Via FSU sports information:
Head volleyball coach Chris Poole announced three signees to his 2023 class on Wednesday. Kennedy Phelan, Madeline Snider and Kyleene Filimaua each put the pen to the paper on Wednesday.
“We are extremely excited about this class. To compliment our recent recruits, we were trying to fill very specific positions on the court and gain additional depth for the future. This is a competitive group. They all play with a lot of intensity, and they hate to lose. No doubt that our practices will benefit with the competition on the court,” Poole said.
Kyleene Filimaua – Outside Hitter – Bothell, Wash. – North Creek High School
Filimaua played four years of varsity at North Creek High School and was captain of her team for three years. For high school, her awards reached further than her athletic ability, earning Most Inspirational, Team MVP, and Coaches Award. She earned a two-time KingCo MVP title, made KingCo League First Team twice, and was a two-time KingCo League Champion. Her athletic accomplishments also include the Seattle Times All-Area Team, All-State First Team, WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) Athlete of the Week for Washington, AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Athlete of the Week, and Prep Top 150.
For USA Volleyball, Filimaua earned a bronze medal in the Indoor USAV HP Program ages 9-17 at HP Championships in the Youth Division as a select A1 Team. She made Emerald City Classic First Team and qualified each year for Nationals. Her beach volleyball career included a bronze medal in the USAV High Performance Program at HP zonal Championship. She was awarded the Dakine Elite Team Award and was two-time MVP, AVP Sammamish Champion. Filimaua’s junior career recognized her as a three-time winner of the Junior Volleyball Association Best of the Beach.
On top of competitive beach volleyball and volleyball, Filimaua played four-year varsity basketball, varsity rowing, and varsity track. In basketball, she was captain of her team for three years and captain of her rowing team for one of her two years played. She impressed in track; being named KingCo League Champion, placing third in KingCo Shootout, fourth in KingCo High Jump, and fifth in KingCo Discus.
Off the court, Filimaua is a part of the National Honor Society, named Rotary Student-Athlete of the Month, and Prep Volleyball Academic All-American. She plans to major in Sports Medicine or Marine Biology at Florida State. Filimaua is the daughter to Robyn Filimaua who attended Sweet Briar College and played volleyball, basketball, swimming, and softball. She is sibling to Jourdin Filimaua.
“Kyleene committed early before the NCAA rule change her freshman year. Ky has been on both the indoor and beach USA National team programs growing up and has exceptional all around skills. She will primarily be an outside hitter that can play full rotation and help both on the back row in passing and attacking as well as being a physical player on the front row. She hits a heavy ball, but also has great instincts and ball control. Ky is a great competitor and will raise the level of intensity in our gym.” – Chris Poole
Kennedy Phelan – Setter – Fayetteville, Ark. – Fayetteville High School
Phelan comes to Florida State as one of the top high school setters in the country. Phelan is rated a five-star recruit by vballrecruiter.com and was named the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021. Phelan was named an Under Armor High School All-American and will be competing in the Under Armor All-American Game on January 2 in Orlando, Fla. Phelan has helped Fayetteville High School to three-consecutive state championships and is a four-time all-state selection. Phelan was also named the state tournament MVP twice. She holds the school record for both aces (288) and assists (3,792) at Fayetteville High School. Phelan plans to major in art education at FSU.
Phelan comes from an impressive family full of collegiate athletes. Her mom, Jessica, played volleyball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under Head Coach Chris Poole and was an AVCA All-American for the Razorbacks. She was also named a Southeastern Conference Women’s Legend and coached Kennedy all four years at Fayetteville High School. Kennedy’s father, Darin, played tennis at the University of Arkansas and became an assistant coach at the school for seven years before he became the head tennis coach at Fayetteville High School. Her brother, Tyler, currently runs cross country at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
“I’ve known Kenna her whole life. Kenna’s mom, Jessica, was my first AVCA All-American back in 1997 and led our Arkansas Razorback team to a 3-0 sweep over Florida for the SEC Tournament Championship that season. Kenna’s dad was a star tennis player and later an assistant tennis coach at Arkansas as well. Kenna has been raised to compete and to play with no fear. She has set, passed and hit growing up, but her primary role as an older player has been in the setter position. Kenna will also play for the FSU Beach team. There are great players and there are players that make everyone around them better. Kenna is both.” – Chris Poole
Madeline Snider – Right Side – Land O Lakes, Fla. – Sunlake High School
Snider was recognized for her exceptional play with a spot on the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Phenom List and the Prep Volleyball Top 150 List. She was also a part of the distinguished NTDP (National Team Development Program) which emphasizes the health, well-being, and overall development of each individual volleyball player. The ambidextrous athlete averaged more than 260 kills each of the 2019-21 seasons at Bishop McLaughlin, while simultaneously leading her team to the playoffs in every corresponding season. Her transfer to Sunlake High School has already been deemed impressive, allotting for 221 kills in 56 sets played.
Snider will be graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2023 with a 4.35 GPA. On top of an immaculate GPA, her academic achievements include being a part of the Spanish, Art, English, and National Honor societies. She plans to major in Biomedical Sciences. Snider is daughter to Geesche and Robert Snider, and sibling to Amelia Snider.
“Maddie is a 6’4″ left-handed player. The tallest left-handed player that I have had in my career. She has played every position on the front row but will primarily be a right-side attacker for our program. Maddie has also always been a full-rotation passer for her teams so is very comfortable with her ball control. Maddie has played at a high level and is a very physical player. Maddie has followed our program since a young player, and we knew immediately that she was a winner both on and off the court. We are fortunate that Maddie is graduating early and will be at FSU in January 2023.” – Chris Poole
Head volleyball coach Chris Poole announced three signees to his 2023 class on Wednesday. Kennedy Phelan, Madeline Snider and Kyleene Filimaua each put the pen to the paper on Wednesday.
