Bowling Green State University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Five Future Falcons On Signing Day
November 14, 2019 | Volleyball
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University volleyball program has added five signees to the incoming freshman class for the 2020 season. Hannah Best, Alex Laboy, Kathryn Mandly, Alexis Mettille and Jaden Walz will join the Falcon Family in the coming year. The group of recruits bring a list of accomplishments and a winning tradition, having combined for at least 12 division or conference championships as well as countless other accolades and awards, both on and off the court. All five of the signees come from the state of Ohio, pushing the Ohio total for next year's roster to eight as it currently stands.
Coach Tomic's Take
"We are thrilled about our 2020 recruiting class! All five of our signees come from the great state of Ohio, great families, and successful high school and club programs. They are great students, teammates, who love volleyball and who know how to win. With our new team members, we are not only adding depth to all of our positions, but more importantly, we are gaining a lot of talent, character, and winning attitudes."
Hannah Best (Toledo, Ohio / St. Ursula Academy)
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Hannah Best has spent the last four years as a member of the St. Ursula Academy volleyball team where she captained an Arrows team that captured the second of back-to-back league championships in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference during the 2019 season. This came on the heels of a District Championship in 2017 and 2018 in addition to going 19-2 in conference play over those three seasons.
Following the season, Best was named First Team All-District, Second Team All-Ohio, Three Rivers Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, adding to a list that already included individual accomplishments of 2018 First Team All-Conference, 2018 Second Team All-District and 2017 Second Team All-Conference. Best also was named to the Dean's List at the conclusion of each academic semester and received the All Academic Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Best also played for the Toledo Volleyball Club, being elected captain each year she was on the team while also being named First Team All-Power League.
The daughter of Tim and Sara Best, Hannah has two siblings, Noah and Maggie. Noah played for The Ohio State University lacrosse team from 2015-2018, adding to a list of collegiate athletes in the family that includes Bob Best, Hannah's uncle, who played baseball at Xavier, and Robert Best, Hannah's grandfather, who played football at Murray State. While at Bowling Green, Best plans to study International Relations and Spanish with the plan to pursue a career with Homeland Security or the FBI.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Hannah's drive to be the best that she can be, and her 'team first' mentality is what stood out to us in the recruiting process. She is a great teammate and a leader who will bring depth to our outside hitter position with her strong offensive and defensive skills."
Alex Laboy (Avon, Ohio / Avon HS)
Coming from Avon, Ohio, Alex Laboy will join the Orange and Brown after playing for the Avon High School Eagles in the Southwestern Conference. Laboy captained the Eagles to an undefeated season in the conference while also being the conference leader in aces. Avon also captured the Southwest Conference Championship in each season from 2016-2019.
Following the season, Laboy was named First Team All-Southwestern Conference, First Team All-Lorain County, Southwestern Conference MVO, Lorain County Player of the Year, 2019 Lorain County Miss Volleyball, First Team All-District and Second Team All-State while also being named to the Perrysburg Black and Gold All-Tournament Team. Laboy was also an All-Conference Honorable Mention in each season from 2016-2018. She also played for the Cleveland Volleyball Club, capturing the 2019 Windy City 17 USA Championship and the second of back-to-back OVR Championships.
The daughter of Phil and Heidi, Alex has one sister, Gabrielle. Laboy is currently undecided on a major, but has an interest in sports psychology.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Alex brings a high volleyball IQ and refined technical skills to our defensive unit. It's not easy to find a libero whose both passing and defensive skills are at a high level, but we found that in Alex. She has a quiet presence and a laser-like focus on the court, which makes her consistent and efficient in her libero role."
Kathryn Mandly (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg HS)
A native of Perrysburg, Ohio, Kathryn Mandly becomes a Falcon after spending the last four years as a Yellow Jacket. While at Perrysburg, Mandly contributed to back-to-back-to-back Northern Lakes League (NLL) championships, including captaining the 2019 team. The Yellow Jackets also won four straight sectional championships during Mandly's tenure from 2016-2019.
Individually, Mandly was named First Team All-NLL in 2017, 2018 and 2019 while also being named First Team All-District 7 in both 2018 and 2019. Following the 2019 season, Mandly was recognized as both the NLL and District Player of the Year. The year prior, she was named an Honorable Mention for the All-Ohio teams. Mandly also played for the Toledo Volleyball Club, being named to the North Coast Power League All-Tournament team in 2017 and 2018.
The daughter of Eric and Marcia Mandly, Kathryn has two sisters, Lisa and Caroline. While at Bowling Green, Mandly plans to pursue a degree and career in Speech Pathology.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Kat's physicality and ability to terminate offensively make us very excited about her future as a Falcon. She has the potential to develop into an exceptional collegiate hitter who can have an impact on our team even as a freshman. Moreover, she is a team player who makes others around her better."
