we can't teach. We look forward to working with her."

Jessica Wagner - Middle Blocker - 6'2" - Fr. - Cape Coral, Fla. - North Fort Myers High School
High School: Graduate of North Fort Myers High School, where she played for coaches Jeremy Ridgeo and Nancy Eskay…Set school record for most kills and blocks in a season…Also finished career as school's all-time leader in kills and blocks…Named the News Press all-area volleyball Player of the Year…Was ranked by Max Preps as No. 15 hitter in the nation…Also played for the USA South 18 national team and coach Danny Mahy.
Personal: Member of Principal's List and Dean's List and graduated Summa Cum Laude from high school…Volunteered for USA South middle school volleyball league…Performed frequent beach clean-ups with SGA…Daughter of Dawn Gosser…Pre-med/biology major…Birthdate: 3/24/1991.
Catanach on Wagner: "Jess has a rare combination of height, athleticism and high academics. She will help us immediately in the middle. Jess was a multisport athlete in high school (volleyball, basketball and track) and we think that she will improve quickly when focusing just on volleyball. Jess and Gina are club teammates from USA South Volleyball Club. They will be a bright part of the future of our program."

Demery Zachery - Middle Hitter - 6'0" - Fr. - Brunswick, Ga. - Glynn Academy
High School: Graduate of the Glynn Academy…Four-year letterwinner in three sports for the Red Terrors, competing in volleyball, basketball and track and field…Placed third in the state in the shot put in 2010…Helped volleyball team to four straight state playoff appearances…Captain of volleyball and basketball teams as a junior and senior…Named Most Athletic Female/Senior and recipient of three most blocks awards from 2009-11…Honored as first-team all-region middle blocker three times (2009-11)…Chosen to 2010 First Coast Dig Pink all-tournament team…Played club volleyball for JJVA and coaches Adis Imamovic and C.J. Sherman…Played in Florida Power League and took JAX JAM first place in Gold 17 Open Division in 2011…Played in Asics OVA Invitational and Colorado Crossroads, where she won the triple crown standout individual athlete award…Club was ninth in Big South in Gold 17 National Division…Was fifth in 17U USAV Regional BID…Played in 2011 USAV Florida Regional and USAV Junior National Championship…Participated in 2009-10 Peachtree Classic in Atlanta, helping team to second-place finish…Also played in Big South, USAV Southern Regional (third place), JAX JAM, Winterblast and adidas First Coach Summer Fest.
Personal: Member of National Honor Society…Volunteered with Side-Out Foundation/Dig Pink as a fund-raiser…Also donated time with United Way, YWCA, FCA, DECA and FBLA.Full name is Demery Rose Zachery…Daughter of Harvey Zachery and Landy Rose…Has a younger brother, Jaiden…Grandfather, George Rose, played in the NFL from 1964-72…Father played college football at East Tennessee State University…General studies major…Birthdate: 8/18/1994.
Catanach on Zachery: "Demery is an outstanding athlete who is very young to volleyball. She only played one club season but that was enough to impress us with her skill set. She is a high flyer who we expect to challenge for a starting middle hitter position during her sophomore year."