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July 7, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia head volleyball coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton has announced that Kathleen Branagh (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo) and Meghan O’Leary (Baton Rouge, La./Episcopal) have committed to attend the University of Virginia and play volleyball for the Cavaliers beginning in the 2003-2004 academic year. The addition of Branagh and O’Leary increases UVa’s recruiting class to six players.
Branagh, a 5-6 setter from Lafayette, Calif., is a four-year volleyball letterwinner at Campolindo High School. She was named a 2002 Contra Costa Times All-Star Prep Athlete as one of the top six volleyball players in the East Bay of Northern California. Branagh is a two-time All-Diablo Valley Athletic League pick, including first-team honors in 2002. She also helped lead Campolindo to three Diablo Valley Athletic League championships (2000, 2001 and 2002). At the 2001 16-Club Nationals, Branagh was named MVP after helping lead Golden Bear Volleyball Club to the gold medal. Branagh has twice (2001 and 2002) been selected for the USA Developmental Camp.
“Kathleen is a well trained setter from one of the top junior club programs in the nation. She is a fast athlete with a good mind for the game and has lots of high level experience. She will acclimate well to our system and be able to run our offense right away,” said Shelton.
O’Leary is a 6-0 middle from Baton Rouge, La., and a national winner of the 2002 Wendy’s High School Heisman. She earned four letters and is a two-time All-State performer in volleyball. In addition to earning All-State honors, O’Leary is a three-time 7-2A First Team All-District pick and MVP in 2002. She was the 2002 All-Metro MVP as well. O’Leary was chosen as The Advocate Star of Stars Volleyball standout in 2002. An outstanding athlete, O’Leary is also a four-time All-State pick in softball and a two-time selection in basketball. She was named Episcopal High School’s 2002 Female Athlete of the Year and the recipient of the Webster’s Cup which is the highest honor given to a graduating senior. The co-valedictorian will be a Jefferson Scholar at UVa.
“Meghan is a tremendous athlete who has just recently began to focus solely on volleyball. I have no doubt that with just a little bit of time in our gym she will become a very strong volleyball player,” she said.
“Our program is very lucky to add such strong athletes and amazing people so late in the recruiting calendar. They compliment the other incoming players we signed in the fall and will fit in well with our program and the University.”
Branagh and O’Leary round out UVa’s 2003 recruiting class which also includes middle Stephanie Everett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant), outside hitter Lindsay Osco (Rosharon, Texas/Elkins) and outside hitter Emily Perilli (Thompsons Station, Tenn./Page), who committed to Virginia earlier this year.