November 20, 2007

Two Sign on With Volleyball

One from Nebraska, One from Colorado

      Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney head volleyball coach Rick Squiers announced today that Jena Isaacson (Holdrege) and Shelby Workman (Loveland, Colo.) have signed letters of intent to play for the Lopers next season.

      UNK, just finishing the 2007 season with a 33-5 record, loses three seniors this year in outside hitter Alison Glidden and back row players Lauren Nordhues and Steph Hoemann.

      Workman is an outside hitter while Isaacson projects as a middle or outside hitter at the collegiate level. Squiers expects to add a couple of more players to the roster in the spring.

       "We are really excited about Jena and Shelby.  In addition to their strong character and personal qualities, each will help us address the specific needs of our program as we  make progress toward competing at the national level in 2008," sad Squiers.

      Isaacson (6-0) has been an all-state performer for the Holdrege Dusters in volleyball, basketball and track the past three years. Her many school records includes kills (630) and ace blocks (198) in a career, points in a basketball season (389), and a 14.6 in the 100 hurdles.

      This past volleyball season, she set school records for kills (298) and blocks (90) in a year while digging up 265 balls.

      Both of Isaacson's parents, Jim and Janice, participated in sports in college. Jim was a baseball player at UNK while Janice was a volleyball and basketball player at Trinity (Ill).

      "Jena is one of the best athletes in the state.  Her volleyball potential is very exciting and she has the versatility to play multiple positions.  She is a great addition to the 2008 roster," said Squiers.

      Workman (Loveland H.S.) will be the first Loper volleyball player from Colorado since Meghan Stewart (Arvada) starred on the outside from 1996-99. Standing 5-10, Workman missed her senior volleyball season due to an injured ankle but is expected to be a full strength when she comes to Kearney.

      "Shelby is the most complete volleyball player we have recruited since Erin Arnold.  Her high level club experience with the NORCO Juniors has prepared her well to be a full rotation player at UNK," said Squiers.

      A stand out for the Loveland Indians volleyball and tennis teams, Workman's club volleyball team has advanced to the Junior Olympics in four of the last five years.

      As a junior for LHS, she led the team in kills (256) and service aces (67) and was second in digs (197).

      She also comes from an athletic family as her father, Tony, was an All-American football player at Fort Hays State while her older sister, Maggie, is a sophomore volleyball player at Creighton.

      Under Squiers, UNK has gone 289-44 since 1999, including a 162-9 mark at home. The Lopers have made nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the Elite Eight three times in the last five yeas.