Michigan Adds Jones to Signing Class, O'Leary Named 2017 Miss Volleyball
11/14/2017 10:06:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- The University of Michigan volleyball program and head coach Mark Rosen have announced that high school senior Paige Jones has signed a National Letter of Intent for the 2017-18 academic year.
Jones joined signees Kayla Bair, Abbey Malinowski, Erin O'Leary, and Grace Persson, who announced their signings last week (Nov. 9). The signing class of five is Michigan's largest since 2003.
A 6-foot-1 outside hitter and a native of New Bremen, Ohio, Jones attends New Bremen High School and plays club volleyball for the Elite Volleyball Training Center. The four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time New Bremen High School Team MVP helped guide New Bremen to its first Division IV State Championships on Saturday (Nov. 11), defeating St. Thomas Aquinas in straight sets.
In addition to the recent state title, Jones helped lead her team to the Division IV regional finals last year. She is a three-time District 8 first-team selection and was named to the Prep Volleyball 100 Aces list this year. As a junior, Jones was named a MaxPreps Small School All-American and Prep Volleyball All-American, breaking the state of Ohio's record in kills in a match (53) and kills in a season (785). Just last summer, Jones and her Elite VBTC team won the 17-Under Premier division AAU national championship in Florida, where she was named the MVP of her division. Recently, Jones was named the Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the year and was placed on the MaxPreps National High School Volleyball Player of the Year watch list. She also competes with the track and basketball teams at New Bremen High School, earning accolades in both efforts.
"Throughout the recruiting process we have seen Paige as an incredible all-around athlete," said Rosen. "She is extremely explosive, quick and competitive; whether she's playing volleyball, basketball or running track. As a volleyball player, she is a six-rotation outside hitter with a big jump and a live arm. We see great untapped potential in Paige's volleyball game, which is exciting to bring to our program. She is a proven winner with both her club program and high school team. Her Club Elite team won an AAU National Championship last summer and her high school team just won the Ohio state championship for the first time ever. She's a leader on both teams who has taken them to another level."
In addition to Jones' recent accolades, Michigan signee and current Novi High School senior Erin O'Leary was named the 2017 Miss Volleyball trophy winner on Monday (Nov. 13). The award is voted on by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association, and O'Leary is the first player from Novi to earn the honor. She is the MHSAA career leader with 5,678 assists and won the award with 212 points. Michigan signee Abbey Malinowski was one of the top runners-up for the award.
