VanBeek, Jarvis to Join Youngstown State Volleyball Program

by YSU

Thursday, Apr 23, 2015 8:08 am

Youngstown State head volleyball coach Mark Hardaway has announced that a pair of 6-foot-2 middle hitters, Lori VanBeek and Cassady Jarvis, will join the program starting in the fall of 2015.

VanBeek is currently a sophomore at NJCAA power Parkland College, and Jarvis is a senior at Edison High School in Ohio. VanBeek signed a National Letter of Intent, and Jarvis has committed to the program as a walkon.

"We are very excited to have Lori and Cassady joining our program," Hardaway said. "Along with Sarah Varcolla, who signed in November, we feel this class gives us some much needed size and versatility for our offense. We are looking forward to having Lori, Cassady, and Sarah join the Penguin family.

VanBeek earned D-II NJCAA All-America honors twice while competing at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. The Cobras were the national runners up twice, and they posted a 106-6 record with VanBeek as one of the top players in the nation. VanBeek, originally from Paw Paw, Illinois, led the country with a .483 hitting percentage as a sophomore, and she hit .459 as a freshman. She was fifth in the country in blocks per set (1.71) as a sophomore, and she was ninth (1.75) as a freshman. VanBeek averaged 3.21 kills per set as a sophomore and 2.09 as a freshman. She led the country in total blocks both years.

"Lori brings a huge amount of experience that we really felt we needed with the loss of Shannon Watson and Lexi Egler, who were both four year starters for our program. Lori is used to carrying a big load for a very successful junior college and has competed in two national championship matches. That high level of experience will be invaluable in our gym both in practice and matches. She plays high above the net and is a very solid blocker. Her accolades as an All-American speak for themselves."

Jarvis set school career records at Edison with 729 kills and 361 blocks, and she also holds the career record for kill percentage. The Bloomingdale, Ohio, native also registered 102 aces and played in 289 sets in her career. She was named first-team all-district as a senior and first-team All-OVAC, and she played in the District 5 and OVAC all star games. She helped Edison to Buckeye 8 and OVAC 5A championships as a sophomore.

"Cassady brings depth and size for us in the front row," Hardaway said. "She doesn't have the same experience level as many of our players, but we feel she has the physical tools and size to develop into a strong player at the net. She has a good arm, and we can't wait to start working with her.

Youngstown State is coming off a 2014 season in which it went 17-14 and advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament for the second straight year. The 17 wins were the most by the program since 1999.

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