No. 6-ranked Volleyball Welcomes Four to Class of 2021
November 11, 2020 | Women's Volleyball
Cresse, Morningstar, and Scott added with Schetnan signing with women's basketball as a two-sport athlete
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team finalized the class of 2021 Cara Cresse, Elena Scott and Paige Morningstar will continue their volleyball careers with the Cardinals. In addition, Sydni Schetnan will sign with UofL's women's basketball and join the volleyball squad as a two-sport athlete.Â
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"The 2021 class is the most underrated recruiting class in the country," said UofL Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly. "We believe each player can start early in their career and help continue bringing championships to Louisville. Not only are they all great athletes, but even better young women who will be great representatives for our program and the University."
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Cara Cresse, a 6-5 middle blocker from Ft. Wayne, Ind., played for Blackhawk Christian High School for Anne Boyer and Empowered Sports Club for William Robbins. At Blackhawk, she was Indiana homeschool Second All-State Team and the MVC Second team All-Tournament in 2018. She was the BCS Blocker of the Year and was named to the first team IHSAVCA 1-A All-State in 2019. An IHSVCA All-District team member, she was also named second team All-Northeast Indiana. She was on the IHSVCA Academic All-State team in 2020 and was name Top Offensive Player in 2019 and 2020. She was a Top Ace in 2020 and the Top Blocker in 2020. She made the JVA Watchlist in 2018, 2019, 2020 and a HUDL Top Middle Class of 2021.
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"Cara is an 'under the radar' middle for the 2021 class. She started playing club volleyball only a few years ago, and at 6-5 she moves extremely well and has improved quickly. Her length makes her an elite level blocker and her ability to attack in front or behind the setter will make her a force in the ACC," said Busboom Kelly. Â
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Paige Morningstar, a 6-0 setter from Pittsburgh, Pa., played for North Allegheny for Heidi Miller and for Renaissance Volleyball club for Coach Dave Neely. For Renaissance, she was the TRIB Female Athlete of the Year in 2020 and won the Best Setter Award at the Washington D.C. 18 Open and was ranked in the top 150 for PrepVolleyball in 2020 and was one of PrepVolleyball's First Team All-America members in 2019. Named to the USA Volleyball GJNC National Championship All-Tournament in 2019, she was Prep Volleyball High School Sophomore of the Year Candidate and a Capital Hill Classic Star Search SuperNova. She was named PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 Highest Honorable Mention in 2018. For North Allegheny, she was named a two-time District Champion in volleyball, a two-time District Champion in basketball and a three-time State Champion in Volleyball, earning First Team All State for volleyball, First Team All-District team for both basketball and volleyball. She was a seven-time Wright Automotive Player of the Game as selected by MSA Sports Network, Player of the Game in the 2018 P1AA 4A State Championship Game in 2018, a Multiple First Team All Section, and All-Star selectee who put up an 81-1 record thus far in her career.
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"Paige oozes leadership, poise, and volleyball IQ. She is a taller setter, at 6'0, who puts up a great block and can be very offensive when she needs to," said Busboom Kelly. " She's led her high school to multiple state championships, has excelled on the basketball court, and also has been accepted into the Honors program here at Louisville. Coming from a very athletic family, she knows what it takes physically and mentally to exceed at this level.
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Elena Scott, a 5-9 libero/defensive specialist from Louisville, Ky., played for Mercy Academy for Matt Thomerson. She was a member of the PNK Club where she played for Connie Hulsmeyer. For PNK, she was an AAU All-American in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She made the All-Tournament Team at the Nike President Day Classic in 2017 and 2020.  She was the SPVB National Junior Classic 16 Open MVP 2018. She made the Ultra Ankle JVA Watchlist 2017-2020. Her team placed third in the 12 Open in 2014, and second in 2017's 15 Open and third in the 2019 17 Open. Her high school honors include KHSAA All-District in 2017, 2019 and 2020 and KHSAA All-Region and All-State in 2019. She was KVCA All-State (HM) in 2017, Second Team in 2018 and First Team in 2019. As Region Six Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, she was a MaxPreps Underclass All-American in 2018, and made Second Team in 2019. PrepVolleyball named her a High School All-American in 2018, and named her Top 59 Frosh in 2018, Top 79 Soph in 2018 and Top 50 as a junior in 2019. At the Durango Fall Classic, she was named All-Tournament Team in 2019. The KHSAA named her the Volleyball Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2019. She made the AVCA Phenom List from 2017-19.
