MSU Beach Volleyball Receives Five Commitments
December 05, 2019 | Beach Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State received has received commitments from five high school seniors to join its beach volleyball team next season, head coach Terri Del Conte announced Thursday. Kate Fitzgerald, Riley Melton, Brooke Plessner, Teagan Polcovich and Elena Sanchez will join the Bears as freshmen in the 2020-21 academic year.
Kate Fitzgerald • Scottsdale, Ariz. • Chaparral High
From the same high school as MSU sophomore Kylee Davis, Fitzgerald played four years of beach volleyball and was a two-time all-region selection on the indoor team at Chaparral High. She helped the Firebirds to a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance on the court her senior season, and was a setter, libero and outside hitter during her prep career.
Del Conte on Fitzgerald:
"Kate had a later start in beach volleyball but you would never notice by watching her play. She is a tremendous athlete who continues to excel quickly because of her work ethic. You couldn't ask for a sweeter person with a solid balance of grit to add to the team dynamic. Kate and her family were instant fits for our school and program."
Riley Melton • Little Rock, Ark. • Homeschooled/Little Rock Central High
Melton was selected for the USA Volleyball National Beach High Performance program and played for 501 Club Beach Volleyball in the sand, and spent the last two seasons of her indoor career at Little Rock Central High, where she earned all-conference honors both seasons while playing on the outside, right side, and setting. Prior to attending Central High, Melton won a pair of national homeschool titles on the court, earning all-tournament honors at the event both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Melton has also spent time as the No. 1 ranked junior tennis player in Arkansas.
Del Conte on Melton:
"Riley originally was a tennis star then fell in love with beach volleyball and converted. Coming from a sport where the entire game is on you, she is used to handling high pressure and maintaining composure. Riley is the kind of athlete who is constantly hungry to learn and grow. There is no doubt in my mind that she will come in and flourish."
Brooke Plessner • O'Fallon, Mo. • St. Joseph's Academy
Plessner has achieved plenty of success on the beach tournament circuit, twice winning the USAV Louisville Beach Junior National Qualifier, and ranking as high as 17th on two occasions at national tournaments. Indoors, Plessner led her team in aces (21), reception percentage (.968) and digs (168) as a senior, her second consecutive season as a starting defensive specialist, and was the only varsity sophomore on a St. Joseph's Academy club that went 32-3 and won the 2017 state championship.
Del Conte on Plessner:
"Brooke's personality is magnetic. She brings great positive energy and a strong sense of camaraderie to her environment. I couldn't help but notice her happy, contagious spirit while staying focused and competitive on the court. That is such a rare and unique trait to have. Brooke is that player and teammate you want on your team."
Teagan Polcovich • Edmond, Okla. • Deer Creek High
A star indoor player, Polcovich started four seasons as a setter, outside, and right side hitter for Deer Creek High, earning Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors her senior year to go along with a spot on the PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list. The Antlers finished fifth at state that season and won the academic state title with a 3.97 team GPA. She was a first-team all-conference pick as a junior and sophomore, finishing third at state both seasons, and was the PrepVolleyball Oklahoma Player of the Year as a junior along with earning All-America honors from the same outlet. She was a USA Volleyball All-American her sophomore year, and placed ninth as the USA Beach Nationals her junior season. Polcovich's mother, Lisa, played volleyball at Florida, while her father, Kevin, played professional baseball for 12 seasons and reached the major leagues for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 1990s.
Del Conte on Polcovich:
"Teagan is a physical specimen with a strong athletic family background. She is so fun to watch because of her gamer mentality and explosive physicality. I am very confident that Teagan will come in and lead by example from day one. She has that natural "I want to be the best" mindset and is highly self-motivated. Teagan was made for this next level."
Elena Sanchez • Centreville, Va. • Paul VI Catholic High
Sanchez accumulated 769 kills, 520 digs and 106 aces as a three-year indoor starter, earning first-team all-conference honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior. Sanchez's club teams earned bids to multiple national tournaments, including a Beach Volleyball Clubs of America national championship bid, while she earned top-three finishes at the National College Showcase Tournament on two occasions.
