Volleyball Lands Four Signees for 2017 Season
Nov 10, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – As Tulane volleyball will wave goodbye to five graduating seniors this fall, head coach Jim Barnes and his staff have prepared the program well for the future. Four high school seniors signed their National Letter Intent to come compete for the Green Wave, Barnes announced late Wednesday.
"We are very proud to add these four great student-athletes to our team," Barnes said. "They all demonstrate high-level academic skills and first-class character. They also all come from winning programs both in club and high school, which means they are used to winning and working at a championship level on a daily basis. Tulane nation will love how they represent our program and Tulane University."
This year's signing class features two outside hitters, one middle hitter and one setter. In addition, Barnes has landed two of the best players out of Louisiana for next year's team. Markenzie Benoit (MH – Lake Ridge High/Mansfield, Texas), Lexie Douglas (OH – Hebron HS, Plano, Texas), Jenna Ibieta (S – Metairie Park Country Day School, Metairie, Louisiana) and Kristen Thompson (OH – Dutchtown HS, Geismar, Louisiana) will all suit up next year for the Olive and Blue.
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Markenzie Benoit
Benoit is a 6'0 outside hitter out of Mansfield, Texas, who played her prep years at Lake Ridge High. Benoit received four letters in volleyball, splitting time at between middle and right-side for the Eagles. As a junior, Benoit was named first-team All-District and was also named the team's Defensive Player of the Year. In her final year with the Eagles, Benoit was named team captain and is currently leading her team through the state playoffs.
Benoit played club for Lonestar Volleyball in Frisco and the Tejas Volleyball Club in North Richland Hills.
Barnes on Benoit…
"Markenzie is a very quick and dynamic middle attacker. She is a high flyer and is a very good blocker. She competes very hard and will be a great leader on the court from the start."
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Lexie Douglas
Douglas is a 5'11 outside hitter out of Plano, Texas and a three-year letter winner at Hebron High School, where she split time between outside and right-side. As a junior, Douglas helped her team to a Texas 6A State Championship, finishing with a 43-5 season record. The Hawks are currently tied for first in the league on a 39-6 record, with Douglas as the team captain.
Douglas played club with Mad Frog in Plano, helping her team clinch the title of 2016 GJNC American Division Champions while being named Tournament MVP just a year after her first All-Tournament Team selection in 2015.
Barnes on Douglas…
"Lexie is a smooth and athletic left-side hitter who can play all six rotations. She has the skill level to compete right away and make an immediate impact on this team. Both her club and high school teams have played at a very high level, both claiming championship titles in 2015."
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Jenna Ibieta
Ibieta is a local product out of Metairie Park Country Day School. A five-year letter winner for the Cajuns, the setter is considered one of the top players out of Louisiana this year. She has helped her team to three state championships and a semi-final finish in 2015 and is currently playing for a fourth state title in her senior year. Ibieta received All-State honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior and was named the 2013 and 2014 LHSAA Division V State Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In 2014, she also earned the LHSAA Division V Player of the Year award.
At Country Day, Ibieta most recently broke a school record with 5,000 career assists. Prior to her senior season, she was named to the AVCA Preseason All-American watch list and also received Under Armour High School All-American Honorable Mention honors. She was also a 2016 LHSAA Senior All-Star Game Selection and has received All-District honors for four consecutive years, being named District 8-1A MVP as a sophomore and junior. Ibieta is also a three-time All-Metro New Orleans Small School Player of the Year, as selected by nola.com and the New Orleans Advocate.
Ibieta played club with NOLA Volleyball, where she was named an AAU All-American in 2013 and 2014.
Barnes on Ibieta…
"Jenna is one of the most accomplished and decorated setters coming out of the state of Louisiana with three high school state championships under her belt and counting. She is a tough, determined setter who can lead and ran an offense at a high level. She grew up in a gym and has spent her volleyball career playing for her mother, Julie, who was a standout player for LSU's Final Four teams of the early 90's."
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Kristen Thompson
Thompson, a 5'11 outside hitter out of Dutchtown High School, rounds out the 2017 signing class as the second Louisiana signee and is another one of the top players in the state. Thompson split time between middle hitter, setter and outside hitter for the Griffins. At Dutchtown, she garnered All-District honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior, All-Region honors as a sophomore and junior, and was an All-State selection in 2015.
Thompson played club with both Redstorm Volleyball and NOLA Volleyball, claiming multiple tournament titles during her time on the court. Â
Barnes on Thompson…
"Kristen is another great athlete from the state of Louisiana. She has tremendous upsize and has the ability to play multiple positions. She played club ball with fellow signee Jenna Ibieta, and she is also one of the best players in the state."
