ATLANTA (March 13) – Georgia Tech head volleyball coach Shelton Collier announced the signing of Geeske Banck, Alexandra Preiss, and Dorottya Pap, three international players, to letters of intent on Monday, March 13.
Banck, a 5-10 outside hitter from Moekeberg, Germany, currently plays for TV Fischbek, an elite Division One team in the top German Club League. She is a beach volleyball standout as well and in 1998 won the National Championship in the Youth Beach Volleyball Tournament of Germany.
“In losing two senior leftside hitters to graduation in June,” said Collier. “Geeska will have an opportunity to come in and make a major impact right away. I expect her to be a strong player in the ACC even as freshman.”
“She will be a great addition to our team in many ways,” said Collier. “She is a strong, athletic player, and is both an effective attacker and accomplished backcourt player.”
Joining Banck at the outside hitter position is Pap, a 6-2 player from Budapest, Hungary. Pap has played for a top Hungarian Club team, BSE, for the three previous seasons. Originally from Romania, Pap played for the Romanian Junior National Team as well as the National Champions Rapid-Bucharest volleyball club.
“Dorie is a veteran player who has played who has played at a high level for quite awhile,” said Collier. “She has played both rightside and leftside on a strong club team in Hungary, so I expect she will content for a starting role at either of these positions this fall.”
“At 6-2, Dorie will be a force at the net for us this fall, and I expect she will add an exciting dimension to our offense,” said Collier.
The final recruit for the Class of 2000 is Priess, a 6-1 middle blocker from Berlin, Germany. Preiss has national team experience as well, having been a member of the German Junior National Team. She is currently a member of VCO Olympian, a strong club team located in Berlin.
“It was important for us to sign a talented middle blocker, so we are excited to have a player with Alexandra’s experience and potential,” said Collier.
“We may have the top returning middle blocker combination in the ACC with Ky Bell and Teryl Townsend, and Alexandra will strengthen this position even more,” said Collier. “She is a strong attacker with an excellent all-around game, so we feel she will be able to contribute right away.”
“I’m very pleased with the addition of these players,” said Collier. “Each one has a great deal of experience and will be looked upon to contribute as freshmen.”
