Volleyball Adds Two Student Athletes for 2015 Season

Tyler-Palmer and Blasko add to loaded group of returners.

The Nova Southeastern University volleyball head coach Jennifer King has announced the signing of two recruits, Denvyr Tyler-Palmer and Kim Blasko, for the 2015 season.

10131A 6-0 outside hitter, Tyler-Palmer comes to NSU from Bishop Kenny HS in Jacksonville, Florida. A four-year varsity letter winner, Tyler-Palmer leaves high school with a championship pedigree. She led her school to three final four appearances and a 2014 Class 5A State Championship. That season, Bishop Kenny was the top-ranked school in Florida and ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Individually, Tyler-Palmer surpassed 1,000 kills in her high school career. She was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 5A Player of the Year, the All-First-Coast Player of the Year and had a third-place showing as Miss Volleyball. MaxPreps named her to the Medium Schools All-America Second Team. On her squad, she was named team MVP in 2013 and 2014.

“Denvyr is a great addition to our roster,” said King. “She has played at an elite level in both high school and club, and that has given her a very high volleyball IQ. She’s got a very calm, positive attitude on the court that makes her skill set that much stronger, and I see her raising our level of competition immediately!”

At the club level, Tyler-Palmer was a member of the Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association for six year. From 2012-2015, her team qualified for the USAV Girls Junior National Championship. At NSU, Tyler-Palmer is looking to study biology.

“I chose NSU because it is where I am provided the most opportunities, especially in the medical field,” stated Tyler-Palmer. “On my visit, I felt very welcomed to be a part of the Shark family. I also really like where coach Jenn is taking the program and can’t wait to add to all the hard work and dedication!”

10132Shark fans can expect an influx in offense from Kim Blasko as well, a 5-11 opposite/outside hitter from Trinity Catholic HS in Ocala, Florida. There, she competed on the varsity volleyball team for four straight years, and as a freshman in 2009, she helped guide her team to the state championship. With Blasko leading the attack, Trinity Catholic HS won four straight district championships.

At the club level, she helped Ocala Power 16 National win at the 2013 AAU Nationals. She helped her team qualify for the USAV Girls Junior National Championship in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

“Kim is a very strong addition to our roster with the ability to play on both the right and left, and she brings a maturity beyond her years,” King said. “She is a strong athlete, a hard worker and a disciplined student, and I am so excited to have another member of the Blasko family join the Shark family!”

Kim is the younger sister of Samantha Blasko (Fr., Ocala, Fla.), who joined the Sharks before last season. Samantha redshirted in 2014, putting the sisters in the same freshman class in 2015.

Off the volleyball court, Blasko has a track record of proven leadership ability. She was a student government officer all four years of her high school career and held the position of Executive Treasurer as a senior. She was a two-year member of the National Honor Society and the Anchor Club. With aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist assistant, Blasko plans on studying biology.

“Choosing NSU is one of the greatest decisions I have made,” Blasko claimed. “Everyone here genuinely cares about one another and they are willing to help if you ask. I have never felt more at home within a volleyball program. I truly believe I will get along well with all my future teammates and I can’t wait to start playing alongside these great athletes.”

Check back with NSUSharks.com for updates leading into the 2015 volleyball season.