POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Marist Volleyball Head Coach Tom Hanna has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the class of 2019. Mackenzie O'Brien, Kate Pierro and Melanie Snyder have committed to join the Red Foxes for the 2015 season.
Mackenzie O'Brien – 6'0'' – Left Side Hitter – Zionsville, Pa./Emmaus HS/Synergy Volleyball Club
O'Brien joins Marist after racking up more than 1,000 kills in her four-year career at Emmaus High School. Following her senior season, she was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-Conference. She also earned a bronze medal in the Patriot Division of the USA Volleyball Juniors National Championships. In 2013, O'Brien earned All-State, Second Team All-District and First Team All-Conference honors after Emmaus finished district runner-up. During her sophomore season she was selected Honorable Mention All-District and earned Second Team All-Conference honors. She was a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
Hanna on O'Brien: “Mackenzie has developed into a six rotation left side over the last few years, which will benefit our program greatly. I'm confident that she'll be one of the better hitters in the MAAC during her career. Mack is well prepared for the college level after a great career at Emmaus High School and in club ball with Synergy, which is validated by her recent All-American selection. I look forward to everything that she'll achieve academically and athletically on our campus.”
Kate Pierro – 6'0'' – Middle Blocker – Granby, Colo./Lakewood HS/NORCO Volleyball Club
Pierro comes to the Red Foxes from a varsity program at Lakewood High School that won back to back league championships. She was named All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2013 and Second Team All-League in 2012 after Lakewood finished as a regional runner-up.
Hanna on Pierro: “Kate does a great job playing fast between the pins, which is the primary skill that we expect from our middle blockers. She's also a solid hitter off one leg. Kate has great experience from her training at Colorado Juniors and in leading her Lakewood High School team that will benefit her new club NORCO this season and the Red Foxes starting next season. I'm excited for her future as a Red Fox!”
Melanie Snyder – 5'6'' – Libero – Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee HS/Richmond Volleyball Club
Snyder comes to Marist having earned Academic All-District and First Team All-District honors each of the past three seasons. She led Atlee High School to a 5A State Championship in 2013 after it was a runner-up the year before. Her accolades include Second Team All-District in 2011, Second Team All-Region in 2012 and First Team All-Region in 2013. Snyder was named First Team All-Metro in 2012 and 2013. She played on a USA Volleyball Continental Team at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships and attended the USA Volleyball High Performance Winter Training Camp in 2012.
Hanna on Snyder: “Melanie is the type of ball control player that we need for our program to continue to play at the level we've been accustom to over the last few years. I'm confident that she'll be able to receive serve and defend for us at a high level during her career. Melanie also has a variety of serves that will be a great asset to us as well. Leading Atlee High School to a state championship and playing at a high level for Richmond Volleyball Club have prepared her to have success collegiately.”
Marist holds a one-game lead over Siena for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with two matches remaining in its 2014 regular season. The Red Foxes will face Saint Peter's at noon Nov. 15 and go up against Rider at 1 p.m. Nov. 16.
