April 14, 2006
Santa Clara, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's volleyball team will add another new face to its roster next season, as head coach Jon Wallace announced today that high school senior Kim Courtney has signed a National Letter of Intent to study and compete at the Mission Campus starting next fall. The addition of Courtney completes a blockbuster class for Wallace, as Lauryn Dowd, Lindsy Evans, and Nina Sevastopoulos officially committed to the Broncos last November.
Courtney hails from Santa Barbara, Calif. and currently attends Dos Pueblos High School. The 5-10 outside hitter recently led the Chargers to an overall record of 29-3, including an undefeated 8-0 mark in the Channel League, and to the Division II semifinals of the CIF Southern Section. A three-time All-Channel League selection, Courtney had her best season in 2005, as she collected a host of honors including the Channel League and Santa Barbara County Most Valuable Player awards and a spot on the CIF Division II First Team.
"We are really excited to have signed Kim. I think she is going to come in and give us immediate depth at a number of positions," stated Wallace on his latest addition to the Class of 2010. "She has an explosive jump and a really strong arm. I think she will also be someone who will help us out in the backcourt as a defensive specialist. Right from the start, she's going to contribute in a couple different areas."
With Courtney's great abilities in the back row, she completes a class that will bring many different skill sets to the Broncos in 2006. Sevastopoulos is the highest ranked incoming freshman and for good reason: she is considered one of the hardest hitters in the nation. Evans is one of the most versatile athletes in volleyball, as her 6-3 frame makes her an imposing hitter and blocker and her sweet hands make her a natural for the setter spot. Dowd is an all-around player with the capability to fill in at a number of positions, making her a valuable contributor in the future.
"As far as this class is concerned, all the girls are great kids. They all have different skill sets that will give us different options coming in," offered Wallace. "Kim will be able to push Brittany Lowe as far as a ball-control type left, I think Nina will come in and push Kim McGiven as far as a real strong net presence.
"Lauryn is someone whose all-around game will push people on the left, on the right, and on defense because she's playing all rotations in club and she's doing a great job. Lindsy is the one kid in our class who I call my "funny player" in the sense that she will be able to do a lot of different things at an incredible level. She'll come in and be a back-up setter, but she can also come in and play on the right and in the middle. She could be that funny kid who other schools won't know how to defend."
