University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Soccer Inks Strong Class for 2017
February 01, 2017 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Head coach Brian Pensky and the Tennessee soccer program announced the addition of nine newcomers as part of its 2017 signing class.
The Vols' 2017 signing class consists of seven high school players and two transfers. Five of the newcomers are ranked in the IMG Academy Top 150 and three have already enrolled for the spring semester. Top Drawer Soccer rated the Vols' class as one of the top 20 in the country.
Information on all nine newcomers can be found below.
Moseley, Va.
Banner Christian School | F
McKinley Burkett
Burkett has already enrolled at UT and has been training with the team this spring. The Virginia native is a talented forward who was a three-year captain for Banner Christian School and was rated No. 104 in the IMG Academy Top 150 list for 2017. She earned VISAA All-State honors in 2015 after scoring 59 goals. Burkett has totaled 175 goals and 28 assists during her career at Banner Christian. She played club soccer in the ECNL for Richmond United and was a member of the ODP Virginia State team from 2011-14. Burkett was also a U.S. Club Soccer id2 National Identification and Development Program participant and took part in two U-17 U.S. National Team camps. She picked Tennessee over Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Villanova.
Pensky on Burkett: "McKinley is a glider. She moves so effortlessly and takes tiny touches on the ball where she swiftly glides past kids effortlessly. She has a real upside. She's with us this spring training every day, getting better every day."
Beavercreek, Ohio
Beavercreek HS | MF
Claire Fisher
Fisher is a multi-sport athlete out of Beavercreek, Ohio who is ranked No. 123 overall in the IMG Academy Top 150. A standout midfielder for Ohio Elite in the ECNL, Fisher helped lead her club to the ENCL Champions League in 2015 and 2016. Fisher was invited to a U-14 U.S. National Team camp and an ECNL / id2 National Training camp. Fisher was also a star on Beavercreek High School's cross country team. Her impressive high school cross country career included a third-place finish at the state cross country championship in 2016 and a fourth-place finish in 2014. She selected Tennessee over Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because I felt really connected to the school and the coaches."
Pensky on Fisher: "Claire is outstanding. She is incredibly technical on the ball and has a very good feel for the game and great vision. She can play in the center of the midfield, can play up top, can play out on a wing and can help create goals whether that's through her assists or finishing herself."
Richmond, Va.
Godwin HS | F
Paige Franks
Franks comes to Tennessee from Godwin High School in Virginia and is the younger sister of current Vols' midfielder Claire Franks. She helped lead Godwin High to a Virginia state title as a sophomore in 2016, scoring a hat trick in the State Championship game. In just two seasons, Franks has totaled 44 goals and 26 assists for the Eagles. She plays club soccer for Richmond United and also played on the ODP Virginia State team for four years and the ODP Region 1 team for three years. Franks was selected for ODP Region 1 international trips to Costa Rica and Germany as well. The talented forward has been chosen for numerous national camps, including two trips to the ECNL National Training Camp in 2015 and 2016, and three ODP National Training Camps in Carson, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz. She has also attended U-17 and U-14 U.S. Women's National Team camps. Franks was originally part of the 2018 class, but recently reclassified to the 2017 class. She was ranked No. 72 in the IMG Academy Top 150 list for 2018 before reclassifying. Franks chose Tennessee over VCU and Florida State.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because the campus is beautiful and I love the atmosphere at Tennessee. I felt an immediate connection with Coach Pensky and the girls on the team and I loved the athletic facilities. I felt I would get an excellent education at UT and I will enjoy watching all the other sports it has to offer, especially the SEC football games."
Pensky on Franks: "We are very excited about Paige Franks. I have literally seen her play every positon on the soccer field minus goalkeeper. She is quick, crafty, good on the ball, can score goals and can help create goals for teammates. We can't wait for her to come in and make an impact as soon as she gets on campus."
Franklin, Tenn.
Battle Ground Academy | MF/D
Wrenne French
French joins the Volunteers from Battle Ground Academy out of Franklin, Tenn. She helped lead her team to a Tennessee AA State Championship in 2014 and earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors multiple times during her prep career. French was named to the NSCAA All-South Region team as well. She played her club ball for Tennessee Soccer Club, helping lead them to five Tennessee State Championships. French attended the 2014 ODP National camp and was named to the Region III ODP team twice. The dynamic midfielder also has some national team experience after attending the U-17 U.S. Women's National Team camp in 2016. French chose Tennessee over Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because the coaches and team were very welcoming, it is a big school with solid athletic programs and it is close to home.
Pensky on French: "Wrenne is another technical kid in this class. She is a versatile one in terms of her ability to play in the center midfield, she can play as an attacking wide back, I think she could probably play up top if called upon. She is just a soccer player. She's working hard on her fitness every day and we expect Wrenne to come in ready to compete to play right away."
Palmyra, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee | MF/F
Salera Jordan
Jordan is a mid-year transfer who brings her talents to Rocky Top after playing the 2016 season for Middle Tennessee. With the Blue Raiders, Jordan played and started in 16 games while leading the team with seven goals and 15 points en route to earning Conference USA All-Freshman team honors. Prior to joining Middle Tennessee, she played club ball for Tennessee Soccer Club and won three consecutive DI State Championships (2014, 2015, 2016). With her high school team at Clarksville, the midfielder helped the program win the 2014 Tennessee AAA State Championship. Jordan was named the Middle Tennessee Girls Soccer Player of the Year and the Leaf Chronicle Girls Soccer Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016, and amassed a career total of 138 goals and 167 assists. Jordan will major in Environmental Sciences. She chose Tennessee over Louisville and Lipscomb.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I admire all that is done for the athletes. People genuinely want to make sure you are your best in every aspect of your life. That is a feeling that you don't get at all colleges."
