May 21, 2010
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Head coach Josh Steinbach has announced the signing of three additional players to join the Villanova volleyball team in the 2010 season.
Carly Edwards, Mariah Henley and Julie Joyce will arrive at Villanova and be eligible to play for the Wildcats beginning in the 2010 season.
Edwards is a middle blocker from Okemos, Mich. At Okemos High School she was a two-year letterwinner and was a two-time academic all-conference selection and named academic all-state in her senior season. Edwards was invited to the USA National High Performance Training Camp during her junior year and was a captain of the Spartan Juniors National Club Team. She was named first team all-conference and placed on the Under Armour All-American High School Watch List.
"At 6'4," Carly has huge potential and will bring a physical presence into the gym that we haven't had. She has a natural block and is very impressive. We hope she can bring her blocking talent to our squad and give us that presence that we haven't had for a few years," Steinbach said.
Henley is a defensive specialist from Hockessin, Del. At Ursuline Academy she was a four-year letterwinner and a four-time scholar athlete. Henley was named the 2009 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year and a leader at middle blocker for three-time state champion Ursuline. She also earned first team all-state honors and first-team all-catholic honors in her senior season. In 2009, Henley posted 351 kills, 296 digs and 50 service aces.
"Mariah is a dynamic athlete," Steinbach said. "Our gym will be better immediately because she is in it. She is a competitive athlete and I am looking forward to her bringing that tenacity to our squad. Adding Mariah to our roster should make us one of the best defensive teams in the league."
Joyce will join the Wildcats from Downington, Pa. At Bishop Shanahan, she was a two-year letterwinner as a defensive specialist. She helped her squad to a 2009 AAA Pennsylvania State Championship and was the 2009 state tournament defensive MVP. Henley was named to the first team all-area squad and led Bishop Shanahan in digs in 2009. Her father is a professor at Villanova.
"Julie knows how to win and is coming off a high school state championship," said Steinbach. "She is a natural defensive player and has a stellar serve, where I expect her to make an immediate impact. She is aware of the rich Villanova tradition from her father and will be an asset to our team."
"These three players really round out an excellent recruiting class for us that I expect will help us move up the BIG EAST rankings in the upcoming years," Steinbach said.
Edwards, Henley and Joyce will join previous signees Alyssa Anderson and Allison Williams as the class of 2014.
