Fish, Wirth Join CCSU Volleyball

Head coach Linda Sagnelli has announced the addition of two student-athletes to the Central Connecticut volleyball program for the upcoming season.  Katie Wirth and Rachel Fish complete the five-member incoming Class of 2017 that will join the Blue Devil program this summer for preseason practice.

Fish, a native of North Branch, Michigan, is a 5-8 libero and defensive specialist.  She helped her high school team to a pair of state championship game appearances, while earning numerous individual accolades as a junior and senior at North Branch High School.

As a senior, Fish earned First Team All-State, First Team All-Conference and All-Region honors.  She was also a Tuscola Advertiser and Thumb Sports Writers Association All-Area selection and the Detroit Free Press Athlete of the Year.  Her junior year she earned First Team All-Conference, All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State, while also receiving Tuscola Advertiserand Thumb Sports Writers Association All-Area honors.

"Rachel is a great addition to our Blue Devil family," Sagnelli said.  "She has been around volleyball all of her life, having grown up in a volleyball family, and has a great passion for the game.  She possesses all of the skills needed to be a great libero in our conference.  She will most certainly strengthen our serve receive and team ball control and we are looking forward to having her as part of our program."

Wirth, a native of Lafayette, Colorado, is a 6-1 middle hitter.  She was a team captain as a junior and senior for head coach Bev Sanders at Centaurus High School.

Wirth was an All-State selection as a senior and also earned her second consecutive Second Team All-Conference selection.  As a junior she was also named a Second Team All-Conference honoree.  In addition, she was an All-Academic selection in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

"We are so pleased that Katie has chosen to be part of our program.  She brings great club experience and will be joining Rachel (Dunlap) and Brooke (Schwab) in the middle position." Sagnelli added, "We will look to Katie to strengthen the middle and provide critical depth for our team."

Wirth and Fish join Brooke Schwab, Cassidy Stankowski and Nicole Dean in the CCSU volleyball Class of 2017.

The Blue Devils will open the 2013 season at the Colgate Classic - an invitational tournament hosted by Colgate University - on August 30-31.