North Carolina State University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Three to 2015 Class
4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 15, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. - Three additional student-athletes will be joining the 2015 volleyball class, NC State head coach Bryan Bunn announced today. Laura Blab signed a National Letter of Intent competing to compete for the Wolfpack beginning in the 2011 season, and Alston Kearns and Hannah Thompson will join her on the Pack roster as freshman.
This class marks the first full class recruited and signed by Bunn, who enters his second year at the helm of the Pack volleyball program.
Blab, a 6-2 outside hitter from Wimberley, Texas, has earned an abundance of honors in her prep career. As a senior for Wimberley High School in 2010, she garnered first-team all-state honors en route to leading her team to a Texas 3A state runner-up finish. Blab was named to the 2010 Texas state championship all-tournament team for her outstanding performance in the postseason. She also garnered District MVP honors in her final high school season, and was named to the Division 1 Texas state All Star team as chosen by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
In 2009, as a junior, Blab led Wimberley to a semi-finalist finish in the 3A Texas state volleyball championship. That season, she was also named to the Texas state championship all-tournament team, as well as first-team all-state squad. In the 2008 campaign, Blab garnered the District Newcomer of the Year award.
"We are very excited to have Laura join the Pack next season," says Bunn. "She brings a history of success with her as well as terrific size at the outside hitter position. In addition, she was a late bloomer that moved from middle blocker to outside hitter as a senior in high school and has excelled in that position."
Kearns, a libero who hails from Apex, N.C., competed on the club circuit for the Triangle Volleyball Club. As a senior in 2010, she garnered Prep Volleyball All-America honors, and was named AVCA Under Armour All-America honorable mention. In addition, Kearns was listed as one of the Prep Volleyball top 250 senior recruit aces in 2010. As a senior at Apex High School, she led the Cougars to a perfect 27-0 record and North Carolina 4A state championship in 2010. That season, the Apex squad was ranked by ESPN as the No. 9 team in the country.
"Alston is a great defender and passer who will make an immediate impact on our ball control as a team," says Bunn. "It is especially rewarding for us to attract a very talented local player to our program."
Thompson, a libero from Henderson, N.C., was a three-time all-conference winner at Northern Vance High School. As a senior in 2010, she was named Daily Dispatch Player of the Year, and garnered team MVP honors her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Thompson was also a three-time all-district honoree at Northern Vance.
"Hannah is a terrific athlete that will add depth to our defensive position and will challenge for playing time right away," says Bunn. "She is a great all-around player, having played at the outside hitter position in high school, and we are looking forward to having as a part of the Wolfpack Family."
NC State volleyball concludes its spring action this weekend at UNCG. The 2011 regular season tips off at the Appalachian State Tournament, Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Boone, N.C.
