Volleyball Bulldogs Add Three Signees For 2005 Season
The volleyball newcomers include Cristina Jucan, a 5-11 outside hitter fromCluj, Romania; Eva Kriegel, a 5-11 setter/hitter from Jaszbereny, Hungary;and Nicole Palazzo, a 6-3 middle blocker from Grayson, Georgia.
"We are excited that these three young ladies have chosen to continue theirvolleyball careers at Mississippi State University," said Seals. "They areskilled athletes that will be great additions to our program and to theuniversity community."
Jucan attended Liceul cu Program Sportiv Tg. Mures in Cluj, Romania, playingon teams that claimed Romanian national championships in 2002 and 2003 andfinished third at the 2003 and 2004 Balconian championships. A right-handedoutside hitter, Jucan was coached by Ardelean Horea and was tabbed as thebest hitter at the national championships and the best blocker at theBalconian championship.
She is the daughter of Loan and Monica Jucan of Cluj, Romania.
Kriegel is the younger sister of Mississippi State junior outside hitterOrsi Kriegel. A 5-11 setter/hitter, Eva Kriegel attended high school atZapor utcai Alt. Isk. es Gimn, where she was coached by Littkei Gabor. Shecompeted for the VASAS sport club team that captured the Hungarian JuniorChampionship in 2000, 2001 and 2004 and finished second in the 2003 and 2004Hungarian Senior Championship. The left-handed hitting signee was tabbed asthe most skilled player in the 2005 Hungarian Junior Championships. Kriegelwas also a member of the 2000 and 2002 Hungarian Junior National team.
She is the daughter of Eva and Joszef Kriegel of Jaszbereny, Hungary.
Palazzo starred as a middle blocker for coach Kim Mohr at Grayson HighSchool, setting school career and single season records for both kills andblocks. She served as captain of her team as a senior, earning team MVPhonors and first-team all-region and all-county selection. The MSU signeewas tabbed as Offensive Player of the Year and region co-MVP as a juniorand as a sophomore worked her way into the starting lineup on the Rams teamthat captured the regional title and finished fourth in the state playoffs.
Palazzo played club volleyball in 2003-04 and 2004-05 for Vertical One,coached by Amy Iannocari and Eric Harris.
She is the daughter of Mark and Sheila Palazzo of Grayson, Georgia.