Five Freshmen Set to Join Women's Volleyball in 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women’s volleyball head coach Jennifer Weiss has announced her five-member freshman class that will join the team for the 2010 season. The incoming class consists of three players from California as well as one from Florida and one from Michigan.

“We are excited to welcome our freshman class and are looking forward to the impact that they will have on our program,” said Weiss. “This class brings with it experience at a high level of training and competition. We know they will find success on and off the court in our Harvard community with their work ethic and passion for academics and volleyball.”

Kelsey Beck, Outside Hitter, 5-9, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park
Started three years at libero and outside hitter and also played one year of varsity tennis … Served as captain during her senior season … Named to All-Metro/all-conference first team and all-state honorable mention as a libero in 2008 … Named to the all-tournament team at the 2009 AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla. … Received varsity team MVP accolades as a senior … Helped team to District 6A championship in 2008 … Led team to District 6A and regional championships in 2009 and a runner-up finish in the state competition … Three-year member of the All-Metro Academic team … AP Scholar with honor … National Honor Society President as a senior … Member of the National Society of High School Scholars … Involved with numerous community service endeavors, including founding the Honduras Orphanage Project.

Erin Cooney, Right Side, 5-10, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Marian
Started three seasons at middle blocker and outside hitter … Named to all-state, all-area/league and All-Eccentric and Oakland Country Team in 2008 and 2009 … Voted Most Improved Player in 2007 … Helped team attain No. 1 ranking and Class A state championships in 2009 … Part of district and regional champion teams from 2007-09 … Helped Legacy Volleyball Club place 19th at 2008 Junior Olympics and fifth at 2009 event … Named to academic all-america team in 2009 and received scholar athlete award in 2009 and 2010 … Named an All-Catholic League Student-Athlete in 2010 … Member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Lead America and National Society of High School Scholars … Recipient of the Harvard Book Award in 2009 … Cousin, Stephanie Storen, played volleyball at Louisville and graduated in 1998 … Aunt, Eileen Cooney, played basketball at Michigan and graduated in 1974.

Natalie Doyle, Setter, 5-8, San Francisco, Calif., St. Ignatius College Prep
Two-year captain of the St. Ignatius volleyball team and seven-year captain for club team … Earned a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics … Received the Central Coast Section Sportsmanship award … Served as student body president … Interned with the division of oncology at the Stanford University School of Medicine … A National Merit finalist … Named an AP Scholar with distinction … Was a school retreat leader and logged over 200 community service hours during high school career.

Teresa Skelly, Middle Blocker, 6-2, Palo Alto, Calif., Henry M. Gunn
Lettered three years on the volleyball team and four for track and field team … Helped team place first in Northern California Volleyball Association rankings in 2009 and 2010 and be ranked as high as second in the nation … Earned All-Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) honorable mention as a sophomore … Named team MVP as a senior and received All-SCVAL first-team accolades … Collected a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics in Miami in 2009 … AP Scholar … National Merit commended student … Served as an assistant coach for the freshman volleyball team during her senior season … Parents, Kevin Skelly ’83 and Carrie Skelly ’83, both attended Harvard and Kevin was a member of the varsity baseball and junior varsity basketball teams.

Edirin Sido, Middle Blocker, 6-0, Dublin, Calif., Valley Christian
Started all four years at middle blocker for Valley Christian varsity team … Served as captain during her senior season … Received all-league second-team defensive honors as a freshman … Earned all-league first-team accolades as a junior and a senior … Named playoffs MVP and team MVP as a senior … Helped team to league championships in 2008 and 2009 … Holds school record for most kills in a match with 24 … Awarded Most Improved Player freshman through junior seasons … Earned a silver medal at the 2009 Junior Olympics … Awarded National Achievement Scholarship … AP Scholar with honor … Involved with the student government as a freshman, junior and senior.