Colorado State University Athletics
Volleyball signs two NLIs to 2018 roster
11/8/2017 7:02:00 PM | Volleyball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State volleyball head coach Tom Hilbert announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at CSU following high school graduation. Jacqueline Van Liefde and Ciera Zimmerman will join the Colorado State volleyball team beginning in 2018.
Jacqueline Van Liefde | Chula Vista, California | Eastlake High | Outside
Jacqi joins the Rams after a four-year career at Eastlake High in Chula Vista, Calif. As a freshman she was named Second-Team All-League. Her sophomore and junior season she earned First-Team All-League and was Co-MVP. Jacqi is also on the Honor Roll and placed second in the Biological Science category at the District Science fair.
Chose Colorado State because… "I am attracted to the beauty of Fort Collins and the active community of people. The volleyball program is very strong and has a promising future. Throughout my recruiting process and at my unofficial visit, I came to realize how great the Volleyball coaches and players are. Everyone was so welcoming and I really felt at home."
Head Coach Hilbert on Jacqi… "She is an athletic outside hitter that will need some development, but is really physical – how we want them. I am excited about her and she is a great student and a great kid that plays in an excellent club. She will be somebody that we will develop and will eventually be very powerful and good for us."
Ciera brings a plethora of awards to Fort Collins, starting with helping her team finish second in State 1B as a starting setter in 8th grade and earning First-Team All-League honors. As a freshman, her team finished third in State and again was named to the First-Team All-League team. Her sophomore season she was named the League MVP and the State Tournament MVP. The following season she guided her team to a 4A State Championship and was named to the State Championship All-Tournament First-Team and First-Team All-League. She also was named All-American-High Honorable Mention. Her senior season brought her First-Team All-League, Top-250 Senior Aces and Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee honors, while she led her team to a League Championship and District Championship.
Chose Colorado State because… "I chose Colorado State for a number of reasons. The first reason was that CSU offers Psychology and Sociology which are both majors I intend to pursue. When I went on my visit, I fell in love with the campus, the facilities, and the city. Colorado and the city of Fort Collins just seemed like a place I would want to live. Along with these, playing volleyball for a team that has attended the NCAA Tournament 22 times in a row is quite an honor. The team, the coaches, and the program were all factors when I chose to be a Ram."
Head Coach Hilbert on Ciera… "Ciera is a setter from the Pacific Northwest and she is very competitive and loves volleyball. Both her high school and club programs are very successful. She has very natural leadership skills that we look for. She was someone that grew on me as I continued to watch her play and I am convinced that she will be a very good setter for us down the road."
Head Coach on the class… "This class adds to positions that we need. We have a solid group of returners and this group will eventually step into that leadership role and lead the way after our big graduating class."
CSU will be on the road this week with matches at Nevada and San Jose State after clinching its 14th Mountain West Championship last weekend. Following the regular season, the Rams will look to capitalize its stalwart season making its 23-consecutive NCAA Tournament to begin December.
#PointRams
Jacqueline Van Liefde | Chula Vista, California | Eastlake High | Outside
Jacqi joins the Rams after a four-year career at Eastlake High in Chula Vista, Calif. As a freshman she was named Second-Team All-League. Her sophomore and junior season she earned First-Team All-League and was Co-MVP. Jacqi is also on the Honor Roll and placed second in the Biological Science category at the District Science fair.
Chose Colorado State because… "I am attracted to the beauty of Fort Collins and the active community of people. The volleyball program is very strong and has a promising future. Throughout my recruiting process and at my unofficial visit, I came to realize how great the Volleyball coaches and players are. Everyone was so welcoming and I really felt at home."
Head Coach Hilbert on Jacqi… "She is an athletic outside hitter that will need some development, but is really physical – how we want them. I am excited about her and she is a great student and a great kid that plays in an excellent club. She will be somebody that we will develop and will eventually be very powerful and good for us."
Ciera brings a plethora of awards to Fort Collins, starting with helping her team finish second in State 1B as a starting setter in 8th grade and earning First-Team All-League honors. As a freshman, her team finished third in State and again was named to the First-Team All-League team. Her sophomore season she was named the League MVP and the State Tournament MVP. The following season she guided her team to a 4A State Championship and was named to the State Championship All-Tournament First-Team and First-Team All-League. She also was named All-American-High Honorable Mention. Her senior season brought her First-Team All-League, Top-250 Senior Aces and Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee honors, while she led her team to a League Championship and District Championship.
Chose Colorado State because… "I chose Colorado State for a number of reasons. The first reason was that CSU offers Psychology and Sociology which are both majors I intend to pursue. When I went on my visit, I fell in love with the campus, the facilities, and the city. Colorado and the city of Fort Collins just seemed like a place I would want to live. Along with these, playing volleyball for a team that has attended the NCAA Tournament 22 times in a row is quite an honor. The team, the coaches, and the program were all factors when I chose to be a Ram."
Head Coach Hilbert on Ciera… "Ciera is a setter from the Pacific Northwest and she is very competitive and loves volleyball. Both her high school and club programs are very successful. She has very natural leadership skills that we look for. She was someone that grew on me as I continued to watch her play and I am convinced that she will be a very good setter for us down the road."
Head Coach on the class… "This class adds to positions that we need. We have a solid group of returners and this group will eventually step into that leadership role and lead the way after our big graduating class."
CSU will be on the road this week with matches at Nevada and San Jose State after clinching its 14th Mountain West Championship last weekend. Following the regular season, the Rams will look to capitalize its stalwart season making its 23-consecutive NCAA Tournament to begin December.
#PointRams
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