The Quinnipiac women’s volleyball team has been in the headlines several times over the past few years for its legal wranglings off the court.
Now the team hopes to make some noise on the court with the signing of five players including Tierra Allen, the daughter of Boston Celtics star Ray Allen. Tierra Allen will join the team in the fall of 2011.
She spent her first three years of high school in South Carolina at Crestwood High School, before transferring to Wellesley High in Wellesley, Mass. She was a four-time league all-star and a two-time all-area selection between the two schools.
“Tierra is one of the most powerful athletes I saw last season,” said Quinnipiac coach Robin Sparks. “She has a fantastic jump serve and hits the ball with authority. Once she adjusts to the pace of the
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collegiate game, she is going to be a terrific contributor.”
Tierra Allen was named the region’s player of the year as a junior at Crestwood, before earning Bay State Conference First Team recognition as a senior at Wellesley. She averaged 10 kills and three assists per match.
Ray Allen earned All-American status at UConn playing basketball at the school from 1993-96.
Quinnipiac also signed incoming freshmen Krista Bennett (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Tanner Celestin (Norco, Calif.) and Brittanie Robinson (Fresno, Calif.) and junior college transfer Samantha Jablonski (Center Moriches, N.Y.) in comprising the Bobcats’ class of newcomers.
“I am excited to be adding a solid recruiting class to our program for next Fall,” said Sparks. “Not only do we have five great athletes joining us, but they are five terrific students as well. I expect them to mesh well with our returners and give us depth that we have lacked in the past.”
The Bobcats were 6-24 last season, after receiving a court order that mandated the school maintain the program which it had planned to cut due to budget concerns. The volleyball team fought the school’s intentions in court.
Earlier this year, the Quinnipiac baseball team announced that Mariano Rivera Jr., the son of Yankees’ star Mariano Rivera, will join the team next season.
Contact Bill Cloutier at 203-789-5653. Follow Bill on Twitter @BillCloutier. To receive breaking sports news first — simply text the word “nhsports” to 22700. Standard msg+data rates may apply.