“We are extremely excited about this class. To compliment our recent recruits, we were trying to fill very specific positions on the court and gain additional depth for the future. This is a competitive group. They all play with a lot of intensity, and they hate to lose. No doubt that our practices will benefit with the competition on the court,” Poole said.
Kyleene Filimaua – Outside Hitter – Bothell, Wash. – North Creek High School
Filimaua played four years of varsity at North Creek High School and was captain of her team for three years. For high school, her awards reached further than her athletic ability, earning Most Inspirational, Team MVP, and Coaches Award. She earned a two-time KingCo MVP title, made KingCo League First Team twice, and was a two-time KingCo League Champion. Her athletic accomplishments also include the Seattle Times All-Area Team, All-State First Team, WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) Athlete of the Week for Washington, AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Athlete of the Week, and Prep Top 150.
For USA Volleyball, Filimaua earned a bronze medal in the Indoor USAV HP Program ages 9-17 at HP Championships in the Youth Division as a select A1 Team. She made Emerald City Classic First Team and qualified each year for Nationals. Her beach volleyball career included a bronze medal in the USAV High Performance Program at HP zonal Championship. She was awarded the Dakine Elite Team Award and was two-time MVP, AVP Sammamish Champion. Filimaua’s junior career recognized her as a three-time winner of the Junior Volleyball Association Best of the Beach.
On top of competitive beach volleyball and volleyball, Filimaua played four-year varsity basketball, varsity rowing, and varsity track. In basketball, she was captain of her team for three years and captain of her rowing team for one of her two years played. She impressed in track; being named KingCo League Champion, placing third in KingCo Shootout, fourth in KingCo High Jump, and fifth in KingCo Discus.
Off the court, Filimaua is a part of the National Honor Society, named Rotary Student-Athlete of the Month, and Prep Volleyball Academic All-American. She plans to major in Sports Medicine or Marine Biology at Florida State. Filimaua is the daughter to Robyn Filimaua who attended Sweet Briar College and played volleyball, basketball, swimming, and softball. She is sibling to Jourdin Filimaua.
“Kyleene committed early before the NCAA rule change her freshman year. Ky has been on both the indoor and beach USA National team programs growing up and has exceptional all around skills. She will primarily be an outside hitter that can play full rotation and help both on the back row in passing and attacking as well as being a physical player on the front row. She hits a heavy ball, but also has great instincts and ball control. Ky is a great competitor and will raise the level of intensity in our gym.” – Chris Poole
Kennedy Phelan – Setter – Fayetteville, Ark. – Fayetteville High School
Phelan comes to Florida State as one of the top high school setters in the country. Phelan is rated a five-star recruit by vballrecruiter.com and was named the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021. Phelan was named an Under Armor High School All-American and will be competing in the Under Armor All-American Game on January 2 in Orlando, Fla. Phelan has helped Fayetteville High School to three-consecutive state championships and is a four-time all-state selection. Phelan was also named the state tournament MVP twice. She holds the school record for both aces (288) and assists (3,792) at Fayetteville High School. Phelan plans to major in art education at FSU.
Phelan comes from an impressive family full of collegiate athletes. Her mom, Jessica, played volleyball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under Head Coach Chris Poole and was an AVCA All-American for the Razorbacks. She was also named a Southeastern Conference Women’s Legend and coached Kennedy all four years at Fayetteville High School. Kennedy’s father, Darin, played tennis at the University of Arkansas and became an assistant coach at the school for seven years before he became the head tennis coach at Fayetteville High School. Her brother, Tyler, currently runs cross country at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
“I’ve known Kenna her whole life. Kenna’s mom, Jessica, was my first AVCA All-American back in 1997 and led our Arkansas Razorback team to a 3-0 sweep over Florida for the SEC Tournament Championship that season. Kenna’s dad was a star tennis player and later an assistant tennis coach at Arkansas as well. Kenna has been raised to compete and to play with no fear. She has set, passed and hit growing up, but her primary role as an older player has been in the setter position. Kenna will also play for the FSU Beach team. There are great players and there are players that make everyone around them better. Kenna is both.” – Chris Poole
Madeline Snider – Right Side – Land O Lakes, Fla. – Sunlake High School
Snider was recognized for her exceptional play with a spot on the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Phenom List and the Prep Volleyball Top 150 List. She was also a part of the distinguished NTDP (National Team Development Program) which emphasizes the health, well-being, and overall development of each individual volleyball player. The ambidextrous athlete averaged more than 260 kills each of the 2019-21 seasons at Bishop McLaughlin, while simultaneously leading her team to the playoffs in every corresponding season. Her transfer to Sunlake High School has already been deemed impressive, allotting for 221 kills in 56 sets played.
Snider will be graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2023 with a 4.35 GPA. On top of an immaculate GPA, her academic achievements include being a part of the Spanish, Art, English, and National Honor societies. She plans to major in Biomedical Sciences. Snider is daughter to Geesche and Robert Snider, and sibling to Amelia Snider.
“Maddie is a 6’4″ left-handed player. The tallest left-handed player that I have had in my career. She has played every position on the front row but will primarily be a right-side attacker for our program. Maddie has also always been a full-rotation passer for her teams so is very comfortable with her ball control. Maddie has played at a high level and is a very physical player. Maddie has followed our program since a young player, and we knew immediately that she was a winner both on and off the court. We are fortunate that Maddie is graduating early and will be at FSU in January 2023.” – Chris Poole
