University of Connecticut Athletics
Trio of Volleyball Student-Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent
12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
December 1, 2008
STORRS, Conn. - Three student-athletes from California, Maryland and New York have signed their National Letters of Intent to join the 2009 University of Connecticut women's volleyball squad as announced by head coach Holly Strauss-O'Brien on Monday. Cayla Broadwater (Williamsport, Md.), Kelsey Maving (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Mattison Quayle (Los Angeles, Calif.) will add depth to the Huskies next season and continue to build on a steadily improving program.
"We are excited to officially welcome Cayla, Kelsey and Matti into the UConn Volleyball family," Strauss-O'Brien said. "They are full of character, toughness and heart."
Broadwater, a middle hitter, earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior with the Williamsport High School Varsity team. A three-year starter she was also named to the all-county first-team during that span and earned a spot on the all-area second-team following her sophomore season. As a junior and senior, Broadwater was on the all-area first-team. An integral part of the Williamsport squad, Broadwater helped the team to the conference championships in each year as a starter following her freshman campaign with the WHS Maryland State Volleyball Championship team.
She holds the school record for total blocks in a season after leading the team in that category for three seasons. Broadwater also led Williamsport in total kills and kills per game as a junior and senior. She was a 2008 Tri-State senior's All-Star Team selection after finishing the season second in kills per game in the tri-state area. Broadwater was a member of the 2007-08 Revolution Volleyball Club that went 17-1 and finished 13th at the National JVDA Tournament.
In addition to her volleyball experience, Broadwater is an accomplished high, long and triple jumper at Williamsport. She has received all-conference, all-county and all-area first-team accolades following her sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior, Broadwater was the All-Area Female Track Athlete of the Year. She is the two-time reigning Maryland State Champion in the high jump after accomplishing the feat with a 5'4" height as a sophomore and a 5'7 ¼" height as a junior. The latter is the sixth best jump in state history. She is also the reigning Maryland State Champion in the long jump (17'7") and the triple jump (37'7").
"Cayla is a fantastic athlete which is evident though her success in track & field as well as volleyball," Strauss-O'Brien said. "Cayla's determined mentality and relentless work ethic will add great depth for us in the middle position."
Maving earned six varsity letters as a member of the Sweet Home High School squad. A libero/defensive specialist, she received the team MVP award in 2005 and 2007. She earned three gold medals ('06, '07, '08) competing in the Empire State Games. A two-time All-Western New York First-Team Selection, Maving helped lead the team to a pair of Section IV NYS Public School Championships. At the 2006 USA Volleyball Invitational, Maving was an all-tournament selection.
Ranked first in her class, Maving is a member of the National Honor Society and was selected to the Academic All-Erie County Interscholastic Conference for five consecutive years (2004-08). Maving received the NYS Public High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Award seven times.
"Kelsey is a tenacious, smart, gutsy back row player," Strauss-O'Brien said. "Her ball control combined with her aggressive defensive game will immediately impact our level of play."
Quayle, an outside hitter, was a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) 2005 Varsity Championship Marymount squad and helped the team to win the Division IV California State Championships the following season (2006). Quayle led the team to the Sunshine League and CIF Southern Section titles en route to the state title in 2006. She was a bronze medalist in 2006 with the 17's Junior Olympic squad and placed second in 2007 in the Junior Olympic qualifier.
Quayle was the 2007 team captain on the Sunshine squad that went 16-1, playing outside/right side hitter for the club team in 2003 and 2004. She was a member of the Gene's Team in 2005 and 2006 as an outside hitter/middle blocker for the 16's team and an outside hitter on the 17's squad.
"Matti is full of intensity and energy," Strauss-O'Brien said. "Her athleticism, versatility and volleyball savvy will allow her to compete for multiple positions on our team."
The Huskies concluded the 2008 slate with a 21-10 overall record, finishing the BIG EAST season with a 10-4 record. UConn returns all but one starter for the 2009 season.