Alexis Mettille (Canfield, Ohio / Canfield HS)
A native of Canfield, Ohio, Alexis Mettille comes to Bowling Green following a three-year varsity career for the Canfield High School Cardinals. While with the Cardinals, Mettille helped lead Canfield to first place finish in the All-American Conference behind a 7-1 league record and a .431 hitting percentage, marking the third consecutive first place finish for the Cardinals.
At the season's conclusion, Mettille was named First Team All-District for the second consecutive season while also being named District Player of the Year. Mettille also played for the Infinity Volleyball Club and the Academy Volleyball Cleveland, finishing 18th at Nationals in the open division.
The daughter of Jill Mettille, Alexis has two siblings, Tyler and Mack. Tyler competed on the Track and Field team at Mount Union from 2011-2015 while her mom, Jill, played tennis and basketball at Grove City College. While at Bowling Green, Mettille plans to study nursing with the career goal of becoming a Prenatal Nurse Practitioner.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Alexis is a fierce competitor with a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for the game. Playing for one of the top clubs in the nations has helped her develop into an offensive middle that will make our team better. Alexis' ceiling is high, and we are excited to see her grow in the next four years."
Jaden Walz (Brooklyn, Ohio / Brooklyn HS)
A native of Brooklyn, Ohio having played four varsity seasons for the Brooklyn High School Hurricanes. A two-time captain of the volleyball team, Walz recorded 1,619 kills, 1,012 digs, 487 assists and 204 aces in her career with the Hurricanes in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
Following the season, Walz was named 2019 Ohio Varsity Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District. Walz was also named to the AVCA All-Region team for region five. She was also named the Offensive MVP in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Walz also played for the Cleveland Volleyball Company, being named to the 16 USA All-Tournament team at Nationals in Detroit in 2018. Walz also was a three-time Patriot Athletic Conference champion in Long Jump, making a state appearance as a sophomore.
The daughter of Jack and Michelle Walz, Jaden has three siblings, Jack, Jakob and Julia. Julia is currently the libero for the Falcons and Jack also played on the Falcon football team for five years. Jaden's father, Jack Jr., also played college football, playing for Joliet College. While at Bowling Green, Walz plans on studying early childhood education with the career ambition of being a pre-school teacher.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Jaden is a gifted athlete, a fierce competitor, and a great teammate. Her physical ability, contagious personality, and leadership skills, combined with her setter position, allow her to make everyone around her better. Her style of play and enthusiasm on the court shows how much she loves to play for her teammates. We are thrilled that Jaden is graduating early and will be with us in the spring."
Falcons In Action
The current roster of Falcons will return to the court on Thursday (Nov. 14) to host the Miami RedHawks. The match is set for a 6:00 p.m. first serve. The full release leading up to the match can be found HERE while live stats, TV and other links can be found on the volleyball schedule page.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Coach Tomic's Take
"We are thrilled about our 2020 recruiting class! All five of our signees come from the great state of Ohio, great families, and successful high school and club programs. They are great students, teammates, who love volleyball and who know how to win. With our new team members, we are not only adding depth to all of our positions, but more importantly, we are gaining a lot of talent, character, and winning attitudes."
Hannah Best (Toledo, Ohio / St. Ursula Academy)
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Hannah Best has spent the last four years as a member of the St. Ursula Academy volleyball team where she captained an Arrows team that captured the second of back-to-back league championships in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference during the 2019 season. This came on the heels of a District Championship in 2017 and 2018 in addition to going 19-2 in conference play over those three seasons.
Following the season, Best was named First Team All-District, Second Team All-Ohio, Three Rivers Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, adding to a list that already included individual accomplishments of 2018 First Team All-Conference, 2018 Second Team All-District and 2017 Second Team All-Conference. Best also was named to the Dean's List at the conclusion of each academic semester and received the All Academic Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Best also played for the Toledo Volleyball Club, being elected captain each year she was on the team while also being named First Team All-Power League.
The daughter of Tim and Sara Best, Hannah has two siblings, Noah and Maggie. Noah played for The Ohio State University lacrosse team from 2015-2018, adding to a list of collegiate athletes in the family that includes Bob Best, Hannah's uncle, who played baseball at Xavier, and Robert Best, Hannah's grandfather, who played football at Murray State. While at Bowling Green, Best plans to study International Relations and Spanish with the plan to pursue a career with Homeland Security or the FBI.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Hannah's drive to be the best that she can be, and her 'team first' mentality is what stood out to us in the recruiting process. She is a great teammate and a leader who will bring depth to our outside hitter position with her strong offensive and defensive skills."
Alex Laboy (Avon, Ohio / Avon HS)
Coming from Avon, Ohio, Alex Laboy will join the Orange and Brown after playing for the Avon High School Eagles in the Southwestern Conference. Laboy captained the Eagles to an undefeated season in the conference while also being the conference leader in aces. Avon also captured the Southwest Conference Championship in each season from 2016-2019.
