February 25, 2010

RedStorm signs standout setter

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm volleyball program is pleased to announce the signing of Kayla Landaker of River View High School to a national letter of intent. Landaker will begin playing for Rio Grande in the fall of 2010. She is the first signing for the 2010-11 academic year. 

Landaker, a 5'7" setter/outside hitter, was a standout on the court for River View for two seasons. As a sophomore in 2007 she made 2^nd team all-conference and 2^nd team all-district. She closed out her high school career this past fall as a 1^st team all-conference and all-district performer. Landaker was also tabbed honorable mention All-Ohio this past season. 

She came away with numerous team awards including, best setter and most valuable player in 2009. Landaker played in the District 5 All-Star Match as well. She finished 2^nd all-time in River View High School history in assists. 

The Coshocton, OH native is thrilled to be a part of the Rio Grande program. "I'm super excited and cannot wait to be a part of the Rio volleyball program," she said. 

Landaker cited three points in her decision to sign with Rio Grande. "The atmosphere, the cost of tuition and the volleyball program were the deciding factors for me in choosing Rio Grande," Landaker said. 

Rio Grande head coach Billina Donaldson is very happy to have Landaker in the fold. "Kayla is a very strong player with a great background in volleyball. She comes from a very successful high school program, River View Warsaw," Donaldson said. "She is a setter that has been trained to set and does a tremendous job at getting her hitters the ball."

"Not only does Kayla set but she can put the ball away as a hitter as well," Donaldson added. "I want to run a 6-2 next year and I can see Kayla fitting into our line-up nicely."

Landaker admitted that she did not know a great deal about Rio Grande, but does have a connection in that her aunt, Shelly Hoop played for Rio Grande and was a teammate of Coach Donaldson in the early 1990's. "I do not know a whole lot about Rio except that my aunt, Shelly Hoop, played volleyball for Rio," Landaker said. "Other than that I didn't really know anything about it."

Donaldson hopes that Landaker can follow in her aunt's shoes. "Kayla is sort of a legacy, her aunt Shelly Hoop played here when I was a player here. She was a senior my freshman year and if Kayla has half the power her aunt had she will be a keeper," Donaldson said. "I can't wait to put her to work in our offense, she has spent some time with a few of my players and they think she will be a quick fit into our ‘family'."

Landaker talked about her strengths as a player and also what she feels she needs to improve on as she heads to college. "I think that I am very smart as a setter and thrive in a quick offense (which Rio employs)," she said. "But, I need to work on my blocking."

Kayla is the daughter of Red and Debbie Landaker of Coshocton. She plans to major in adolescent education.