ST. LOUIS - Saint
Louis volleyball head coach Kent Miller
and his staff have announced three signees who will begin competition for the
Billikens in 2013: outside hitter Mal
Dillon (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central), middle blocker Taylor Paulson (Louisville,
Ky./Assumption) and outside hitter Dani
Rygelski (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell).
"We are very excited about our 2013 recruiting class,"
Miller said. "They are a talented group of exceptional athletes with
outstanding volleyball abilities and great attitudes. This group brings very
high level experience from their high school and club teams. We expect them to
have an impact on our program right away."
Dillon comes to Saint Louis from Francis Howell Central. She
is an All-Conference, All-District and All-Academic team honoree in her three
years. In 2010, Dillon was named to the Sophomore 79 by PrepVolleyball.com. She
competes for the St. Louis High Performance VBC during the club season and, in
2011 led them to a second-place finish at the Gateway Regional Qualifier. Her
older sister, Megan, plays volleyball for Lindenwood University in St. Charles,
Mo.
"Mal is a dynamic outside hitter who can change the momentum
of a match with her attacking skills," Miller said. "She not only jumps well
but also is very quick laterally. With her continued development as an all-around
player and her skills at the net, we expect her to contribute right away."
Paulson is a three-year letter-winner at Assumption High in
Louisville, Ky. She was named 2012 Miss Kentucky Volleyball, an award given to
the top prep volleyball player in the state. Paulson is a two-time All-State selection
at middle blocker and a 2012 7th Region Player of the Year. As a
senior, she recorded 270 kills and 64 blocks, leading the
Rockets to a 38-2 record and a third-straight state championship. Assumption
finished with a MaxPreps No. 5 national ranking. Paulson's mother, Monica,
played volleyball and basketball for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
"Taylor is one of the most physical middle blockers out
there," Miller said. "She has been a force at the net for her Assumption High
School team as well as her KIVA club team. She is a great blocker and a strong
attacker, particularly behind the setter. Taylor's competitive attitude will
help lead this team to a lot of success in the future."
Rygelski is a 2012 Under Armour All-American from Francis
Howell in St. Charles, Mo. She is a four-year letter-winner for the Vikings and
was named first-team All-Region three times in her career. Rygelski also has
three first-team All-Conference honors, four All-District mentions, two
All-State plaudits and a 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro team selection.
In her high school career, she has led Francis Howell to three sectional
championships and finished fourth in the state tournament twice. As a senior,
she set the Francis Howell career kills record with 1,074. Rygelski led her St.
Louis CYC club team to a seventh place finish in the USA Volleyball Junior
National Championships.
"Dani brings an enthusiasm and attitude to the court that is
hard to find," Miller said. "She is an extraordinary athlete who can attack
from multiple locations with multiple tempos. She already has the skills needed
to help our team improve at the net as well as in the back court."
The Billikens will wrap up the 2012 campaign against Kansas
in Lawrence, Kan., on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
