George Mason head women's volleyball coach Pat Kendrick has
announced that four freshmen will join the Patriots for the upcoming 2012
season. The four student-athletes are Meredith Bush, Morghan Martin, Bernetta
Moore and Isabella Zaliagiris.
"We are excited about potential impact this recruiting class
will have on the success of the program," said Kendrick. Below is a brief
biography on each of the newcomers.
Meredith Bush
Bush, a 6'1" middle blocker from Pickerington, Ohio, has
played four years of volleyball at Pickerington North High School. With the
Panthers, Bush earned Player of the Year honors in the Central District, as
well as being selected to the Ohio Capital Conference/Ohio Division First Team.
She was a third-team all-state selection, named to the state and district
All-Star Team, and was named the Suburban News Fall Athlete of the Year.
A team captain the last two seasons, Bush led the Panthers
to three straight district and conference championships in each of the last
three years. Her 2011 squad was regional runner-up, and she has also played
eight years of club volleyball. Most recently with the Columbus Volleyball
Academy, Bush has been a part of three-time Junior Nationals qualifiers
including a third-place Gold in the 2010 Junior Nationals in Reno, Nev.
"Meredith is a great addition to our middle blocking core
because of her competitiveness and ability to control the net," Kendrick said.
Bush was also recruited by Buffalo, Delaware and UNC Greensboro.
Morghan Martin
Hailing from Rockledge, Fla., Martin is a 5'7" outside
hitter who has been a three-year member of the Rockledge High School Raiders.
While there, she has earned offensive most valuable player plaudits in each of
the last two seasons. Last season, she totaled 277 kills, 206 digs, 35 aces and
21 blocks. Among her 3.7 kills per set
average was a season-high 30 kill match.
During her 2010 junior campaign, she averaged 4.2 kills per
set en route to 306 total, as well as adding 134 digs, 62 aces and 27 blocks.
She has played seven seasons of club volleyball as well.
"Morghan is a very dynamic and fun player to watch.
Her upbeat play will make her a definite force," said Kendrick. Martin chose
Mason over a number of schools including Butler, Radford and Liberty.
Bernetta Moore
Moore, a Greensboro, N.C., native, played four seasons of
volleyball at Wesleyan Christian Academy, and the 5'8" libero was an
all-conference selection each year from 2009-2012. She earned All-State honors
in her junior and senior seasons, when she was also selected the All-Conference
Player of the Year.
A winner of the Wesleyan Scholar-Athlete Award every year
during her prep career as well, Moore was a four-year Honor Roll member and
belongs to several academic honor societies. She has also played seven years of
club volleyball, and chose Mason over several schools including Radford and
Maryland-Eastern Shore.
"Bernetta's great ball control along with her
competitiveness will allow her to make the back court her own," added Kendrick.
Isabella Zaliagiris
A Conover, N.C., product, Zaliagiris is a 6'2" right side
who, as a member of the Newton-Conover High School varsity team, earned
All-Catawba Valley Athletic Association conference honors each of her four
years. This past season, she was named the Most Valuable Player at the state
championship, where she led the Red Devils to the North Carolina 2A title in
2011. Zaliagiris was also recognized as the Player of the Year at the
conference and regional levels and was the CVAA's top offensive player.
She has played four years with the Sports Academy Volleyball
Club as well as one year with Carolina Junior Volleyball. A member of the
National Honor Society and student body president at NCHS, Kendrick says of
Zaliagiris: "Isabella is a well-rounded player with the ability to adapt to
numerous positions on the floor."