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Busboom Kelly had this to say about the Louisvillian, "Elena is the best player in the state of Kentucky in the 2021 graduating class, she's also the savviest player we've seen at the high school level. She is a great setter, but we plan to use her more in the libero position. When she started coming to camp and we saw her pass and play defense, we knew she'd be an amazing libero. Most importantly she is a competitor, a winner, and the type of athlete that wants to bring championships to her hometown."Â
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The Cardinals will also welcome Sydni Schetnan, a 6-5, outside hitter from Sioux Falls, S.D., Washington High School. Schetnan committed to the Cardinals and will sign a scholarship with the women's basketball program in November and plans to join Cardinal volleyball in 2022. As a junior, Schetnan missed the first half of the volleyball season last fall due to shoulder surgery. She played in 14 matches and had 96 kills. For her career, she owns 447 kills and 129 blocks. As a senior, she had 224 kills, hitting .286 with 47 blocks and 57 digs.  Schetnan is ranked as No. 69 prospect by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and No. 101 by PASS. She is ranked as a three-star prospect and the 10th best post player by espnW Hoop Gurlz. She is listed as a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation and the 11th best post player. She earned First Team Class AA All-State honors in 2020 after averaging 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, while shooting 48 percent from the floor. She blocked an impressive 75 shots in just 20 games, good for 3.8 blocks per game. She helped lead Washington to a 12-8 record and a spot in the Class AA state basketball tournament. She had 24 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and an assist in a 65-48 win over No. 11 Mitchell in the state playoffs before the cancellation of tournament.
"Although Sydni is signing with the women's basketball program, we plan for her to join our team at a later date," said Busboom Kelly. "It says a lot about Sydni that she wants to take on the challenge of being a dual sport athlete with two top 20 programs. On the volleyball court, Sydni has the potential to be one of the top attackers in the country on the right or the left and we have no doubt she will have an impact ACC and nationally when she puts some kneepads on."
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"The 2021 class is the most underrated recruiting class in the country," said UofL Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly. "We believe each player can start early in their career and help continue bringing championships to Louisville. Not only are they all great athletes, but even better young women who will be great representatives for our program and the University."
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Cara Cresse, a 6-5 middle blocker from Ft. Wayne, Ind., played for Blackhawk Christian High School for Anne Boyer and Empowered Sports Club for William Robbins. At Blackhawk, she was Indiana homeschool Second All-State Team and the MVC Second team All-Tournament in 2018. She was the BCS Blocker of the Year and was named to the first team IHSAVCA 1-A All-State in 2019. An IHSVCA All-District team member, she was also named second team All-Northeast Indiana. She was on the IHSVCA Academic All-State team in 2020 and was name Top Offensive Player in 2019 and 2020. She was a Top Ace in 2020 and the Top Blocker in 2020. She made the JVA Watchlist in 2018, 2019, 2020 and a HUDL Top Middle Class of 2021.
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"Cara is an 'under the radar' middle for the 2021 class. She started playing club volleyball only a few years ago, and at 6-5 she moves extremely well and has improved quickly. Her length makes her an elite level blocker and her ability to attack in front or behind the setter will make her a force in the ACC," said Busboom Kelly. Â
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Paige Morningstar, a 6-0 setter from Pittsburgh, Pa., played for North Allegheny for Heidi Miller and for Renaissance Volleyball club for Coach Dave Neely. For Renaissance, she was the TRIB Female Athlete of the Year in 2020 and won the Best Setter Award at the Washington D.C. 18 Open and was ranked in the top 150 for PrepVolleyball in 2020 and was one of PrepVolleyball's First Team All-America members in 2019. Named to the USA Volleyball GJNC National Championship All-Tournament in 2019, she was Prep Volleyball High School Sophomore of the Year Candidate and a Capital Hill Classic Star Search SuperNova. She was named PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 Highest Honorable Mention in 2018. For North Allegheny, she was named a two-time District Champion in volleyball, a two-time District Champion in basketball and a three-time State Champion in Volleyball, earning First Team All State for volleyball, First Team All-District team for both basketball and volleyball. She was a seven-time Wright Automotive Player of the Game as selected by MSA Sports Network, Player of the Game in the 2018 P1AA 4A State Championship Game in 2018, a Multiple First Team All Section, and All-Star selectee who put up an 81-1 record thus far in her career.
