Washington University in St. Louis Volleyball Announces Class of 2016

St. Louis, Mo., May 9, 2012 – Washington University in St. Louis head volleyball coach Rich Luenemann announced the five student-athletes who will make up the incoming freshman class for the 2012 season.

The five players will join the Washington University volleyball program from five different states: Anna Bryniarski, Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township) (5-8, DS/OH); Anna Hunter, Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Lee’s Summit West) (5-8, OH/DS); Jackie Nelligan, Laytonsville, Md. (Richard Montgomery) (5-11, MH); Cassie Wang, Austin, Texas (Lake Travis) (5-6, S); and Allison Zastrow, Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X) (5-9, S).

“Our new Bears are a talented group of five multidimensional players,” Luenemann said. “They’ve enjoyed great success in their high school programs and are familiar with the commitment and work ethic that’s essential to compete and succeed at the highest level. I believe they are all destined to make significant contributions to the WU program.”

Bryniarski was a team captain and two-year letter winner at Lockport Township High School. She tallied 219 kills, 251 digs and served 95 percent as a senior, garnering all-conference honors.

“Anna is a tough, hard-nosed competitor, which is a trait we value in our ball-control specialists,” Luenemann said. “She reads and moves well in the back-court and doesn’t hesitate to get on the floor for a ball. ”

Hunter, a three-year letter winner and senior captain at Lee’s Summit West High School, led the Titans with 162 digs and ranked second with 28 aces in 2011. She helped the team to back-to-back state runner-up finishes, and earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors as a senior.

“Anna’s versatility as a left-side attacker is huge,” Luenemann said. “She swings with power and is a low-error attacker because her athleticism allows her to adjust her body and hit around the block. Anna is also a strong ball-control player who could easily evolve into a solid six-rotation player.”

Nelligan tallied 302 kills, 115 digs and 69 blocks in 16 matches as a senior at Richard Montgomery High School. The four-year letter winner and two-year team captain received All-Gazette and All-Met first-team honors as a senior after leading the Rockets to a regional championship.

“We believe Jackie is loaded with potential and is going to develop into a quick-transition player who can stay in-system in our fast offense,” Luenemann said. “She’s a strong middle blocker who can swing well and close the block quickly.”

Wang, a four-year letter winner, guided Lake Travis High School to a 99-3 record (50-0 in 2011) and back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011. She was a three-time all-district honoree for the Lady Cavaliers, who finished the 2011 season as the No. 1-ranked high school team in America by PrepVolleyball.com.

“Cassie is an exceptional athlete who is as quick as any high school setter in America,” Luenemann said. “She delivers consistent sets to her hitters and can take out-of-system passes and digs and turn them into hittable balls. We’ll also consider Cassie as a ball-control specialist.”

Zastrow finished her career at Lincoln Pius X High School with 2,529 assists, 179 kills, 784 digs and 113 aces. After leading the Thunderbolts to the 2011 state championship, Zastrow was named to the state championship all-tournament team and earned second-team all-state and first-team all-city honors.

“Allison exhibits strong setter skills, targeting her sets well, and is comfortable running a quick offense,” Luenemann said. “She could develop into an elite second-ball attacker, and will also get the chance to swing and block on the right side as the competition for that position is wide open.”

Washington University finished the 2011 season with a 34-2 record and won its 20th University Athletic Association (UAA) championship in program history. Washington U. swept its first 21 opponents of the season, setting an NCAA Division III record with 63-straight sets won. The Bears advanced to the NCAA regional championship before falling in five sets to Carthage College.

Anna Bryniarski • 5-8 • DS/OH • Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township)
HIGH SCHOOL: Team captain and two-year letter winner at Lockport Township High School … Earned all-conference honors … Named Best Libero at National Junior Classic tournament … As a senior, finished with 219 kills, 251 digs and 95 percent serving … National Honor Society … AP Scholar with Distinction.

PERSONAL: Born 7-24-94 … Majoring in biology … Daughter of Richard and Rosemary Bryniarski.

Anna Hunter • 5-8 • OH/DS • Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Lee’s Summit West)
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three varsity letters and served as team captain as a senior at Lee’s Summit West High School … Led the Titans with 162 digs and was second on the team with 28 aces in 2011 … Helped lead Lee’s Summit West to Missouri State Class 4 Runner-Up finishes in 2010 and 2011 … Earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors in 2011 … Named second-team all-conference and all-district in 2010 … Three-time academic all-state honoree (2009, 2010, 2011) … National Honor Society … National Art Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Born 3-2-94 … Majoring in biomedical engineering … Daughter of Dennis and Katherine Hunter.

Jackie Nelligan • 5-11 • MH • Laytonsville, Md. (Richard Montgomery)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letter winner and two-year team captain at Richard Montgomery High School … Tallied 302 kills, 115 digs and 69 blocks in 16 matches as a senior … Helped lead the Rockets to a regional championship and state semifinal appearance in 2011 … Received All-Gazette and All-Met first-team honors as a senior … Selected to play in the 2011 Montgomery County All-Star Game … National Merit finalist … AP Scholar with Distinction … National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Born 8-13-94 … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences … Daughter of Mark and Kathy Nelligan.

Cassie Wang • 5-6 • S • Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letter winner at Lake Travis High School … Guided the Lady Cavaliers to a 99-3 record and back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011 … Team earned a No. 1 national ranking by PrepVolleyball.com and No. 2 ranking by MaxPreps in 2011 … Earned first-team all-district honors in 2010 and second-team all-district honors in 2009 and 2011 … Five-year team captain for her club team … Named to the 2011 national all-tournament team … Received academic all-state honors in 2011 … Four-time academic all-district honoree … National Honor Society Commended Scholar.

PERSONAL: Born 3-1-94 … Majoring in architecture and engineering … Daughter of James and Barb Wang.

Allison Zastrow • 5-9 • S • Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport (volleyball, track & field) letter winner at Lincoln Pius X High School … Recorded 2,529 assists (7.23 per game), 179 kills, 784 digs and 113 aces in her career … Led the Thunderbolts to three-straight top-four state finishes, including the 2011 Nebraska Class B State Championship … Named to the 2011 state championship all-tournament team … Earned second-team all-state and first-team all-city honors in 2011 … Received honorable-mention all-state and second-team all-city honors as a junior … 2011 Andi Collins Award Finalist for top senior setter in nation … Also qualified for the 2011 state track & field championships, placing fifth in the Class A 100 hurdles … NSAA Believers & Achievers award winner … PrepVolleyball.com Academic All-America first team … Academic all-state.

PERSONAL: Born 12-3-93 … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences … Daughter of Dave and Luann Zastrow.