Siedlik announces transfer signing to 2016 class

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bruin head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik announced today that Ashford University transfer Verenice Chapparo (Littleton, Colo./Ashford/Columbine HS) has signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Bellevue University beginning in the fall of 2016. 

Chaparro helped guide Ashford to an appearance in the 2015 NAIA National Championship Opening Round while starting all 43 matches and leading the Saints with a school-record 1,804 assists. She was second on the team with 64 service aces and third with 545 digs.

In her three seasons at Ashford, Chaparro compiled 3,420 assists, 1,169 digs and 141 service aces. 

In 2015, Chaparro earned first-team Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) honors, while also being named the A.I.I. Setter of the Year and a first team all-Region selection.  

Officials at Ashford announced late in 2015 that it would be closing its Clinton, Iowa campus in May of 2016.

"What I love about Verenice is her maturity," said Siedlik. "She is a very unselfish player and being a senior on the team next year, we will need leadership like hers. She will be most important for us on defense and we are very excited about that."

Chaparro was a two-time first-team all-conference selection at Columbine High School and played club volleyball for Denver Juniors under coach Joel List. 

Chaparro joins earlier signees Maddie Squiers (Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic HS) and Emma Myers (Treynor, Iowa/Treynor HS). 

The Bruins finished the season with a 22-17 overall record, advancing to the NSAA semifinals, while receiving votes in the final NAIA Coaches' top 25 poll.