Volleyball Signs Two
November 19, 2007 | Volleyball
The ninth-ranked University of Wisconsin volleyball program has signed two athletes to national letters of intent, coach Pete Waite announced today. Janelle Gabrielson from Menomonee Falls, Wis., and Elle Ohlander from Caledonia, Ill., will join the Badgers beginning in the 2008 season.
Gabrielson, a 6-0 outside hitter/setter, is a two-time first-team all-state honoree for Menomonee Falls High School. She was named the 2006 and 2007 Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year and is a three-time first-team all-conference selection. Gabrielsen is a two-time member of the state championship all-tournament team, leading the Indians to state semifinals as a junior and quarterfinals as a senior.
Gabrielsen ranks 12th by PrepVolleyball.com in its list of 100 Senior Aces. She was one of 25 Underclassmen to Watch by Volleyball Magazine in 2006 and one of the top players to watch as a junior, sophomore and freshman by PrepVolleyball.com. Gabrielsen was also a 2006 PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American.
'Nellie Gabrielsen is a great athlete and competitor who has a great volleyball I.Q,' said Waite. 'She's truly a warrior on the court who has the ability to anticipate situations and make great decisions. She's a versatile athlete who can set or hit so she'll be able to contribute in a variety of ways. Nellie plays for the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club, a club known for putting out tough-minded players.'
Ohlander, a 6-6 middle blocker, will be the tallest player to ever put on a Badger volleyball uniform. She is ranked No. 28 among PrepVolleyball.com's 100 Senior Aces and was a 2006 PrepVolleyball.com honorable mention All-American. Ohlander was a member of the 2007 USA Women's Junior National training team and was a member of the Junior National A2 team that won the gold medal at the European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia. Ohlander was named one of 25 Underclassmen to Watch in 2006 by Volleyball Magazine. A member of Club Fusion Volleyball Club, her teams placed in the top five twice at the Junior Olympics and she was named to the 2007 Junior Olympic 18 Open All Tournament Team.
Ohlander played at Rockton's Hononegah High School where she was named the most valuable player of the Northern Illinois Conference in 2007. She was honored by the Rockford Register Star as the NIC Female Athlete of the Year in 2006-07. Ohlander earned second-team all-state honors in 2006, leading Hononegah to a second-place finish in the state championship. In the last three seasons, Hononegah was undefeated in conference play at 48-0 with Ohlander earning first-team all-conference honors as a junior and as a senior. She is also an NIC Scholar Athlete.
'Elle Ohlander brings us the size we need in the front row,' said Waite. 'She's a player who's been coming into her own over the last two years and she just keeps getting better. Elle can disrupt the opponent's attack with her block and she has the foot speed to get from antenna to antenna. Elle comes from Fusion VBC which is regarded as one of the top clubs nationally.'
