Wolfpack Volleyball Adds Two for 2019 Season

RALEIGH, N.C. – Third-year NC State volleyball head coach Linda Hampton-Keith announced on Wednesday the addition of two newcomers to the program for the 2019 season. Erin Kearney and Hannah Wander will join the Wolfpack in the summer to bring the recruiting class to five players.

Both are defensive specialists that will help with the Pack's defense and passing from the back row.

Erin Kearney
5-4 | Defensive Specialist
Clear Falls High School
League City, Texas

- Three-year varsity letterman at Clear Falls High School
- Led the Knights to a 29-16 record as a senior after collecting a team-high 814 digs in 131 sets played
- Named a 2018 Under Armor Honorable Mention All-American and was also tabbed to the Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches 6A All-State Team
- Received Galveston County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in addition to claiming First Team All-County Honors
- She is a two-time recipient of the 24-6A First Team All-District, earning the accolade in 2018 and 2016
- Selected as the 2018 24-6A District Co-Defensive Player of the Year
- Recognized as one of Prep Volleyball's Defensive Dandies as a junior and senior
- Helped Clear Falls end the 2017 season as a Texas Regional finalist
- Named to the Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches All-Texas 61 Watch List prior to the 2017 and 2018 seasons
- Secured Prep Volleyball Soph 79 High Honorable Mention
- Plays for Houston Stellar in Club Volleyball and was a Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association First Team and East All-Star Team selection
- Also achieved Greater Houston Honorable Mention All-VYPE Magazine honors in 2018
- Garnered Preseason Great Houston All-VYPE in 2017 and 2018
- Chosen as a Great Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Player to Watch/FAB 50 as a senior and junior
- Three-time USA Volleyball Junior National Championships Qualifier
- Additionally, she is a strong student achieving District 24-6A All-Academic recognition as a sophomore, junior and senior
- Tabbed a 2018 Texas and Greater Houston All-Academic selection
- Member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society
- Four-year Clear Creek Independent School District Superintendents Scholar Award recipient
- Parents are Don and Lara and she has two older brothers, Sean and Brendan
- Wants to become a veterinarian

Kearney on Choosing NC State – "I grew up in Texas and it's a very agriculture-based area and I found NC State to be very similar. I have family up here and I love the culture here, it feels like home away from Raleigh. I love the trees here in Raleigh, we don't have these in Texas and being here is refreshing and feels natural. The team is so tight and I'm super excited to be a part of the family."

Hampton-Keith on Kearney – "We are so excited to finally have Erin join us, we have been going through the recruiting process with her for a while now. We identified Erin as someone we would love to have in our program as we were building our idea of what it means to be part of the Pack. Her experience level and impact on the court and on those around her will be welcome attributes to our team."

Hannah Wander
5-5 | Defensive Specialist
Chapel Hill High School
Chapel Hill, N.C.

- Attended Chapel Hill High School and competed for Carolina Edge Volleyball Club
- Earned all-conference honors all four years as a member of the varsity squad at CHHS and served as the team captain as a senior
- Surpassed 1,000 career digs as a junior during the 2017 season
- Also, earned the Chapel Hill defensive award as a junior and coach's award following her freshman season
- Received the 2017 defensive MVP of the Carolina Regional Championships 17s Division in addition to securing a spot on the all-tournament team
- Additionally claimed North Carolina High School Sand Volleyball Association All-Conference honors after her freshman year
- Served as the president of the sand volleyball club
- Collected Capitol Hill Classic Best Digger Award at a 14 Club Tournament
- An excellent student, as she is a member of the National Honors Society and is also an AP Scholar
- Parents are Joseph and Anne, who ran cross country in college
- Has an older sister Olivia, who attends NC State and her grandfather Donald also attended NC State
- Can play the ukulele, has swum with whale sharks and loves Harry Potter

Wander on Choosing NC State – "I really like the fact that it's local and close to home. I really like the program culture and the enthusiasm of all of the girls and coaches. I'm looking forward to playing with my future teammates and competing at a high level.

Hampton-Keith on Wander – "Hannah will bring such a calming presence with a high level of precision and execution. She will be a fantastic student-athlete with the potential to impact us immediately."

Kearney and Wander join fall signees, Kristen McDaniel and Daniela McDonald, along with transfer Taylor Rowland to bring the number of newcomers to the squad for the 2019 season to five.

NC State ended the 2018 season with a 15-13 overall record and a 9-9 mark in ACC play. The Wolfpack finished the year strong by winning five of its six matches during the month of November.

Three members of the Pack earned All-ACC honors at the conclusion of the season: Melissa Evans, Kylie Pickrell and Teni Sopitan. Click here for a recap of the 2018 season.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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