V-Hawks News
Mon, May 3, 2010 - [Volleyball]
La Crosse, Wis. - Viterbo University volleyball coach Ryan DeLong has announced the signing of two top notch student-athletes for the 2010 season. Lynette Benson (Forest Lake, Minn.) and Jerica Nelson (Fennimore, Wis.) have signed letters of intent to play for the V-Hawks this fall.
"This is another great day for the V-Hawks as we are getting two more tremendous student-athletes," commented coach DeLong. Like the other two who have committed, Lynette and Jerica have both played a lot of volleyball at a very high level. Both of them add significant height and a skill set that will help them be successful for us. Above all, both Lynette and Jerica are outstanding people who will fit perfectly with the V-Hawk volleyball family."
Lynette Benson - Lake Forest High School (Middle/Rightside Hitter)Viterbo University volleyball coach Ryan DeLong announced today that Lynette Benson (Forest Lake, Minn.), a 6'0 middle/rightside, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for the V-Hawks in 2010-11.
"Lynette has played at a high level at both her high school (Forest Lake) and Northern Lights and we are excited to have her commit to Viterbo," commented Coach DeLong. "Lynette knows the game; she has a good skill set in blocking and hitting, and plays with confidence. These attributes are why we feel she will step in and compete right away for us. Lynette is also a standout student which makes her a perfect fit for us and I truly believe she will have success both on and off the court at Viterbo."
Benson joins the V-Hawks after having a stellar volleyball career at Forest Lake High School. A three year letterwinner, Benson finished her high school career with 368 kills and 285 blocks. For her senior season, Benson was named First Team All-Conference as well as her team's top blocker. In her senior season she played in 91 games and record 158 kills as well as 157 digs. As a junior, Benson was named Honorable Mention All-Conference as well as the team's outstanding leader and top blocker.
"I was looking for a school that fit me academically, athletically as well as was not too far from home and Viterbo really seemed to be a great fit for me," stated Benson. "I really liked the small class sizes that Viterbo offers as well as the atmosphere of both the campus and the team. Also during my campus visit, I really enjoyed getting to know some of my new teammates and felt they would be great people to play with."
Benson has found great success outside of high school volleyball as well as she plays for one of the top volleyball clubs in the Minneapolis area in Northern Lights. This season, Benson is playing on the 18's-2 team which had the wonderful experience of traveling to Italy over Easter break to play some international matches. This is the third straight season that Benson has played for Northern Lights.
As mentioned earlier, Benson was not just looking for a school that allowed her to play volleyball but would allow for her to get a great education as well. Benson will pursue a degree in Viterbo's new Sports Management program as well as Business Administration. She is hopeful to then stay at Viterbo and take advantage of their n4+1 MBA program which allows students to get their MBA in just one year.
Jerica Nelson - Fennimore High School (Setter/Rightside Hitter)Viterbo University volleyball coach Ryan DeLong announced today that Jerica Nelson (Fennimore, Wis.), a 6'0" setter/rightside, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for the V-Hawks in 2010.
"Jerica is a player that has continued to improve every time she steps on the court," stated coach DeLong. "I love her versatility as a setter and also a hitter, who happens to be a tremendous blocker. Jerica's ability to play many different positions and roles makes her a very valuable asset to our team. She has a tremendous upside that I am excited about and know she will be successful at the college level."
Nelson comes to Viterbo after having a very successful athletic career at Fennimore High School where she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. A 2009 First Team All-Conference selection, Nelson was selected to play on team Wisconsin in the 2009 Tri-State All-Star game. She finished her volleyball career as the school's all-time leader in blocks and recorded 277 kills, 290 assists, and 336 digs during her senior season. Nelson was also named her team's MVP and Co-Captain, as well as a Telegraph Herald All-Area Second Team member. Nelson did not just make an impact for Fennimore her senior season, she was also recognized as both a First Team All-Conference selection and Telegraph Herald Honorable Mention selection as a junior and a Honorable Mention All-Conference selection as a sophomore.
"Viterbo is a perfect fit for me academically as well as athletically," commented Nelson. "During the recruiting process, I had a chance to meet and play with a number of the girls and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the team. Coach DeLong and his staff really showed me that they care about the whole person and not just someone who can play volleyball. I am really looking forward to being a student-athlete at Viterbo."
Nelson did not just find success in volleyball but also in track. She holds the school record in the 800-meter run and is a member of the 3200-meter relay team that also holds the school record. She qualified for the 2009 WIAA state track meet in the 800-meter run, the 1600-meter relay, and the 3200-meter relay.
Athletics only played a small role in Nelson's decision to attend Viterbo University. A National Honor Society member, Nelson was looking for a school that had a strong academic reputation in her intended major. She truly believes she found that in Viterbo and plans to pursue a degree in elementary education.
"The idea of being able to play volleyball in college and also get a quality education was very important to me," stated Nelson. "The opportunity to graduate in four years also played a role in my decision to attend Viterbo and I am really looking forward to the 2010-11 school year both academically and athletically."