Pensky on Jordan: "Salera can cover a lot on the ground and she's good on the ball as well as scoring and helping create goals. This fall we played against Middle Tennessee and she played as a central target and caused havoc for us defensively. We were very delighted when she let us know she was interested in transferring. She's been great so far the first three weeks and just keeps getting better."
Centreville, Va.
Westfield HS | D
Kelsey Kiley
Kiley is a Virginia native that checks in at No. 132 on the IMG Academy Top 150. She was a standout defender for the highly successful BRYC Elite club team and helped lead them to State Cup Championships in 2012 and 2015 as well as a Region 1 Premier League title in 2013. Kiley was the top scorer on her team with 10 goals in 2015 despite playing primarily at center back. The talented defender attended the U-18 U.S. Women's National Team camp in the fall of 2015. She also played basketball for Westfield High School as a freshman, averaging seven points, five rebounds and five assists per game. Kiley chose Tennessee over powerhouse programs Virginia and Penn State.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because I really liked the coaching staff, the atmosphere of a big college football town and the girls on the team were really nice and made me feel comfortable on campus."
Pensky on Kiley: "Kelsey is going to give us much needed depth at the center back position. She'll help our soccer and our ability to build out of the back. She's comfortable on the ball, she can spray balls effortlessly, she's good in the air and has a good feel for the game. We're excited to have Kelsey here this fall."
Powder Springs, Ga.
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School | D
Lexie Knox
Knox joins the Volunteers from Holy Innocents' Episcopal School where she has totaled 20 goals and 14 assists in three seasons with the Golden Bears. She is a versatile player who has played as a forward, midfielder and defender during her high school and club career. Knox earned all-state honors in 2015 and 2016 as well as all-area and all-region honors in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She was also named Defensive MVP in 2016 for Holy Innocents. Knox has played club ball for the Birmingham United Soccer Association in the ECNL for the past two years. She has also played for ODP 98 Girls and SSA RPL Chelsea 99, where she was a captain for five years. She helped lead her ODP team to a Bronze medal at the 2015 ODP National Championships in Arizona and attended the National Training Center in 2016. Knox chose Tennessee over Mississippi State, Georgia and Alabama.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because it is an awesome academic institution. The school spirit is infectious and from the moment I stepped on campus I could see myself as a part of it all. The campus and athletic facilities are nothing short of amazing and I know that I can be a great addition to both the university and the soccer team."
Pensky on Knox: "Lexie came to us late in the process and we're delighted she fell into our lap. She's an outstanding athlete. She has played most of her life up top but recently converted to a center back position. She can play in a wide back spot as well. She is aggressive, good in the air, good in one-on-one defending, has outstanding recovery speed, is a good passer of the ball and is a fantastic kid."
Vestavia Hills, Ala.
Vestavia Hills HS | GK
Ashley Orkus
Orkus is another early enrollee who joined the Vols this spring. She was rated as a top five goalkeeper in the IMG Academy Top 150 (No. 77 player overall) for the Class of 2017. She has participated in U-15, U-17, and U1-8 U.S. National Team camps. The decorated goalkeeper captained Birmingham United in the ECNL for three years before switching clubs. While playing for Concorde Fire, Orkus was named an ECNL Southeast Conference Player to Watch and participated in the ECNL's Player Development Program in Greer, S.C. She will major in accounting at Tennessee and hopes to become an accountant and eventually become a CFO someday. Orkus chose Tennessee over Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because I loved the coaching staff and the atmosphere of both the team and the campus. The entire university is one big family and genuinely cares about you as an individual. There is also a competitive nature which pushes people to be the best that they can be in everything they do."
Pensky on Orkus: "Ashley is a good one. Just another kid in our program that's interested in being great. She takes herself seriously every single day. She's an incredible voice back there in goal. She's a great shot stopper, extremely courageous and is an absolutely wonderful teammate. We are delighted to have Ashley here at Tennessee."
Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica.
Eastern Florida State College | MF/D
Khadija "Bunny" Shaw
Shaw, a Jamaican native, comes to Knoxville after two years at Eastern Florida State College where she was a 2016 NSCAA Junior College All-American. While playing center midfielder for the Titans, Shaw played in 21 games (starting 19) and scored 24 goals (three game-winners) while also racking up 11 assists. In 2014, she captained and led her team at St. Jago High School to a league championship, finishing the season 26-0-0. Throughout her high-school career, Shaw amassed 128 goals and 72 assists. A member of the Jamaican U-20 Women's National Team since she was 14 years old, Shaw boasts a handful of strong athletic achievements, including being named the team's MVP in 2013 and being nominated for the Jamaican RJR Sports People's Choice Performance of the Year in 2014. She hopes to become a professional soccer player. Shaw chose Tennessee over Southern Cal (USC), Oklahoma State and Colorado.
On why she chose Tennessee: "I chose The University of Tennessee because I like the campus, their facilities and their playing style."
Pensky on Shaw: "Bunny is a special talent. She has an unbelievable feel for the game. She is very comfortable on the ball and she is unbelievably versatile. She plays center back often for her national team but for her Eastern Florida team she's played up top in an attacking center midfield role and can score goals. We look for her to be a real attacking threat for us."