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"Paige oozes leadership, poise, and volleyball IQ. She is a taller setter, at 6'0, who puts up a great block and can be very offensive when she needs to," said Busboom Kelly. " She's led her high school to multiple state championships, has excelled on the basketball court, and also has been accepted into the Honors program here at Louisville. Coming from a very athletic family, she knows what it takes physically and mentally to exceed at this level.
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Elena Scott, a 5-9 libero/defensive specialist from Louisville, Ky., played for Mercy Academy for Matt Thomerson. She was a member of the PNK Club where she played for Connie Hulsmeyer. For PNK, she was an AAU All-American in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She made the All-Tournament Team at the Nike President Day Classic in 2017 and 2020.  She was the SPVB National Junior Classic 16 Open MVP 2018. She made the Ultra Ankle JVA Watchlist 2017-2020. Her team placed third in the 12 Open in 2014, and second in 2017's 15 Open and third in the 2019 17 Open. Her high school honors include KHSAA All-District in 2017, 2019 and 2020 and KHSAA All-Region and All-State in 2019. She was KVCA All-State (HM) in 2017, Second Team in 2018 and First Team in 2019. As Region Six Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, she was a MaxPreps Underclass All-American in 2018, and made Second Team in 2019. PrepVolleyball named her a High School All-American in 2018, and named her Top 59 Frosh in 2018, Top 79 Soph in 2018 and Top 50 as a junior in 2019. At the Durango Fall Classic, she was named All-Tournament Team in 2019. The KHSAA named her the Volleyball Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2019. She made the AVCA Phenom List from 2017-19.
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Busboom Kelly had this to say about the Louisvillian, "Elena is the best player in the state of Kentucky in the 2021 graduating class, she's also the savviest player we've seen at the high school level. She is a great setter, but we plan to use her more in the libero position. When she started coming to camp and we saw her pass and play defense, we knew she'd be an amazing libero. Most importantly she is a competitor, a winner, and the type of athlete that wants to bring championships to her hometown."Â
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The Cardinals will also welcome Sydni Schetnan, a 6-5, outside hitter from Sioux Falls, S.D., Washington High School. Schetnan committed to the Cardinals and will sign a scholarship with the women's basketball program in November and plans to join Cardinal volleyball in 2022. As a junior, Schetnan missed the first half of the volleyball season last fall due to shoulder surgery. She played in 14 matches and had 96 kills. For her career, she owns 447 kills and 129 blocks. As a senior, she had 224 kills, hitting .286 with 47 blocks and 57 digs.  Schetnan is ranked as No. 69 prospect by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and No. 101 by PASS. She is ranked as a three-star prospect and the 10th best post player by espnW Hoop Gurlz. She is listed as a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation and the 11th best post player. She earned First Team Class AA All-State honors in 2020 after averaging 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, while shooting 48 percent from the floor. She blocked an impressive 75 shots in just 20 games, good for 3.8 blocks per game. She helped lead Washington to a 12-8 record and a spot in the Class AA state basketball tournament. She had 24 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and an assist in a 65-48 win over No. 11 Mitchell in the state playoffs before the cancellation of tournament.
"Although Sydni is signing with the women's basketball program, we plan for her to join our team at a later date," said Busboom Kelly. "It says a lot about Sydni that she wants to take on the challenge of being a dual sport athlete with two top 20 programs. On the volleyball court, Sydni has the potential to be one of the top attackers in the country on the right or the left and we have no doubt she will have an impact ACC and nationally when she puts some kneepads on."
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