North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Volleyball Inks One in Fall Recruiting
12/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 15, 2003
NC State volleyball head coach Mary Byrne has announced the signing of Lauren Markowski of St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Illinois. Markowski marks Byrne's first addition to the Wolfpack recruiting class for the 2004 season.
At 5-9, Markowski has been a jack of all trades for the Spartans, playing at three different positions: outside hitter, rightside and setter at the high school level, and will be a setter for the Wolfpack. A strong competitor all over the court, she helped lead St. Francis to back-to-back IHSA Class A State Championships as a junior and senior in 2002 and 2003. In the final game of the 2003 championship tournament, Markowski finished with a match-high 12 kills off an impressive .579 attack percentage, to go with four digs defensively, as the Spartans defeated Mt. Pulaski High School 25-19, 25-20.
Overall on the year, she finished third on the team in kills with 209 and third in assists with 75. Markowski also recorded 39 service aces and 11 blocks for head coach Peg Kopec's Spartans. Numbers like those, helped earn the senior Chicago Sun Times All-Area second team and Chicago Tribune All-State special mention honors. Furthermore, Markowski also brings to NC State valuable club experience after playing with Sports Performance, a top club program in Chicago.
"I am very excited about having Lauren as a member of our program starting next fall," said Byrne. "She is such a fierce competitor and obviously knows what it takes to be successful. She exhibits the type of play we want here at NC State. Again, Lauren is a much welcomed addition to our team and I'm looking forward to coaching her beginning next season."
