Press Release courtesy of Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern has secured commitments from two more high school talents to join the volleyball program in Fall 2018.
Head coach Shane Davis announced the signings of Tatyana Hardwick (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights) and Michelle Lee (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) on Monday.
“These two future Wildcats are great additions to a well-rounded and complete recruiting class,” said Head Coach Shane Davis. “All six of them, including Tatyana and Michelle, have a tremendous work ethic and will help to keep propelling this program to the next level.”
The commitments add to the already strong recruiting class, detailed here, and again draw from the local region. Hardwick comes from Michigan while Lee is a #HOMEGROWN product from Illinois.
Hardwick, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from just north of Detroit, was a three-year starter for her varsity team and played club for the same program as fellow recruit Abryanna Cannon (Novi, Mich./Novi) for two years as well. She was also named her high school team’s captain during her junior year. She was consistently ranked among the best in her conference and county and was named her team’s Most Valuable Player in her junior year.
Lee, an All-State Special Mention, is one of the most accomplished players in the area. She led the Naperville area in digs, assists, and aces during her senior year while leading her team to the Regional Championship and being named to the Naperville Sun and Aurora Beacon-News All-Area Teams.
In total, there will be six Wildcats joining the program in Fall 2018, including Kiara McNulty (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines), Ella Grbac (Cleveland, Ohio/Gilmour), Hanna Lesiak (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), and Abryanna Cannon (Novi, Mich./Novi).
Full bios for the signees are listed below.
TATYANA HARDWICK
6-2 // MB
Sterling Heights, Mich. // Sterling Heights High School // Legacy Volleyball
High School: Started three years on varsity at outside hitter … Team captain her junior year … In 2017 was named to the All-Conference First Team and All-County Team … 2016 Most Valuable Player … 2016 All-Conference First Team, All-County Honorable Mention … In 2015 led her team in kills in her rookie season … Recognized as Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year … 2015 All-Conference Honorable Mention … Played club for two years…Played varsity basketball all four years … Captain of the team in 2016 and 2017 … .In 2017 broke the school record for single-season rebounds while averaging 11 points and 16 rebounds per game … On the Honor Roll all four years … Class Treasurer.
Personal: Daughter of Ana and Henry Hardwick … Born Tatyana Marques Hardwick … Brother Darren Washington played collegiate basketball at Grand Valley State University … Studied Chinese in the summers of 2016 and 2017 at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and in Beijing … Anticipated major is Biology/Pre-Med.
Says Davis: “As a two-sport athlete, she’s young in the game of volleyball but very athletic and very aggressive overall. She is one of – if not the most — physical athletes in our gym and we can’t wait to get her to Evanston. Coming from a really highly-competitive club in Michigan, she is a quick learner and set to make a difference.”
MICHELLE LEE
5-7 // L
Naperville, Ill. // Waubonsie Valley // Sports Performance
High School: Lettered all four years … Three year starter at Libero … Team captain for two years … In 2017 had an area-best 433 digs on the season, along with 65 assists and 44 aces … Led team to Regional Championships her senior year … 2017 All-State Special Mention … 2017 Team MVP … 2017 Naperville Sun All-Area Team … 2017 Beacon News All-Area Team … 2017, 2016, 2015 Plainfield North Invite All-Tournament … 2017 Wheaton Classic All-Tournament … 2016 Warrior Blast All-Tournament … 2016 Autumnfest All-Tournament … 2016 Daily Herald All-Area Honorable Mention … 2015 All-Conference Honorable Mention … Played club for five years … Club team took second place at AAU Nationals in 2017 … Academic All-Conference all four years of high school … 2017 Indian Prairie Scholar … On the Honor Roll all four years.
Personal: Daughter of Myong and Kyeong (Ken) Lee … Born Michelle Min Lee … Mentored by former Northwestern libero Julie Chin (graduated in 2012) … Played against incoming first-year Hanna Lesiak … Anticipated major is undecided.
Says Davis: “Michelle is a steady and quick libero who comes from a great background, so her training is very good from junior and high school. She has a great passion for Northwestern and she looks to make an impact here. Passing and defense are two things you want your liberos to be great at and she excels at both.”
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