WJU Volleyball Signs Three All-Ohio Recruits To National Letters of Intent

Head Volleyball Coach Christy Benner announced the signings of three All-Ohio players to National Letters of Intent in the November signing period:  Corrin Early of Medina, Ohio, Casey Gates of Port Jefferson, Ohio and Jenna Pew of Marshallville, Ohio.

“We are very happy to add these three young ladies to our program,” remarked Benner.  “All three of these players will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on our program.”

Corrin Early is a 5-9 outside hitter from Cloverleaf High School.  During her career there, she guided her team to three consecutive 21-win seasons. Early was named to the All-District team for three straight years and received All-Ohio Division I Third Team honors. A tenacious attacker with both offensive and defensive versatility, she finished the 2009 season with 239 kills and 192 digs – and compiled 890 kills and 780 digs for her high school career. She plays club volleyball for Ohio Elite Volleyball Club, and is the daughter of John and Karen Fisher-Early.

Casey Gates is a 5-9 outside hitter from Jackson Center High School. She will become the third outside hitter from Jackson Center in the past five years to play for Wheeling Jesuit, joining 2006 WVIAC Freshman of the Year Catie Halberstadt and 2009 WVIAC Freshman of the Year Allissa Ware.  Gates finished her career at Jackson Center with school records for career kills (1,806), career digs (1,280), and most kills in a season (544 in 2009). She was SCAL Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009 and First Team Division IV All-Ohio in both her junior and senior years. Gates plays club volleyball for the Atlantis Volleyball Club, and is the daughter of Debra Gates.

Jenna Pew is a 6-0 middle blocker from Smithville High School.  Pew posted school records for kills in a season (484) and career kills (1,385).  She also had 324 assists and 77 aces during her senior season.  Pew was named to the Division III All-Ohio First Team in both the 2008 and 2009 seasons. She plays club volleyball for the Ohio Elite Volleyball Club, and is the daughter of Jeff and Jann Pew. 

“This incoming freshman class, along with our returning student-athletes, has me excited about next season already,” added Assistant Coach Matt Benner.  “I truly enjoyed recruiting these players and getting to know them and their families.  I am confident that they will be tremendous additions to our team.”

Wheeling Jesuit has won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season volleyball championship eight of the past eleven seasons, and has advanced to the NCAA tournament five times during that span – including each of the past two seasons.