Elon Volleyball Signs Three for Inaugural Season in Schar Center

ELON, N.C. – Elon University volleyball has announced the addition of three future student-athletes in Haylie Clark (Saint Cloud, Fla./Harmony High School), Leah Daniel (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community High School) and Kellyn Trowse (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Preparatory School). All three players signed with the Phoenix on National Signing Day and will join the program ahead of the 2018 campaign, its first inside Schar Center.

“We are so excited to welcome three new players and their families to Elon University and our volleyball program,” said Elon head coach Mary Tendler. “All three are a great fit and will make an immediate impact on our program as we look to continue to rise in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association.

“I’d like to thank both Tina Readling, our recruiting coordinator, and assistant coach Karlis Dunens for the countless number of hours they have put in to secure such an outstanding class.”

Haylie Clark | Saint Cloud, Fla. | Harmony High School | Setter | 5-11
Notes: A four-time First Team All-Orange Belt Conference (OBC) honoree under Jeannie Clark at Harmony High School, Clark finished her career winning the OBC championship as a junior and senior while helping Harmony earn District runner-up in each of her final two seasons. A team captain all four years, Clark was named Team MVP as a junior and senior while picking up OBC Player of the Year as a junior. She was also named Osceola News-Gazette and Spectrum Sports Osceola County Player of the Year after her junior season while claiming Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State honors as a junior and senior. She also picked up a Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star nomination after her senior season. Clark plays club volleyball for OTVA 18 South Red with coach Tom Snodgrass. Upon arrival at Elon, she plans to major in Exercise Science.

Quoting Coach Tendler: “Haylie is an extremely athletic setter who set at a high level in both high school and club, and I anticipate she will make a smooth transition into the collegiate game. When I watch her play, it is very evident she has the ability to make the players around her better because of her talent and leadership skills.”

Leah Daniel | Zionsville, Ind. | Zionsville Community High School | OH | 6-1
Notes: A four-year letterwinner at Zionsville Community High School, Daniel helped lead the Eagles to new heights in her career. As a junior, she helped Zionsville to the 4A Regional Championship – the first in school history – before going on to help the Eagles win the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championship (HCC) as a senior, which was also the first conference title in school history. An Indiana All-Star as a junior and senior, Daniel also helped the Eagles to the 4A Sectional Championship in her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. A MaxPreps Indiana State Player of the Year finalist as a senior, she was also named a PrepVolleyball Top 150 Senior Ace and finished her final season as a First Team All-HCC honoree, an Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches 4A All-North Central District honoree and a 4A Second Team All-State award winner. Earlier in her career as a sophomore, Daniel was named a PrepVolleyball Sophomore Club Watch Lister and to the 2016 AAU Nationals Shining Star List. She plays club volleyball for Team Indiana and coach Rich Coleman and helped the team to finish fifth at the 2016 AAU National Championship 17U Open. Daniel comes from a family line of collegiate athletes with her father a Virginia basketball alum, her aunt an Ohio State volleyball alum and her uncle a DePauw basketball alum. Daniel also played volleyball with the sister of former Elon men’s basketball standout Jack Isenbarger ’14. Off the court, Daniel plans to major in Elementary Education.

Quoting Coach Tendler: “Leah’s strength and athleticism stood out immediately to us; she has all the tools to be very successful in our program. Because of her desire to push herself, she has developed into a skilled six rotation outside hitter. Each time we saw her play, it was evident she was evolving as a player. Much credit goes to Leah for her work ethic and her coaches for preparing her for the next level.”

Kellyn Trowse | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Preparatory School | OH/RS | 6-2
Notes: A letterwinner in three sports at Berkeley Preparatory School, Trowse is a four-year volleyball player, a four-year basketball player and a three-year track and field athlete. In volleyball, she helped lead Berkeley Prep to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Final Four in both of her junior and senior seasons, guiding the Buccaneers to a 30-2 record as a senior on the way to winning the state championship in a five-set match where she finished with 17 kills. Trowse was also named to the Berkeley Prep Invitational All-Tournament Team as a senior. In track and field, Trowse and Berkeley were regional finalists twice, finishing fourth place in 10th grade and third place in 11th. She has played club volleyball for Tampa Elite and OTVA Elite. A National Honors Society and Social Sciences Honors Society member in high school, Trowse was on the Headmaster’s List all four years and was the vice president of HOSA and the Medical Science Club while also serving as the president and founder of the Law Club at Berkeley Prep.

Quoting Coach Tendler: “Kellyn is a versatile player that will be an asset to our program at either pin. She has both power and finesse and will put up a strong block. Kellyn has a great feel for the game and has an uncanny ability to make reads on defense. Her drive to excel on the court is exceeded only be her desire for high achievement in the classroom.”