University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Volleyball Inks Four In-State Players
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON, TX (11/12/03) -- North Texas volleyball head coach Cassie Headrick has announced that four Texas high school student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play with the Mean Green.
Ashley Bass (Bedford, Tex.), Brooke Engel ( New Braunfels, Tex.), Katy Prokof (Waxahachie, Tex.) and Erica Wendell (New Braunfels, Tex.) signed with North Texas Wednesday on the first day of the early signing period. Awards for the 2003 season have not been announced yet, but all four recruits earned First Team All-District honors prior to their senior season.
"This is by far the most athletic class we've been able to recruit here," said Headrick. "We lose a lot with the departure of our seniors, but we're replacing them with high caliber athletes. This class comes in with a lot of experience and should be able to contribute right away. We were able to steal them away from some other good schools, and it makes me very excited about the future of this volleyball program."
Bass is a 6-0 setter from L.D. Bell High School, where she was a three-year starter, All-District selection and the district's Setter of the Year as a sophomore. She was also a three-time academic all-district selection and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class, surpassing her senior season with the volleyball team. Bass will enroll at North Texas in January and is eligible to compete in spring competition with the Mean Green. While at L.D. Bell, she also played club ball with Team North Texas and posted combined stats of 311 kills, 153 digs, 1069 assists, 154 blocks and 45 aces in 2002-03.
Engel is one of two players out of New Braunfels, but from different high schools. Engel is a 6-0 right side/outside hitter that attended Canyon High School, where she was Second Team All-District as a sophomore and First Team All-District her junior season. She led Canyon in kills as a junior and in both kills and blocks her senior season. Engel was a team-captain in 2003 and is a nominee for her school's Heisman Award.
A 5-11 outside hitter out of Waxahachie High School, Prokof was a First Team All-District selection as a junior and named Second Team All-District her sophomore season. She garnered the awards after leading WHS in kills and digs in both 2001 and 2002. Also a member of the Skyline Volleyball Club, Prokof was named the team's MVP. She recorded 10 assists, 98 kills, 15 aces, 15.5 blocks and 107 digs in 46 games with Skyline in 2002.
Wendell played middle blocker for nationally-ranked New Braunfels High School and is listed as one of the top 250 recruits in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com. Playing for No. 67 New Braunfels, Wendell was a First Team All-District and Second Team All-State selection. She was also a member of the All-Greater San Antonio Area team and named to the Northside All-Tournament Team prior to her senior season.
