Feb. 23, 2010

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State head women's soccer coach David DiIanni announced eight recruits for the 2010 season. The class, which consists of all eight from Michigan residents, joins a team, which went undefeated last season with a record of 22-0-4 and won the programs first ever NCAA Division II National Championship.

"We are very happy with the group of young women who have made the decision in continuing their soccer and student careers at Grand Valley State University," said DiIanni. "We feel that this class is comprised of some very experienced, competitive and passionate soccer players, who are extremely excited to be part of and contribute to, the GVSU Soccer Program. This is also the first class in my seven years at Grand Valley that has been filled entirely of Michigan student-athletes."

The first recruit comes from Mattawan High School, where she played the last four-years under head coach Kurt Brown. Taylor  Callen was a two-time all-division, all-district, all-state and all-conference selection. She helped the Wildcats to two division titles in 2007 and 2008 and district championship in 2007.

"Taylor comes to us from the TKO club program and is one of many members of this class who excel through athleticism and pace," DiIanni said. "Taylor is coming off of consecutive ACL surgeries, but with hard work she will be back at 100% and we look forward to her contributing. She will begin either as a forward or defender her freshman year."

Sam  Decker is a defender from Rockford, Mich., who was an all-district selection her junior year. She helped the Rams to two district championships and was also named to the academic all-nation team.

"Sam is another product of the local talent we have coming out of the Grand Rapids area. She played at Rockford High School and for the Grand Rapids Crew under Justin Harnden," DiIanni commented. "Sam is a versatile soccer player who is fast, athletic and has a very high work rate. Sam will begin her career at outside back for the Lakers."

Another outside back, Kelsey  Fiscus from Novi, Mich., was a four-year starter at Northville High School and an all-conference, all-area and all-district selection her junior year. The Mustangs and Fiscus were three-time division champions and two-time district and conference champions.

"Kelsey is one of three girls from the Michigan Hawks club program. Her sister currently attends GVSU which makes her very familiar with our school and soccer program. We are very excited for what Kelsey will bring our program in the coming years," DiIanni said. "She is a tough nose, hard defender with very good pace. She is the type of outside back that you do not have to worry about getting beat because of her ability to defend in one-on-one situations. Kelsey will start her career as an outside back, but also has the ability to play up front, out wide in a three player set."

Shelby  Humphries, a midfielder from Portage, Mich. played four-years of varsity soccer under head coach Pat Norman at Portage Central High School. She was an all-conference and all-division selection and helped her team to a MHSAA Division I State Championship in 2009 and was named to the all-tournament team.

"Shelby is one of two girls in this class coming from the Kalamazoo area. Shelby plays high school for the very successful Portage Central program and plays club for TKO," DiIanni commented. "She is exactly what we are looking for as a typical center back. Shelby is very good in the air and is a great tackler in 50/50 situations. She will begin her career in the midfield, but has the ability to move to center back if needed."

Kayla Kimble was a four-year starter at Livonia Stevenson High School and a team captain for two-years. She was selected to the all-division, all-conference and all-area teams and was scholar-athlete of the year in 2009.

"Kayla comes to us from the Michigan Hawks club and has benefited from learning the game by playing for her father, Jim Kimble the last few years," DiIanni said. "Kayla has played in a lot of very meaningful games during her club career and that experience will serve her well at the college level. Kayla will begin at center back, however she also possesses the ability to play higher up on the field at center mid."

Michelle Marcus, a goalkeeper from Ada, Mich., played her high school soccer at Forest Hills Eastern under head coach Paul Rosenbrook. She was an all-district, all-conference, all-region and all-state selection and a team captain her junior and senior seasons.

"Michelle has a great frame for the goalkeeping position. She has very good range from post to post and she is a field general in the back who is constantly communicating with her defenders," DiIanni commented.

Another goalkeeper, Abbey Miller is from Saginaw, Mich., where she was a four-year soccer player at Heritage High School. Miller was a three-time all-district and all-conference selection and a two-time all-academic and all-region selection.

"Abbey is someone who we saw at our Adidas Elite Camp this past summer. She came in with a good honest work ethic to get better at the fundamental part of the goal keeping position and her personality just grew on the coaching staff," said DiIanni. "Abbey will definitely add depth and competition to that position."

The final recruit, Tayler Ward, is a defender from Grand Blanc, Mich. Ward played her soccer at Grand Blanc High School and was an all-district, all-conference, all-region, all-academic and honorable mention all-state selection. She was also selected as the team's most valuable player during her junior year.

"Tayler is also from the very successful Michigan Hawks program. She will begin her career as an outside back for us, however we also feel she has the ability to play centrally on the defensive as well later in her career," commented DiIanni. "She continues to grow and develop as a player and leads us to believe that will continue at GVSU as well."