HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University volleyball head coach
Ryan Meek has announced the addition of three transfers to round out the 2022 roster.
Ally Van Eekeren (Creighton),
Kathryn Wesolich (UCF), and
Jillian Ziemba (Butler) bring experience and winning tradition to High Point to give the defending Big South regular season champions additional depth in the lineup.
Head coach
Ryan Meek: "Adding talent is always going to be a priority here at High Point University volleyball. These three athletes bring a wealth of experience, success, and a winning mindset. Not only are they fantastic volleyball players, but they will be great additions to our culture in the locker room as well. We are excited to have them in Millis and can't wait for them to suit up with the rest of our team this fall."
Ally Van Eekeren • Naperville, Ill. (Creighton) • Setter
As a junior in 2021 at Creighton, Van Eekeren played in 32 matches for the Big East Champions. As a sophomore, she split time at setter and led the team in assists (358) while playing in all 16 matches and making 10 starts. She also recorded four double-doubles in 2020 against Big East foes Marquette (three times) and Xavier.
Coach Meek: "I was first able to get to know Ally through the recruiting process when I was an assistant at Creighton. When Ally's name came up on the portal, we knew she could be a great fit for us here both on and off the floor. Ally can make every set on the volleyball court and is a tireless worker. She is competitive and wants to be the best at everything she does. Coming to us as a player with three Big East championships and from a top-25 program, Ally knows what it takes to win and how to succeed on the court. We're excited to see what she accomplishes in our program."
Kathryn Wesolich • Wildwood, Mo. (UCF) • Middle Blocker
Wesolich made an impact for the Knights early on in her career, starting and playing in all 31 matches as a freshman in 2018 while recording the seventh most total blocks in a single season in UCF program history (138). She played in 23 of the Knights' 33 matches while making 11 starts as a sophomore, finishing the year with 42 kills and 56 blocks. As a junior in 2020-21, she played in all 65 sets and finished second on the team with 76 blocks. Wesolich also led the team with 23 service aces as a junior. A season ago, she played in 30 sets for the Knights while hitting .269 with 33 kills.
Coach Meek: "We got to know Kathryn well as a player through our preparation to play UCF in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. She had 11 kills and 10 blocks against us in that match, so we know what she's capable of. When her name popped up on the transfer portal, we knew that she would be exceptional fit for what we want our middles to do. Kathryn brings four years of high level D1 experience into our gym and most importantly, has won four rings already in her time in college. She knows how to compete at the highest level in the country and is hungry to finish her time here at High Point University with a ring for her thumb."
Jillian Ziemba • Zionsville, Ind. (Butler) • Defensive Specialist
In 2021, Ziemba played in 73 sets for the Bulldogs, tallying 142 digs and finishing with a career-best 1.95 digs per set, 13 service aces, and eight assists. She also posted double-digit digs in five matches against No. 16 Creighton, Cal, No. 19 UCLA, Xavier, and Youngstown State. As a junior in 2020-21, Ziemba appeared in 34 sets and finished the season with 45 digs, five aces, and four assists. As a sophomore, she was fifth on the team with 153 digs and 20 service aces. She also had a season-best 13 digs and three aces against St. John's.
Coach Meek: "Ball control is the most important aspect of volleyball, and every team is constantly trying to improve in that area. When we had the opportunity to add someone who has been one of the top 20 highest rated passers in the country over the past two years, we were thrilled! Jillian comes to us with four years of DI experience where she consistently rated as an elite passer. Once we got to know Jillian we knew she would fit in perfectly with our players and what our program is about on and off the floor. We're excited to add Jillian to our roster and are looking forward to her impact this fall."
#GoHPU