Del Conte on Sanchez:
"Elena is a versatile athlete and a silent killer on the court. Once that girl unleashes it's a fun sight to see. She moves well in the sand and can be a presence on or off the net. I feel she will really come into her own at Missouri State."
Kate Fitzgerald • Scottsdale, Ariz. • Chaparral High
From the same high school as MSU sophomore Kylee Davis, Fitzgerald played four years of beach volleyball and was a two-time all-region selection on the indoor team at Chaparral High. She helped the Firebirds to a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance on the court her senior season, and was a setter, libero and outside hitter during her prep career.
Del Conte on Fitzgerald:
"Kate had a later start in beach volleyball but you would never notice by watching her play. She is a tremendous athlete who continues to excel quickly because of her work ethic. You couldn't ask for a sweeter person with a solid balance of grit to add to the team dynamic. Kate and her family were instant fits for our school and program."
Riley Melton • Little Rock, Ark. • Homeschooled/Little Rock Central High
Melton was selected for the USA Volleyball National Beach High Performance program and played for 501 Club Beach Volleyball in the sand, and spent the last two seasons of her indoor career at Little Rock Central High, where she earned all-conference honors both seasons while playing on the outside, right side, and setting. Prior to attending Central High, Melton won a pair of national homeschool titles on the court, earning all-tournament honors at the event both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Melton has also spent time as the No. 1 ranked junior tennis player in Arkansas.
Del Conte on Melton:
"Riley originally was a tennis star then fell in love with beach volleyball and converted. Coming from a sport where the entire game is on you, she is used to handling high pressure and maintaining composure. Riley is the kind of athlete who is constantly hungry to learn and grow. There is no doubt in my mind that she will come in and flourish."
Brooke Plessner • O'Fallon, Mo. • St. Joseph's Academy
Plessner has achieved plenty of success on the beach tournament circuit, twice winning the USAV Louisville Beach Junior National Qualifier, and ranking as high as 17th on two occasions at national tournaments. Indoors, Plessner led her team in aces (21), reception percentage (.968) and digs (168) as a senior, her second consecutive season as a starting defensive specialist, and was the only varsity sophomore on a St. Joseph's Academy club that went 32-3 and won the 2017 state championship.
Del Conte on Plessner:
"Brooke's personality is magnetic. She brings great positive energy and a strong sense of camaraderie to her environment. I couldn't help but notice her happy, contagious spirit while staying focused and competitive on the court. That is such a rare and unique trait to have. Brooke is that player and teammate you want on your team."
Teagan Polcovich • Edmond, Okla. • Deer Creek High
A star indoor player, Polcovich started four seasons as a setter, outside, and right side hitter for Deer Creek High, earning Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors her senior year to go along with a spot on the PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list. The Antlers finished fifth at state that season and won the academic state title with a 3.97 team GPA. She was a first-team all-conference pick as a junior and sophomore, finishing third at state both seasons, and was the PrepVolleyball Oklahoma Player of the Year as a junior along with earning All-America honors from the same outlet. She was a USA Volleyball All-American her sophomore year, and placed ninth as the USA Beach Nationals her junior season. Polcovich's mother, Lisa, played volleyball at Florida, while her father, Kevin, played professional baseball for 12 seasons and reached the major leagues for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 1990s.
Del Conte on Polcovich:
"Teagan is a physical specimen with a strong athletic family background. She is so fun to watch because of her gamer mentality and explosive physicality. I am very confident that Teagan will come in and lead by example from day one. She has that natural "I want to be the best" mindset and is highly self-motivated. Teagan was made for this next level."
Elena Sanchez • Centreville, Va. • Paul VI Catholic High
Sanchez accumulated 769 kills, 520 digs and 106 aces as a three-year indoor starter, earning first-team all-conference honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior. Sanchez's club teams earned bids to multiple national tournaments, including a Beach Volleyball Clubs of America national championship bid, while she earned top-three finishes at the National College Showcase Tournament on two occasions.
Del Conte on Sanchez:
"Elena is a versatile athlete and a silent killer on the court. Once that girl unleashes it's a fun sight to see. She moves well in the sand and can be a presence on or off the net. I feel she will really come into her own at Missouri State."
Players Mentioned
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