PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley volleyball will have seven freshmen on the 2015 roster according to an announcement by head coach Jenny Maurer with the Braves adding Erica Haslag (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias Catholic), Hanna Alexander (Ladue, Mo./MICDS), Abby Ihrke (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), Raegen Jackson (Arvada, Colo./Lakewood), twins Sierra Peterson and Savana Peterson (Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island) along with Allison Turner (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) for next season.
“We are very excited to add this class of talented young women to our returning squad, many of whom should be much healthier when we take to the court again in 2015,” said Maurer. “They are great additions not only from an athletic standpoint, but each are excellent students and will be great fits to our team culture, as well as to the mission and values of Bradley University. Each possesses the skill set, competitive background and leadership qualities which will allow them to challenge for immediate court time in our pursuit of a Missouri Valley Conference championship.”
A 5-11 outside hitter/middle hitter Haslag was an honorable mention Under Armour All-American as a senior as she helped her school cap an undefeated season with a Missouri Class 3A state title. The Crusaders, who finished the year ranked 31st in the country, won a state record 43 games (43-0) during the 2014 season. She took home first-team all-state honors this fall after earning honorable mention distinction as a junior. A three-time all-district selection, Haslag was a two-time all-region pick and three-time academic all-state honoree. In addition to volleyball, she was a state finalist in the high jump as a freshman. Haslag plans to major in actuarial science.
Alexander was a four-year varsity starter and a three-time all-conference selection. She earned all-district honors each of her final three prep seasons, including first-team accolades this fall and was selected as team MVP for the second consecutive year. A 5-9 setter, Alexander finished her career with over 1,700 career assists, 600 digs and 200 blocks. She is currently playing on a club team with both Haslag and Turner for Rockwood Thunder. Alexander plans to study both business and health science.
Ihrke, who will most likely see court time as a libero/defensive specialist, played for nationally ranked Eden Prairie High School as well as nationally ranked Mizuno Northern Lights Juniors. As a six rotation outside hitter, she earned all-tournament honors at the Minnesota State High School AAA State Championship and helped her team to back-to-back conference titles each of her final two prep seasons. A two-year team captain, the 5-7 Ihrke helped Eden Prairie to a third-place state finish as a senior and was a two-time all-conference performer. She was named to the Star Tribune All-Metro team in addition to garnering all-tournament honors at the state tournament twice during her prep career. At the club level, Ihrke earned all-american honors four times at the AAU and USA Girls Junior National Championships (JNC). A team captain for the Northern Lights 16-2 team, Ihrke helped her squad win the USA Division title at the 2013 (JNC). She intends to major in business.
A team captain, Jackson was a three-time all-conference pick and helped her team to a state tournament appearance as a sophomore in addition to state regional appearances each of her last three prep seasons. The 6-2 middle hitter paced her team in kills, blocks and hitting percentage as a senior. At the club level, Jackson previously played for the nationally ranked Colorado Juniors in addition to currently playing for nationally ranked Colorado Volleyball Association. A part of Lakewood's International Baccalaureate program, Jackson plans to major in civil engineering.
Sierra Peterson is a six-foot outside hitter who earned honorable mention all-state honors from both the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star in her final prep season. An all-conference selection as a senior, she was also named to the Grand Island Independent All-Area Super Squad this past fall. As a junior, Peterson earned third-team all-state honors from the Grand Island Independent after helping her team to a state quarterfinal appearance. She also lettered in basketball and track, where she has made three state track championship appearances heading into her final season. Sierra's club team, Nebraska ONE Volleyball, took fifth at the 2014 USA Girl's Junior National Championships in the Patriot Division. Peterson intends to major in health science.
The twin sister of Sierra, Savana is a 5-6 defensive specialist. The duo helped Grand Island make a state quarterfinal appearance in 2013 and she was an all-conference performer as a senior. The Peterson twins helped their club team Nebraska ONE Volleyball to a fifth-place showing at the 2014 USA Girl's Junior National Championships. A three-time state qualifier in track, she holds top 10 times in school history in the 800 meters and 3,200 meters. Savana also plans on majoring in health science.
Turner was part of a four-time Missouri Class 4A state championship team at Lafayette High School, where she was a first-team all-state and all-district selection as a senior. A two-time all-conference pick, she garnered first-team honors in 2014 and helped Lafayette finish the year ranked 59th nationally. A 6-1 right side, Turner was selected as her team's most improved player her junior year and earned second-team all-league honors that same season. She intends to major in health science.
