Panthers Sign Four StandoutsNov. 25, 2003 MILWAUKEE - Leanne Felsing of Elm Grove, Nicole Vilter of Milwaukee, Kelley Olson of Black Earth and Jamie Gabrielson of Menomonee Falls have all signed National Letters of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The four make up the all-Wisconsin recruiting class head coach Kathy Litzau has assembled this year. "We have recruited four of the best players and four of the best athletes from the state," Litzau said. "It is great to be able to keep local talent at home. Certainly the potential of these four is very high. They are already at a high level but they should all continue to get a lot better. They will blend in well with the players we have returning and the future looks very bright." Felsing, a 6-foot setter and outside hitter from Wisconsin Lutheran High School, was a first-team all-state performer this past season. She was also named the player of the year in the Little Ten Conference and has been named an All-American at the club level three times. Olson, a 6-foot middle hitter from Wisconsin Heights High School, was an honorable mention all-state performer after leading her team to conference and regional titles her senior year. Off the court, she is ranked sixth in her class and is a member of the National Honor Society. Vilter, a 6-foot outside hitter from Martin Luther Prep, was also an honorable mention all-state performer after setting a school record for kills with 534. A member of the All-Midwest Classic Conference first team, she was named the co-Most Valuable Player in the conference. During her junior year, she was a member of the All-Parkland Conference first team and the conference's co-MVP. Gabrielson, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Menomonee Falls High School, has missed the last two years of her high school career due to injury but has excelled on the club level. Her 16-1 Milwaukee Sting club team finished second at nationals and her 17-1 team finished fifth. She did receive all-conference honors in volleyball her freshman year and third-team all-state honors her sophomore year before missing her final two seasons with ACL tears.
The Panthers (25-5), regular season champions in the Horizon League, are awaiting word on an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The field of 64 will be announced Sunday.
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