August 01, 2007

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Dan Kreiger, third year Head Coach for the St. Andrews Presbyterian College women’s volleyball team, has announced the signing of five student-athletes to national letters of intent for the fall of 2007.

“The recruiting class addressed some of our immediate needs at the hitter position and also added some much needed depth in the back row,” said Kreiger.

The new recruiting-class adds five new players that will balance out a squad that already returns eight players. Kreiger has a mixture of newcomers that includes players at four different positions and from four different states.

“Every one of our newcomers could earn playing time as soon as they arrive,” predicted Kreiger. “It should be an interesting preseason with the competition for playing time that will be taking place each and every day.”

The Knights, who are coming off a 2006 season that saw a 16-game improvement in the win column, hope to continue to build on that success with the combination of experienced letterwinners and talented freshmen.

The 2007 St. Andrews volleyball recruits include:

Leah Davison is a six-foot, two-inch middle blocker from Palos Verdes, California. Davison graduated from Palos Verdes High School and played for Club X.

“Leah is a tall, lanky middle with a huge upside,” boasts Kreiger. “She has gained a ton of valuable experience playing with and against the best players in the Southern California area. Leah’s experience and desire to learn will help her contribute right away.”

Emily Grady is a five-foot, eight-inch setter from Morganton, North Carolina. Grady, who graduated from Freedom High School, will also play softball for the Knights.

“Emily brings a lot of energy to the volleyball court,” expressed Kreiger. “She plays the game very hard and is always working to become a better player. She has good athletic ability that will help her become a very good volleyball player. Emily will come in and compete for playing time right away.”

Katie Lovett is a five-foot, four-inch defensive specialist from Concord, North Carolina. Lovett graduated from Central Cabarrus High School and played for Team Champion Volleyball Club.

“Katie is a very aggressive defender,” stated Kreiger. “She moves well and has good court vision. Once she adjusts to the speed of the game, we feel she can be a very good player for us. Katie will be competing for court time at libero the moment she steps on our court.”

Janlique Vazquez is a five-foot, four-inch defensive specialist from Orlando, Florida. Vazquez graduated from Gateway High School and played for Central Florida Volleyball Club.

“Jan has the exact attitude that we love here,” commented Kreiger. “She is a very athletic player who goes 100-percent on every play. Despite her size, she is able to play a lot of positions on the volleyball court. Her well-rounded skill set should allow her to challenge for court time from day one.”

Kelly Williams is a five-foot, 11-inch outside hitter from Laurel, Maryland. Williams graduated from St. Vincent Pallotti High School and played for Time Out Volleyball Club.

“Kelly is a well trained player,” informed Kreiger. “Her club runs the same system that we run here. That will speed up her adjustment time. She jumps well and has solid ball handling skills. Kelly will come in and challenge for a starting position immediately.”