May 24, 2016
Caroline Holt Transfer Release
By Russell Dorn
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Two high school standouts – Hanna Klein & Halle Truett – have joined the University of Notre Dame volleyball program for the 2016 season.
Klein and Truett join fellow incoming freshmen Lauren Woodard and Jemma Yeadon in making up the class of 2020.
A 5-8 setter from Pacific Palisades, California, Klein continues a long line of Irish players to make their way to the Golden Dome from the The Golden State. Five California student-athletes will be on this year’s team after four in 2015, four in 2014, four in 2013, five in 2012 and six in 2011.
“Her mom and dad were great athletes and her mom was a Division I volleyball player. She’s got good energy and is quick. The ball goes where she wants it to go,” said head coach Jim McLaughlin. “She’s going to have competition at the position, but battles are good. They make people better.”
Truett, meanwhile, is a 5-7 libero and comes to Notre Dame from York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. She joins sophomore Ryann DeJarld as the only Illinois products in the program. Truett will also be one of four liberos on the team in 2016.
“She’s fast and fiery,” said McLaughlin. She’s got tremendous energy and is very positive. She preserved through the recruiting process. She wanted to be at Notre Dame. I watched her and felt like we could help develop her.”
After accepting the task to completely remake the Irish program in January 2015, McLaughlin and his impressive staff have worked tirelessly to build depth.
“You’ve got to develop depth and encourage competition at positions,” said McLaughlin. “People get better when they are competing and fighting for spots. Every great team I’ve worked with had some depth.”
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In the coming weeks be on the lookout for a spring recap and the 2016 schedule, which features the return of two home tournaments in addition to 10 home Atlantic Coast Conference contests.
COMPLETE BIOS
Hanna Klein
Setter
5-8
Pacific Palisades, California
Marymount High School
HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL: Graduated from Marymount High School in the spring of 2016 … played four years of indoor volleyball and earned two letters … also played three seasons of beach volleyball and received three letters … helped squad to Mission League championships as a junior and senior … earned first team all-league honors as a senior after posting 974 assists, 52 kills, 218 digs and 23 service aces … team advanced to the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) quarterfinals in each of the last two years … assisted the JV team as a sophomore to a Sunshine League title before moving up to the varsity squad for CIF games … JV squad also won a Sunshine League title as a freshman … played club volleyball with the Sunshine Volleyball program … helped team participate in the Junior Olympics all four years and earn a medal at the Colorado Crossroads in 2016 … off the court, volunteered with Project Angel Food and A Place Called Home … was as an assistant coach of the Sunshine 12 and under club team … also served as a school ambassador … named a College Board AP Scholar and selected to the Marymount Honor Roll … attended the same high school as Irish rising sophomore libero Kelly Byrne … Hanna Caroline Klein was born in Los Angles to Perry and Cari Klein … has an older brother, Chase … mother, Cari, played volleyball at Pepperdine … father, Perry, played football at the University of California Berkley … brother, Chase, played volleyball at New York University … will enroll in First Year of Studies.
Halle Truett
Libero
5-7
Elmhurst, Illinois
York High School
HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL: Pronounced “HAL-lee TRUE-it” … graduated from York High School in the spring of 2016 … earned four letters in volleyball, starting every match all four years … was a three-time varsity captain … tabbed all-conference and academic all-conference as a senior … also received DuPage and Pioneer Press all-area accolades … named to the AVCA Under Armour watch list heading into senior season … helped squad tie for conference title and claim a region championship after posting 527 digs and 47 service aces … named to the AVCA Phenom List as a freshman, sophomore and junior … earned spots on the Prep Volleyball “Soph 79” special mention list as a sophomore and on the Prep Volleyball “Defensive Dandies” list as a sophomore and junior … played club volleyball for the First Alliance Volleyball Club for seven years … currently serving as the libero and captain for the First Alliance 18U Silver squad … competed in the USA Volleyball 18U National Championship match in 2014 with First Alliance 18 Black … two-time club team captain … outstanding beach volleyball player over last six years … has six first-place and four second-place finishes at USAV Beach Tour, AAU Qualifiers and EVP events … competed at the AAU Junior Olympics and the USA Volleyball National Championships … selected to participate in the USAV High Performance Beach Volleyball program at the Olympic Training Center … active off the court … was the founder and organizer of Pennies for Preemies and served as the board secretary for the RAYS (Raising Awareness for Youth in Society) organization … active in Relay for Life, Key Club, DECA, Circle of Friends, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Ambassadors … named an AP Scholar of Distinction in 2015 … Halle Elizabeth Truett was born in Chicago to Sean and Lisa Miceli Truett … has a younger sister, Sydney, and a younger brother, Jake … will enroll in First Year of Studies.
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For more information on the Irish, follow the team on Facebook (/NDVolleyball), Twitter (@NDVolleyball), Instagram (NDVBall) and Snapchat (NDVolleyball). Irish camp information can be found at ndvbcamps.com or by emailing ndvbcamps@gmail.com.
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Russell Dorn, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2011 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame volleyball, rowing and baseball programs. A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Dorn graduated from Furman University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in history before earning his master’s degree in sports communications from Georgia State University in 2011.
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