Category Archives: Bunnell

Nekane Mendizabal

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Nekane’s passion for the sport of volleyball was evident at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut. She was part of the well documented achievements of the Bulldogs during her 2001-2004 career. As a sophomore starter in 2002, the team complied a record of 20-4, followed up by an undefeated 25-0 season in 2003 and 21-4 season in 2004 respectively.

The 2003 team has the distinction of winning every match 3-0, never allowing a team to reach more than 20 points. Throughout her career, the Bulldogs would record victories quickly winning 3-0. An unfortunate ankle injury her senior year, would keep Nekane sidelined for 10 matches. Nevertheless, she was able to amass an impressive 724 kills, 94 blocks and 100 aces at Bunnell. 

Where Nekane’s story is really told is during the 2004 post season. She was absolutely unstoppable in both the Southwest Conference and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference State Tournaments. The Bulldogs won the tough SWC Championship as Nekane was awarded the Most Valuable Player. Bunnell would defeat Cheshire in Class LL State Championship match 3-2 where Nekane would record a staggering 47 kills on 68 swings, 12 digs and 5 aces. Those in attendance would recall it as one of the most dominant performances in state championship history. In spite of a significant ankle injury, Nekane would finish her senior season with accolades that include, Class LL State Championship MVP, Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, Hartford Courant, Connecticut Post and the New Haven Register Player of the Year, 1st Team Southwest Conference and selected 1st Team All-State. During Nekane’s career at Bunnell, the Bulldogs were coached by Dave Jockle, a future Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame member Class of 2011. Bunnell finished the 2004 season ranked as the #1 in Connecticut.

This Connecticut grown talent would next find herself playing volleyball for Southern Connecticut State University from 2006-2010. She was selected to the All-Conference team in 2006, second in the Northeast-10 in blocks per game in 2007, while leading the team in kills, aces, digs, and blocks per game again in 2007. At the conclusion of her career in 2010, Nekane was tied for first in all-time at kills with 812 and first in blocks with 351. She currently sits tied for fifth in kills and second in blocks. The team qualified for the NE10 Tournament and won a match in 2009 for the first time in program history. As the team Captain, Nekane led the Owls to win fifty matches in her final two seasons, the highest two-year stretch for the program in thirty years.

Nekane’s passion for volleyball remains steadfast as she is currently coaching both high school and club in Miami, Florida. In 2023, her USAV Junior Nationals 14U team finished #1 in the Florida Region. The Southwest Miami Senior High School girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams have produced numerous District Champions, as well as two Boys’ State Championship Runner up appearances in 2019 and 2021. Currently, Nekane spends her time coaching volleyball, teaching high school weight training courses, and spending as much time with her family as possible.

Maite Mendizabal

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Maite started every match for Bunnell High School for four years, 2003-2006. In that time the Lady-Bulldogs amassed a 95-5 record with three State Championships and three Southwest Conference Championships. After hitting middle her first two years, Maite was all-state stand out on the left side in her junior year and then was effective as a right side hitter in her senior year. Her career totals include 1074 kills, 122 aces, and 460 digs and 175 blocks.

In her sophomore year, Maite earned First Team All-SWC with her team winning the Class LL State Championship, defeating Cheshire High School in the finals. As a junior and senior, Maite was named First Team All-State, First Team All-SWC, and the CT Post, New Haven Register and Hartford Courant All-Area Team. Maite helped lead Bunnell to two #1 rankings in the state in 2004 and 2006.

In her senior year, Bunnell finished with a 25-0 record winning every match 3-0, never allowing a team to reach 20 points. Bunnell defeated Shelton in the Class “LL” State Championship for the second year in a row. Her play earned her the 2006 SWC tournament MVP by the attending coaches.

While playing high school volleyball, Maite was also part of the 2005 and 2006 New England Regional Champions. The 18- I Connecticut Juniors travel team consisted of elite players in the state. During her senior year, they were named 2007 #1 ranked team in the region. Maite graduated from Central Connecticut State University where she played volleyball on scholarship. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health Promotion from CCSU. Maite went on to become the assistant volleyball coach at the University of New Haven while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Management. While at UNH, the team won two Northeast-IO Tournament Championships, earned a trip to the 2013 NCAA Division Il Sweet 16, and in 2012 played in the NCAA Division Il Elite 8 .

Currently, Maite is teaching Physical Education in Derby, CT. She is in her fifth season as head volleyball coach at her alma mater, Bunnell High School.

Dave Jockle

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Dave Jockle began his volleyball career as the assistant coach at Fairfield University. In 1994, he was hired as the head coach at Bunnell High School in Stratford and held the position through 2009. During that time, his teams compiled a record of 311 and 63, an 83% winning record. They won eight Southwest Conference champion-ships, nine Colonial Division Championships and four State Championships. In both 2004 and 2006, they were the #1 ranked team in Connecticut.

Dave was named the CT Post High School Volleyball coach of the year four times. In 2001 and 2006, he was named the New Haven Register High School Volleyball Coach of the year and in 2006 was named the CIAC High School Coach of the year.

