Colorado University Athletics
Mahoney Adds Pair To 2016 Recruiting Class
March 11, 2016 | Volleyball
BOULDER —Colorado volleyball coach Jesse Mahoney has announced the addition of Lillie Klemmer (Honolulu, Hawai'i) and Rachel Whipple (Centennial, Colo.) to the 2016 recruiting class.
“We are excited to welcome Rachel and Lillie to the Buff Family,” Mahoney said. “Both are great students, elite players and most importantly, they are exceptional people. We are looking forward to positive impact they will have on our program.”
Klemmer and Whipple join Lauren Dorrell and Justine Spann in the class as well as sophomore Alexa Smith who transferred from Purdue in January.
Lillie Klemmer, 5-11, OPP/MB/OH, Honolulu, Hawai'i/Imi'Ike VBC
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Klemmer, a three-year starter at Punahou, was a two-time all-state selection. She first earned the honor in 2014 after helping Punahou to the Hawai'i State Championship and was again selected to the team in 2015. In 2013, Klemmer was an honorable mention all-state selection as she helped PHS place second at the state championship. A versatile player, Klemmer was mainly a middle blocker, but also played outside and right side. Klemmer has been playing sand volleyball for the last two years and qualified for the 2015 AAU Championships in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
She played for Imi'Ike Volleyball Club and was coached by two-time Olympian Robyn Ah Mow-Santos. Klemmer was a part of the USAV High Performance teams her freshman and sophmore years.
Klemmer is the daughter of Howie and Amie Klemmer and has one brother, Eric, who plays football and volleyball. She enjoys surfing, hiking, running and playing beach volleyball. Klemmer is undecided on a major, but plans to do something in the medical field.
Many other programs recruited Klemmer, including Dartmouth, UC Riverside, Seattle, Texas A&M, South Florida and Denver. She decided on Colorado because her mother is an alumni and she has family in the Denver area. She wanted nothing more than to attend CU because it is a perfect fit.
Rachel Whipple, 5-7, DS/L, Centennial, Colo./Colorado Volleyball Association
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Whipple was a three-time team captain at Smoky Hill and earned four varsity letters on the volleyball team. A defensive specialist, she recorded 445 digs, 393 serve receptions, 46 aces and 34 kills as a senior. As a junior, she tallied 408 digs, 559 serve receptions, 19 aces and 18 kills. Whipple also had impressive stats as a sophomore, recording 413 digs, 590 serve receptions, seven aces and 22 kills. She led Colorado Class 5A in digs per set her senior (6.18), junior (5.23) and sophomore (5.66) seasons.
A two-time All-Centennial League First Team selection as a senior and junior, Whipple also earned second team honors during her sophomore campaign. She was named to the Denver Post All-Colorado Team as an honorable mention honoree in 2014 as well. Whipple also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honorable mention status twice (2014 and '15).
Her club team was the 2014 Far Western 16 USA Champions. They were a three-time national qualifier and recorded top five finishes at Colorado Crossroads and the Disney Showcase in 2015.
She is the daughter of Paul and Julie Whipple and has one brother, Chris, who is a junior at CU. Whipple enjoys baking and volunteering with the Special Olympics. A multi-sport athlete at SHHS, Whipple also earned letters in soccer and swimming. She intends to major in integrative physiology but is also interested in fitness and nutrition.
Whipple was also recruited by Denver, Virginia Commonwealth and Gonzaga. She decided on Colorado because she dreamed of playing a collegiate sport and representing her home state.
2016 Recruiting Class
|
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Hometown/School/Club |
|
OH/OPP |
6-0 |
Brentwood, Tenn./Father Ryan HS/Houston Junior VBC |
|
|
OPP/MB/OH |
5-11 |
Honolulu, Hawai'i/Punahou HS/Imi'Ike VBC |
|
|
OH |
5-10 |
Chandler, Ariz./Basha HS/Arizona Storm VBC |
|
|
DS/L |
5-7 |
Centennial, Colo./Smoky Hill HS/Colorado Volleyball Association |
