Cincinnati, Ohio – November 14, 2013: Two Saint Ursula Academy seniors participated in a signing ceremony on Thursday, November 14, 2013 to announce their intent to play college sports.
Bretten Hill of Union Township, daughter of Tom and Christi Hill, has committed to play golf at Division II Ohio Dominican University.
Kristen Massa of Anderson Twp., daughter of Gary and Mary Massa, has committed to play volleyball in the Big East at Division I Xavier University.
Bretten Hill will play Golf next year at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. She started on the reserve team as a freshman, but played on the Saint Ursula Varsity Golf Team sophomore, junior and senior year. She was Team Captain in 2012 and 2013.
She was named 2nd Team GGCL in 2013 and 1st Team GGCL this year in 2013. She received All City Honorable Mention and Southwest Ohio Honorable Mention in 2012 and was named to 2nd Team Southwest Ohio in 2013. At State, her team finished 6th in 2011, was 4th in the Southwest Ohio District Tournament and 7th in the State Tournament in 2013. Individually, she was also the 2012 CRC Junior City Champion.
Bretten also excels off the course. She in an honor roll student and received the Bulldog Star Academic Award in 2013 and the Athletic Bulldog Award in 2012. She serves in several Saint Ursula clubs and organizations, as well. She is a member of PALS, a community tutoring program. She is a student Ambassador, a member of the EARTH Club, and participates in the Arts in Service Club.
Bretten’s private instructor, Jim Irvin, has this to say: “Bretten is one of the hardest working and focused students I have worked with in my 25 years of teaching golf! Her determination, strong work ethic and amazing family support are keys to her impressive improvement the past three years! Those great assets ensure her future success on and off the golf course. I would love to have had a team of "Bretten's" when I played college golf!!!. She is a wonderful young lady with a tremendously bright future ahead of her! I consider it an honor and privilege to have worked with Bretten the past 3 seasons!”
Bretten’s SUA Coach, Mark Hannahan, said “"Bretten has been a key contributor to our golf team's success. She has been co-captain for two years, and an excellent leader. She has worked very hard to become one of the best golfers we have had here at SUA, and helped lead the team this year to the State tournament. She is positive, enthusiastic and goal focused, and these qualities will help her be successful in her college golf career, and beyond. She has had a great influence on our golf program over the years, and will be missed. We all wish her the best of happiness and success.”
Kristen Massa will play volleyball next fall at Xavier University. Kristen is a dominant force on the court. Standing at 6’1”, this team captain is the best in SUA history in kills.
Kristen set several Saint Ursula records during her four year high school career. Playing 307 games in her four years, she broke the school record for career kills this year with 1,228. The former record was 892, held by Michelle Kenning, Class of 2007. Kristen broke the season record for kills with 448 and broke the single game kills record with 39.
She is a member of the 2013 District Championship Team. Kristen was named 1st Team GGCL in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and named GGCL Player of the Year in Volleyball in 2013.
She also was named 1st Team All-City in 2011, ’12 and ’13, 1st Team All-District in 2011, ’12 and ’13, 2st Team All-State in 2011, ’12 and ’13 and 2nd Team All American in 2013. She also was named a top recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com earlier in the 2013 season.
Kristen is involved in several activities off the court, too. She is president of the Saint Ursula Girls Athletic Association (GAA) and volunteers for Right to Life and the American Cancer Society.
Kristen’s Club Coach, Kelly Crowley had this to say about her: “I am very happy for Kristen, and the Massa family. Kristen has developed tremendously on and off the court over the last 3 years and I now watch a complete volleyball player and leader each time she steps on the court. She has been a go-to athlete on a team blessed with many elite talents and has worked hard to compete at the highest levels. She is very deserving of her accomplishments and accolades and I'm proud to have had the opportunity to watch her growth. I can't wait to watch Kristen’s impact on Xavier volleyball and the Big East over the coming seasons.”
Kristen’s Saint Ursula Coach, Kevin Lucas said “Kristen has been a four year varsity starter for SUA. In my fourteen years of coaching at the school, I have not seen a more gifted attacker. Not only is Kristen very talented, she is a hard worker and a fantastic leader and teammate. She has helped bring the St. Ursula volleyball program back to prominence. I wish her all the best at Xavier next year!”
To learn more about St. Ursula Academy and its athletic programs, please visit www.saintursula.org.