Besides high school volleyball, Dave also coached the CT Juniors Travel Program. In 1996 his team competed in the Junior Olympics National Program.

This is Dave Jockle’s second Hall of Fame induction. In 2008, Dave Jockle was inducted into the Bunnell High School Hall of Fame as well.

Becky Corb Thomas

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becky

Becky Corb played volleyball at Bunnell High School from 1998-2001 under head Coach Dave Jockle, another inductee this evening. During her career, Becky’s teams won three Conference Champion-ships. In her senior year, her team won the State Championship and Becky was named to the First Team All-Conference, and the First Team All-State. In addition, she was named to the New Haven Register’s All-Area Team and to the Hartford Courant’s All-Courant Team. Also in her senior year, she was named the New Haven Register’s Player of the Year.

Becky played collegiately at Loyola College from 2002-2006. In her junior year, she led her team and was 2nd in the Conference with 434 kills. She also had 210 digs, 8 solo blocks, 35 total blocks, 10 assists, and led the team in service aces with 31.

In Becky’s senior year, she was named to both the Patriot Invitational All-Tournament Team with 47 kills and the Spring Hill Suites Classic All-Tournament Team with 69 kills and 39 digs, and was named Loyola College’s Volleyball Most Valuable Player.

Becky became only the second player in Loyola’s history with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. When she graduated, she held the school’s career kill record with 1,629.

Brittany Dickinson

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Brittany Dickinson

Britney played volleyball at Bunnell High School from 2003 to 2006. In her four years, Brittany started every game. In a 5-1 offense, she played both as a center and a hitter. For her career she had 2,638 assists, 352 kills, 110 blocks and 496 service aces. Over those four years, the team’s record was 94 and 5! In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Brittany’s team won the SWC League championships and LL State Championship titles.

 

In 2003, her freshman year, Brittany was named second team all-league-a hint of what was to come. In her sophomore, junior, and senior years, she was named first-team all-league. In her junior and senior year she was named first-team all-state.

 

As a senior Brittany was named the Gatorade Player of the Year and the Coca-Cola Player of the Year, ending her outstanding volleyball career.

Sarah Katinger

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Sarah arrived at Bunnell High School in 1994. She was a dedicated basketball and softball player planning to play a sport in the fall to stay in shape. She decided to try volleyball. At tryouts the first test of the day was arm strength, and when Sarah threw the ball from the service line to the back wall of the gym, Coach Dave Jockle took notice. He not only picked her for the team, he put her on varsity.

Sarah took to this new sport, quickly developing into one of the top players in the state. She has earned honors not only from her high school and state, but she has also earned national recognition. Sarah holds the following Bunnell team records: 521 single-season and 1584 career kills; 174 single-season and 500 career aces; 288 single-season and 723 career digs. In 1994, she was named to the all-conference team and selected all-area by the Connecticut Post and the New Haven Register. Remember she was a freshman and had only played one season of volleyball. In fact Sarah was named all-conference and all-area four years in a row! In 1996 and 97 she was selected in the Connecticut Post and the New Haven Register as the Volleyball Player of the Year. She was also the New Haven Register Female Athlete of the Year in 1997.

Sarah also earned national recognition. She is listed in the National High School Sports Record Book (2006). She is ranked sixth and seventh for all-time kills in a match with 43 in 1996 and 41 in 1997. She is ranked fourth all-time for service aces in a career and she is ranked sixth all-time for service aces in a match (17 in 1997). With Sarah’s help Bunnell made it to two state finals and in 1997 they defeated Darien in the tournament, handing them their first loss in five years. Sarah was named to the first team all-state three years in a row, 1995, ‘96, and ‘97. She was a Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut in 1996 and 1997 and she was a Gatorade Player of the Year in New England in 1997.

After graduating from Bunnell, Sarah played volleyball at Providence College and continued her winning ways. She was a four-year starter at the outside hitter position. She was named to the Big East all-rookie team in 1998 and the All-Big East team in 1999 and 2001. She holds the all-time Providence College records for career kills, digs and attacks.

Kaitlin Petrella

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petrella

From 2003 to 2006, Kaitlin Petrella led Bunnell High School to three consecutive Class LL State Championships. For her career, she totaled 393 kills, 399 aces, and 725 Digs. She led her team to a 95 and 5 four year record.

In her junior year Kaitlin was named First Team All-Colonial Division and the CT Post and New Haven Register All-Area Team. In her senior year she was named the South West Conference Co-MVP and the Class LL Connecticut State Tournament MVP. She was also named to the All-SWC team and to the All-State First Team.

Kaitlin continued her volleyball career at Central Connecticut State University. She became a Libero and from her sophomore year led her team in digs with 366. Her junior year she set a career dig record with 1,216. She was named Libero of the year in both her junior and senior years. In her senior year she was also named to the First Team All-Conference.

Currently Kaitlin is teaching physical education and health in Stratford, CT. She is also the head coach of the girls’ golf team and the JV volleyball coach at her Alma Mater, Bunnell High School