Following the season, Laboy was named First Team All-Southwestern Conference, First Team All-Lorain County, Southwestern Conference MVO, Lorain County Player of the Year, 2019 Lorain County Miss Volleyball, First Team All-District and Second Team All-State while also being named to the Perrysburg Black and Gold All-Tournament Team. Laboy was also an All-Conference Honorable Mention in each season from 2016-2018. She also played for the Cleveland Volleyball Club, capturing the 2019 Windy City 17 USA Championship and the second of back-to-back OVR Championships.
The daughter of Phil and Heidi, Alex has one sister, Gabrielle. Laboy is currently undecided on a major, but has an interest in sports psychology.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Alex brings a high volleyball IQ and refined technical skills to our defensive unit. It's not easy to find a libero whose both passing and defensive skills are at a high level, but we found that in Alex. She has a quiet presence and a laser-like focus on the court, which makes her consistent and efficient in her libero role."
Kathryn Mandly (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg HS)
A native of Perrysburg, Ohio, Kathryn Mandly becomes a Falcon after spending the last four years as a Yellow Jacket. While at Perrysburg, Mandly contributed to back-to-back-to-back Northern Lakes League (NLL) championships, including captaining the 2019 team. The Yellow Jackets also won four straight sectional championships during Mandly's tenure from 2016-2019.
Individually, Mandly was named First Team All-NLL in 2017, 2018 and 2019 while also being named First Team All-District 7 in both 2018 and 2019. Following the 2019 season, Mandly was recognized as both the NLL and District Player of the Year. The year prior, she was named an Honorable Mention for the All-Ohio teams. Mandly also played for the Toledo Volleyball Club, being named to the North Coast Power League All-Tournament team in 2017 and 2018.
The daughter of Eric and Marcia Mandly, Kathryn has two sisters, Lisa and Caroline. While at Bowling Green, Mandly plans to pursue a degree and career in Speech Pathology.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Kat's physicality and ability to terminate offensively make us very excited about her future as a Falcon. She has the potential to develop into an exceptional collegiate hitter who can have an impact on our team even as a freshman. Moreover, she is a team player who makes others around her better."
Alexis Mettille (Canfield, Ohio / Canfield HS)
A native of Canfield, Ohio, Alexis Mettille comes to Bowling Green following a three-year varsity career for the Canfield High School Cardinals. While with the Cardinals, Mettille helped lead Canfield to first place finish in the All-American Conference behind a 7-1 league record and a .431 hitting percentage, marking the third consecutive first place finish for the Cardinals.
At the season's conclusion, Mettille was named First Team All-District for the second consecutive season while also being named District Player of the Year. Mettille also played for the Infinity Volleyball Club and the Academy Volleyball Cleveland, finishing 18th at Nationals in the open division.
The daughter of Jill Mettille, Alexis has two siblings, Tyler and Mack. Tyler competed on the Track and Field team at Mount Union from 2011-2015 while her mom, Jill, played tennis and basketball at Grove City College. While at Bowling Green, Mettille plans to study nursing with the career goal of becoming a Prenatal Nurse Practitioner.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Alexis is a fierce competitor with a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for the game. Playing for one of the top clubs in the nations has helped her develop into an offensive middle that will make our team better. Alexis' ceiling is high, and we are excited to see her grow in the next four years."
Jaden Walz (Brooklyn, Ohio / Brooklyn HS)
A native of Brooklyn, Ohio having played four varsity seasons for the Brooklyn High School Hurricanes. A two-time captain of the volleyball team, Walz recorded 1,619 kills, 1,012 digs, 487 assists and 204 aces in her career with the Hurricanes in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
Following the season, Walz was named 2019 Ohio Varsity Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District. Walz was also named to the AVCA All-Region team for region five. She was also named the Offensive MVP in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Walz also played for the Cleveland Volleyball Company, being named to the 16 USA All-Tournament team at Nationals in Detroit in 2018. Walz also was a three-time Patriot Athletic Conference champion in Long Jump, making a state appearance as a sophomore.
The daughter of Jack and Michelle Walz, Jaden has three siblings, Jack, Jakob and Julia. Julia is currently the libero for the Falcons and Jack also played on the Falcon football team for five years. Jaden's father, Jack Jr., also played college football, playing for Joliet College. While at Bowling Green, Walz plans on studying early childhood education with the career ambition of being a pre-school teacher.
Coach Tomic's Take
"Jaden is a gifted athlete, a fierce competitor, and a great teammate. Her physical ability, contagious personality, and leadership skills, combined with her setter position, allow her to make everyone around her better. Her style of play and enthusiasm on the court shows how much she loves to play for her teammates. We are thrilled that Jaden is graduating early and will be with us in the spring."
Falcons In Action
The current roster of Falcons will return to the court on Thursday (Nov. 14) to host the Miami RedHawks. The match is set for a 6:00 p.m. first serve. The full release leading up to the match can be found HERE while live stats, TV and other links can be found on the volleyball schedule page.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
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