Riley signs three to NLIs

Signees include a 2017 PrepVolleyball Senior Ace

November 15, 2016

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head volleyball coach Chris Riley has announced that three student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent in the fall signing period and will join the Hokies in the fall of 2017.

“This is the beginning of the class of 2017 and its the foundation that we will build the future of Virginia Tech volleyball on,” Riley said. “We’re graduating some great kids this year, we have some great kids that are here now and this class has a lot of talent that makes us excited about the coming years.”

Kaity Smith
6’1 – OH/MB
Florence, Ky.
Randall Cooper HS
NKYVC

Four-year varsity letterwinner … Ranked No. 88 in PrepVolleyball’s Senior Aces … 2016 Under Armor All-American Third Team … Three-time All-State selection … Four-time All-Conference … 2016 Region 9 Player of the Year … Named to PrepVolleyball’s Sophomore 79 and Freshman 59 lists … Chose the Hokies over multiple programs including Baylor, Louisville, NC State, Wake Forest and South Carolina.

“Kaity is an explosive athlete with a tremendous arm who plays the whole game,” Riley said. “We expect big things from her. She’s a middle who has transitioned to the outside but plays super-fast and explodes on the ball. She should be somebody who can immediately help us on the left side with the graduation of Amanda McKinzie and Lindsey Owens.”

Marisa Cerchio
6’3 - MB
Cincinnati, Ohio
Turpin HS
NKYVC

Three-time conference champion at Turpin HS … 2016 team MVP … District 16 All-City … Participated in the OHSVCA Senior All-Star Game … Three-time All-Conference Academic selection.

“Marisa is another middle that’s going to be a space eater blocking for us,” Riley said. “She’s going to continue to improve on the offensive side of the ball but she’s somebody who we see as being a consistent part of our offense and a stable piece of our defense.”

Kai Young
5’11 - MB
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte Christian
Carolina Union

All-Conference selection as a senior … One of the top high school middles in the Carolinas … Carolina Union team captain … Chose the Hokies over Xavier, Memphis and Santa Clara … Father Bryant Young was a 14-year NFL veteran

“Kai comes from a tremendous family and she’s a great kid,” Riley said. “She’s a super-explosive athlete who’s going to learn a lot here. We’re looking for Kai to come in and secure the middle offensively as she learns to play the game at our speed defensively. She’ll be a great Hokie in the future.”

Tech will next travel to Boston College on Nov. 18 before taking on Syracuse at 1 p.m. on Nov. 20.

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