WKU Volleyball head coach Travis Hudson has announced that a trio of standout high school volleyball student-athletes have inked National Letters of Intent to join the Lady Topper program next fall. With big shoes to fill, the WKU staff signed a trio capable of doing just that in Payton Frederick, Katie Isenbarger and Lauren Matthews. The group includes a pair of 2017 AVCA Under Armour High School All-Americans and consists of a pair of middle hitters and a defensive specialist.
“We’re just super excited about this incoming class,” shared Hudson. “Obviously we have some big shoes to fill with this group of graduating seniors but we’ve got two players offensively in Katie [Isenbarger] and Lauren [Matthews] that are as physical and athletic as any kid that’s ever put a jersey on for us. Then, we have one of the all-time great winners in Payton Frederick who we’ve signed at the libero position. It’s a great combination of talent and athleticism.”
PAYTON FREDERICK // LOUISVILLE, KY. // ASSUMPTION H.S. // LIBERO
Payton Frederick joins WKU Volleyball from just up the road in Louisville, Ky., where she won a pair of high school state championships with Assumption. Additionally, Frederick will become the first second-generation player in Lady Topper history as her mother, the former Cindy Edlin, lettered on The Hill under Charlie Daniels from 1985-87. Frederick was part of Assumption’s state championship squads in both 2015 and 2017 while also helping the squad achieve district champion status from 2015-17 and regional champion status in 2015 and 2017. Frederick is the first of two newcomers that landed on the AVCA Under Armour High School All-American list and was also tabbed an All-District athlete in 2016.
Payton is the daughter of George and Cindy Frederick and has two older siblings, Ryan and Logan. Her mother played collegiate volleyball at WKU.
Why she chose WKU – “I formed a great relationship with the coaching staff at WKU and fell in love with the campus.”
Hudson on Frederick – “Payton is one of the absolute biggest winners that I’ve ever watched play this game. She is a tremendously skilled individual at the libero position, and she’s maybe the most determined competitor I can ever remember seeing at that stage. She is a gym rat – a kid that refuses to leave the gym until she’s doing things at a championship level. I’m really excited about signing her because all of the intangibles you look for in a player, she’s off the charts with.”
“We have had a long history of tremendous defensive players that have come from Assumption and Payton certainly fits that mold. They’re tough, competitive kids and they’re winners; she certainly will continue that tradition in her time here on The Hill.”
KATIE ISENBARGER // ZIONSVILLE, IND. // ZIONSVILLE H.S. // MIDDLE HITTER
Katie Isenbarger hails from Zionsville, Ind., and played at Zionsville H.S. where she is a three-sport athlete also competing in basketball and track & field. Isenbarger is the second signee to land on the AVCA Under Armour High School All-American list this season. As a member of her high school squad, Isenbarger helped Zionsville to sectional championships from 2015-17 in addition to regional champion status and a final four appearance in 2016. The middle hitter achieved the 1,000-kill milestone during her prep career and was recently named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference Team. Additionally, Isenbarger earned First-Team All-State status from the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association (ICGSA) following her junior campaign and was also tabbed an AAU Academic All-American.
Katie is the daughter of Phil and Jenny Isenbarger and has two older brothers, Matt and Jack. Her father played basketball at Indiana from 1978-81 and was part of Bob Knight’s 1981 National Champion squad. Brother Jack played collegiate basketball at Elon and now plays professionally for the London Lions.
Why she chose WKU – “I fell in love with the campus and wanted to be a part of the outstanding volleyball program that’s been built there. Everyone I met was welcoming and WKU felt like a perfect fit for me.”
Hudson on Isenbarger – “Katie is another kid that I think possesses tremendous athleticism; she owned Indiana’s best high jump mark last spring in track. I think Katie is really going to blossom here in our system with continued maturity and strength. I have a feeling she’s going to prove to be one of the most underrated players in the entire 2017 class nationally. Her future is bright; she’s incredibly athletic and just as good in the classroom. Katie is very coachable and I’m really looking forward to getting to work with her.”
“Katie is an elite slide attacker as well and we’ve had just one player of that caliber in my time here and that was our only four-time AVCA All-American in Megan Argabright.”
LAUREN MATTHEWS // INDIANAPOLIS, IND. // LAWRENCE NORTH H.S. // MIDDLE HITTER
Lauren Matthews comes to The Hill from Indianapolis, Ind., where she earned four varsity letters in volleyball at Lawrence North H.S. The middle hitter owns the school’s career blocking record with 541 in addition to the career kill record tallying 1,121 during her prep days. Matthews helped her squad to its first sectional championship since 1979 and was tabbed First-Team All-State during her final two seasons. For the past three years, Matthews earned First-Team All-Conference and All-Marion County honors.
Lauren is the daughter of John and Celina Matthews and has a younger sibling, Ashlyn. She plans to major in Pre-Dentistry on The Hill.
Why she chose WKU – “I chose WKU because it felt like home to me and was the perfect place to continue my volleyball career.”
Hudson on Matthews – “Lauren is a kid that really blew up in the club season last year. She is an eye-popping athlete. She’s a little undersized as a middle hitter but more than makes up for that with her athleticism. Lauren’s touching well over 10 feet and I think is a kid that has the opportunity to come in here and continue the middle hitter lineage that we’ve had. I think she’s a future all-conference kid, a future star in the making and we’re really excited to have her signing with us.”
Adding another student-athlete from the Bluegrass State brings the WKU total to four in-state players as Frederick joins Mary Martin, Darby Music and Hallie Shelton who hail from Lexington. Isenbarger and Matthews will join Kayland Jackson (Indianapolis) and Taylor Bebout (Decatur) from nearby Indiana on the Lady Topper squad.
“In conclusion, I think this will prove to be one of the most highly thought of recruiting classes in the history of our program,” Hudson added. “These are some highly decorated players and phenomenal athletes and three high-level student-athletes as well. We’re also excited about bringing these three great families into the mix. All of that’s important in terms of keeping the culture we have in place.”
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUVolleyball and head coach Travis Hudson at @TravisHudsonWKU.
-@WKUSports-
________________
Jessica Leifheit
Assistant Director
WKU Athletic Communications/Media Relations
