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San Rafael, CA — The first recruiting class for new Dominican University of California women’s volleyball coach
Gayle Stammer is big and versatile with year-round playing experience.
“This class coming in has a common theme. They all have good ball control, they’re very athletic and they have a competitive nature with a strong work ethic on the court and in the class room,” Stammer said today in announcing her recruits. “This group has the ability to lift the level of play in our program from day one with a lot of room for growth.”
The new recruits will boost the Lady Penguins in three areas, led by outside hitters
Hannah Stocking,
Ria Falealili, and
Jessica Jones.
Stocking, who stands 5-11, was a four-year varsity player at Ashland (Ore.) High School whose team advance to the Final Four of the state championships each year. As a senior, she led the team in service received passing percentage and once earned Southern Oregon “Athlete of the Week” honors.
In addition, Stocking plays for the mOcean Volleyball Club’s 18-Point Travel team in Southern Oregon. She led her club team in kills and serve receive percentage each of the past two years, leading mOcean to several first-place finishes, including the 2009 Presidents Day tournament in San Jose.
Falealili is what Stammer calls “a heavy hitter” who hails from Long Beach Polytechnic High School where she was a three-year varsity player. The 5-foot-9 incoming freshman also plays for the 18 Runbird team at Mizuno Long Beach Volleyball Club.
Jones is a quick high hitter from Sacramento’s Christian Brothers High School, which last season compiled a 30-11 record and played its way into the State Division IV championship finals for the second year in a row. Jones was a first team All-SVC selection. She also plays for the Gold Cal Juniors club team in Folsom/El Dorado Hills.
“All three of these outside hitters can play all the way around with good ball control, aggressive serving and good court sense,” Stammer said.
The Dominican coach said Jones could also move into the middle, along with
Lauren Clark, a 5-11 middle hitter from Chula Vista. Clark was a second team All-Mesa League player for Otay Ranch Senior High School who also plays for the Bridge Volleyball Club’s 18 Red team in San Diego.
“Lauren is one of our tallest players with a high swing and quick transition play,” Stammer said.
Dominican’s 2010 recruiting class is capped by setters
Sarah Bain and
Kelsey Lardner and defensive specialist
Ashley Pittman.
The 5-8 Bain is transferring from Western Oregon University where last season as a freshman she played in 21 games and eight matches and wound up with the second highest setting percentage on the team. Prior to Western Oregon, Bain was an All-Metro League setter and team captain for three consecutive seasons at Aloha High School. Born in Naples, Italy, she won 12 varsity letters in four sports in high school and was named Aloha’s “Most Athletic” her senior year. She also plays and serves as team captain for the Portland Volleyball Club.
Lardner, a 5-9 setter from Auburn, was a three-sport star at Placer High School and two-time captain of its volleyball team. She was the team and Pioneer Valley League MVP last fall after leading the Hillgals to the league championship for the second consecutive year. Lardner recorded 321 kills (5.6 per game) and had just three passing errors all season.
In addition, Lardner has spent the past seven years playing for the Northern California Volleyball Club.
Pittman, a defensive specialist from Sonora High School, also plans to play softball at Dominican. She was a libero on the Wildcats team last season that went undefeated (16-0) in the Valley Oak League and played into the Final Four of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championships. Pittman, the team captain and MVP the past two years, was named first team All-VOL for the third year in a row after leading the league in digs and serve/receive percentage. She was Honorable Mention in the Stockton Record’s All Area team. She also has played for the Mother Lode Volleyball Club.
“Sarah and Kelsey are jump setters, good blockers, and can run a quick offense,” Stammer said. “Ashley will help stabilize our ball control with her back row play.”
The Lady Penguins will open their 2010 season on September 3 at the Sonoma State University tournament. The full schedule will be released later this month.