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Spartans Sign Pair To National Letters Of Intent
January 14, 2009

Spartans Sign Pair To National Letters Of Intent

TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa head volleyball coach Chris Catanach announced the signing of two student-athletes to national letters of intent. The pair will be eligible beginning in the fall of 2009. The signees include Molly Krull and Jessica Yingling.

Krull, a 5-10 setter from Raleigh, N.C., was a three year starter at Cardinal Gibbons High School. She finished her career with 1,995 assists while helping her team to an 89-7 three-year record. She was also part of two NCHSAA 2A state championship teams (2006-07) and a 2008 state runner-up. A nominee for the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year award, Krull was the 2008 Mid-State Conference Co-Player of the Year and a two-time all-conference choice. She was also named the MaxPreps/AVCA North Carolina Player of the Week on two occasions as a senior.

"We believe Molly will carry on a tradition of great setters at The University of Tampa," says Catanach. "She is an intelligent player and a tremendous leader; two of the most important qualities in great setters. She is a tremendous student who will achieve on and off the court."

Yingling, a 5-11 outside hitter from Orlando, was a standout at Timber Creek High School. The Florida 6A Player of the Year and first-team all-state selection was recently named the Florida Dairyman's Player of the Year and the state's Gatorade Player of the Year. While leading her team to the 2008 state championship, Yingling was a FACA all-star tournament selection while winning weekly honors including the ESPN/Rise Magazine Southeast Region and Max Preps AVCA Florida Player of the Week. She also led her team to the Tampa Prep and OVA/Disney tournament championships. Prior to her senior season, she was a Prep Volleyball honorable mention All-American as a junior and the 79th ranked sophomore in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com.

"We are very excited to have a player of Jessica's talent and skill to join our volleyball program," says Catanach. "She will make an immediate impact to the success of our team. Not only is she a great volleyball player, but she is an outstanding person and very strong student."

The two players will have the opportunity to compete for immediate playing time following the loss of four graduating seniors. The duo will add to an already youthful Spartan squad, which will have zero seniors on its 2009 team.

"Jessica and Molly make up one of the best recruiting classes I have had in my 25 years as a coach at Tampa," says Catanach. "Both players bring experience, talent, skill and a tradition of winning. Jessica won a state championship at Timber Creek in 2009 and Molly led her 2009 Cardinal Gibbons team to an undefeated regular season and a state championship runner up performance. I am more excited about the contributions they will make to our program as students and teammates."

UT is coming off a 27-5 season where it captured its fourth straight Sunshine State Conference championship and advanced to its 13th consecutive NCAA tournament. The Spartans look to contend again in 2009 with the return of 10 letterwinners and three redshirts.