On April 23, 2010, Upper Merion senior Liz DiValerio signed a letter of intent to accept a volleyball scholarship to Kutztown University.
Liz DiValerio – Kutztown University (Volleyball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “I loved the coach (John Gump), and I felt like I could trust him the most. The team was like a big family, and they welcomed me - I felt like I was part of their team already when I visited.”
When did the idea of playing collegiate volleyball become a reality? “I always wanted to play in college. I just didn’t know where or at what level. When I was little, I wanted to play at Penn State because that’s where every little girl wants to play. Last year I started thinking of the reality of where I could actually play. I knew I wanted to stay close to home because I want to be close to my parents. Those three schools – Kutztown, Millersville and Lock Haven - jumped out at me, but I loved Kutztown. I loved the campus, I loved everything about it.”
What was the recruiting process like? “It was stressful making the decision because I didn’t want to let any of the coaches down because I liked them all so much, but I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
Coach Tony Funsten says: “Liz was always seeking perfection. She didn’t quite get there, but the journey was worth it. She started as a freshman, and she burst onto the scene the beginning of her sophomore year and was an impact player from her sophomore year on.
“She played a very difficult position playing outside as a lefthander. That’s very, very difficult to do, and she conquered it and excelled at it. We’ll miss her for sure. I believe she might be the all-time leader in kills for us. She had over 900 career kills, which is just an astronomical number.
“She’s a shot maker. She just made shots. Sometimes when you didn’t think a shot was to be made, she made one, and at times, she was totally unstoppable. Really, sometimes the only person who could stop her was herself.
“She’s a great kid. I had her in class, and she’s a good student. I expect her to be successful in college. I know she’ll work at it.”
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