Volleyball Adds Seven to Roster for 2012 Season

Murray State Head Volleyball Coach David Schwepker has announced the addition of seven new players to the Racers 2012 roster. The newcomers include:

2012 Class
Sam Bedard, S, 5-8, Breese, Ill. (Mater Dei)
Kristen Besselsen, RS, 6-2, Lake St. Louis, Mo. (Incarnate Word Academy)
Jodie Klein, DS, 5-3, Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual)
Michelle Lazorchak, MB, 6-0, Marion, Ill. (Marion)
Alyssa Lelm, MB, 5-10, Mackinaw, Ill. (Dee-Mack)
Taylor Olden, OH, 5-7, Lincoln, Ill. (Lincoln Community)
Emily Schmahl, OH, 5-9, Edgewood, Ky. (Notre Dame Academy)

“This is one of the top recruiting classes I have ever had in my 21 years of coaching at the Division I level,” Schwepker said. “I am really looking forward to adding these extremely gifted athletes into our strong core of returners. I believe that within our program these athletes will flourish and Murray State Volleyball will be back at the top of the OVC Conference."

Sam Bedard, S, 5-8, Breese, Ill. (Mater Dei)
Bedard has been a starter for Mater Dei since her freshman season. The four-time All-Metro Area selection has helped the Knights to two-straight Illinois Class 3A State championships and a second and third-place finish in her four seasons. She finished her career with 1,897 assists and 610 digs and was named to the Illinois High School All-Star Team as a senior. Mater Dei has gone 152-17 during her time with the Knights.

"Sam is just a tremendous athlete and extremely smart setter and definitely knows how to set her team to win,” commented Schwepker. “She is definitely going to be one of the top setters that Murray has ever had."

Kristen Besselsen, RS, 6-2, Lake St. Louis, Mo., (Incarnate Word Academy)
A three-year member of Incarnate Word volleyball team, Besselsen helped the team to two Missouri state tournaments, taking third and fourth. The two-time first-team all-conference pick has led her team in blocks for the last two seasons and was first in kills in 2011. She helped the Red Knights to two section and district titles and earned two consecutive all-district honors. As a senior she was named to the Under Armor All-American watch list. Bresselsen has played club volleyball for Saint Louis CYC since 2009 and helped the team to a regional title in 2009 and a spot in the Junior Olympics for three seasons.

“"Whenever you think of a right side player, your ideal player might be someone about 6'2", left handed, can jump, block well, hammer the ball and then the added bonus would be to have great hands who can be our auxiliary setter,” Schwepker said. “Well, that is what I have in Kristen Besselsen. She is actually the ideal right side player. I am extremely glad that she has chosen Murray State and I think she is really going to be a great fit for our program. Kristen will be able to put up some great numbers in offense and in blocking. But, another added bonus is that she is actually very good in the back row, something you don't see very often out of a 6'2" athlete."

Jodie Klein, DS, 5-3, Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual)
Klein has been a four-year starter at DuPont Manual where she has helped lead the Crimson Rams to four-straight JCPS tournament titles. The defensive specialist has been named to the district and regional all-tournament teams in her final two seasons and earned First-Team Academic All-State honors as a junior and senior.

“Jodie comes from the same KIVA club team that produced Kayleah Sauer, who is the Racers all-time dig leader. And Jodie is no exception as she is an exceptional defensive player and passer out of their top team,” said Schwepker. “Her volleyball IQ is extremely high and she can handle herself in big moments in the game. I am just extremely impressed with her ability and I love her feisty attitude while she plays. Not only is she an awesome volleyball player, but I don't think she has ever gotten anything lower than an "A" in school.”

Michelle Lazorchak, MB, 6-0, Marion, Ill. (John A. Logan College)
Lazorchak is a junior college transfer from John A. Logan College. She helped John A. Logan to two-straight regional and conference championships. She was named the GRAC Freshman of the Year in 210 and has been nationally ranked in blocking and hitting percentage. Lazorchak played her prep volleyball at Marion High School where she was named the South Seven Defensive Player of the Year and to the all-conference team in 2009.

"I had originally recruited Michelle out of high school,” Schwepker added. “She wasn't ready to play at this level after only starting playing volleyball her junior year in high school, but her athletic ability and aggressive attitude on the court was what I loved most. After just two seasons at John A. Logan, she has proven herself by being one of the top hitters and blockers in the National Junior College rankings. She just hits the ball so hard and is extremely fast to close up the block.”

Alyssa Lelm, MB, 5-10, Mackinaw, Ill. (Dee-Mack)
Lelm was four-year starter for Dee-Mack High School, where she set the school's career kills record. Lelm finished her career with 1,095 kills and was a first-team all-conference pick for three seasons. She helped the Chiefs to three HOIC conference titles. During her senior season she was named to the Journal Star All-Area First Team and was nominated for Under Armor All-America honors.

“Alyssa not only can hammer the ball, but can actually see what is developing and can make decisions while in the air,” Schwepker said. “She broke her high schools career kills record. It is just amazing to see the power and height she can get. I am so pleased to be able to coach this young lady over the next four years."

Taylor Olden, OH, 5-7, Lincoln, Ill. (Lincoln Community)
Olden has been a three-year member of the varsity team at Lincoln Community where she helped the team to three-straight Central State Eight Conference titles. The two-time Central State Eight First-Team All-Conference pick finished her career with 849 kills, 458 digs, 123 service aces and 31 blocks. She earned three-straight Lincoln Courier All-Area First-Team honors and broke two single match records at Lincoln Community (Kill-25/Digs-22).

“Taylor's high flying, extremely dynamic style of play is definitely going to be a huge crowd pleaser,” commented Schwepker. “She has been proving everyone wrong who say shorter girls shouldn't play in the front row and I am sure she is going to continue to do so through her college career here at Murray State.”

Emily Schmahl, OH, 5-9, Edgewwod, Ky., (Notre Dame Academy)
Schmahl has been a four-year starter for Notre Dame Academy, helping the Pandas to four-straight district title, three regional championships and three Kentucky state championship appearances. The two-time NICAC Player of the year finished her career as the Notre Dame all-time career kills leader, with 925. Schmahl earned All-State First-Team honors as a senior.

“Emily is just one dynamic athlete,” said Schwepker. “Her style of play and intensity on the court makes everyone around her so much better. She is one of those special people that just makes you want to play hard. I am so glad that Emily chose our school and I can't wait to see what she is going to be able to do in our conference and beyond."

Murray State University Athletics

Related Videos