Minnesota Transfer Sydney Kleinman Set To Join Volleyball Program
May 18, 2018 | Volleyball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Sydney Kleinman, a 6-2 six-rotation outside hitter who spent her freshman season at the University of Minnesota, will attend East Carolina University and compete for the volleyball program beginning in the 2018 fall semester, according to an announcement Friday by head coach Julie Torbett.
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"We are thrilled to have Sydney join the program after a good season at the University of Minnesota," Torbett said. "She will add some much-needed size to our team and brings in a high volleyball IQ."
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Kleinman played in 30 sets over 14 matches during her freshman season at Minnesota, notching 38 kills for an average of 1.27 kills per set. She tallied four kills, three blocks and a .273 hitting percentage in a 3-1 Gopher win over Oregon State before putting down a season-high 10 kills with three digs in Minnesota's triumph over Boise State. In her first-ever Big Ten Conference match, Kleinman delivered seven kills, two digs and a .417 hitting percentage as the then No. 1 Gophers knocked off No. 20 Michigan in four sets. She also competed in contests against league foes Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois and Rutgers.
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Kleinman played her prep volleyball at Wakeland High School and was named a Second-Team Under Armour All-American as a senior after tallying 636 kills (5.1 per set), 322 digs, 38 blocks and a .312 hitting percentage. She was tabbed the No. 44 recruit in the nation (Senior Aces list) by Prepvolleyball.com and was a two-time all-state selection. In four seasons, Kleinman collected 1,777 kills, 1,002 digs, 128 total blocks and 166 aces. As a member of the Dallas Skyline Juniors, she was named to the 2015 and 2016 all-tournament team at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships and helped the club to a national title in 2014.
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ECU produced a 22-11 overall record in 2017, marking the first 20-win season for the program since 2005 as well as the second-most victories in a single season. The Pirates also turned in a 13-7 mark in American Athletic Conference play – finishing fourth in the league standings after being selected 11th of 12 teams in the conference's preseason coaches poll. ECU returns a solid core of four starters in 2018, including AAC Freshman of the Year and setter Shelby Martin.
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"We are thrilled to have Sydney join the program after a good season at the University of Minnesota," Torbett said. "She will add some much-needed size to our team and brings in a high volleyball IQ."
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Kleinman played in 30 sets over 14 matches during her freshman season at Minnesota, notching 38 kills for an average of 1.27 kills per set. She tallied four kills, three blocks and a .273 hitting percentage in a 3-1 Gopher win over Oregon State before putting down a season-high 10 kills with three digs in Minnesota's triumph over Boise State. In her first-ever Big Ten Conference match, Kleinman delivered seven kills, two digs and a .417 hitting percentage as the then No. 1 Gophers knocked off No. 20 Michigan in four sets. She also competed in contests against league foes Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois and Rutgers.
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Kleinman played her prep volleyball at Wakeland High School and was named a Second-Team Under Armour All-American as a senior after tallying 636 kills (5.1 per set), 322 digs, 38 blocks and a .312 hitting percentage. She was tabbed the No. 44 recruit in the nation (Senior Aces list) by Prepvolleyball.com and was a two-time all-state selection. In four seasons, Kleinman collected 1,777 kills, 1,002 digs, 128 total blocks and 166 aces. As a member of the Dallas Skyline Juniors, she was named to the 2015 and 2016 all-tournament team at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships and helped the club to a national title in 2014.
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ECU produced a 22-11 overall record in 2017, marking the first 20-win season for the program since 2005 as well as the second-most victories in a single season. The Pirates also turned in a 13-7 mark in American Athletic Conference play – finishing fourth in the league standings after being selected 11th of 12 teams in the conference's preseason coaches poll. ECU returns a solid core of four starters in 2018, including AAC Freshman of the Year and setter Shelby Martin.
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