(05/21/10)

  KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Texas A&M-Kingsville head volleyball coach Shannon Alvarado announced her 2010 recruiting class on Friday.  The Javelinas have signed four transfers and two high school seniors.
   
“We are very happy and excited about the 2010 class,” said Alvarado.  “We feel with the balance of players we are bringing into the program, paired with the returning players that we should be solid across the board.  This year we tried to bring in players with a wealth of experience from all different levels and I feel that we have accomplished that goal.”
   
Sondra Cui, a 5-6 setter from Schertz, TX, is a transfer from St. Mary’s University where she played for two years.  As a freshman she was a two-time Heartland Conference Setter of the Week.  She averaged 9.57 assists and 2.61 digs per set and had three matches with at least 50 assists.  During her sophomore season, she split time at setter and averaged 3.79 assists and 1.59 digs per set.  She was a two-time All-District 26-4A setter at Steele High School and holds the school record with 52 assists in a single match.  She is the daughter of Blaise Cui and Mihwa Chong and is studying Exercise and Sports Science.
   
“Sondra comes from a volleyball family and has an incredible understanding of the game and her position,” said Alvarado.
   
Bethany Friesenhahn, a 6-0 middle blocker from Falls City, TX, is a four-year letter-winner from Poth High School.  She was a member of two Class 2A State Championship teams, a State Runner-Up and an Area Runner-Up in her four years.  As a senior, she earned District 28-2A Co-MVP, Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) 2A All-State, San Antonio Express-News 1A-2A All-Area, TGCA 1A-2A-3A East Volleyball All-Star Team, Academic All-District 28-2A and TGCA 2A Academic All-State honors.  She led the team with 2.72 digs per set and was second in kills (2.77/set) and blocks (0.58/set).  As a junior, she earned District 28-2A Co-MVP, Academic All-District 28-2A and TGCA 2A All-State honors.  As a sophomore, she earned District 29-2A Honorable Mention and All-Academic honors.  She was a multi-sport star at Poth as she also won a State Championship in basketball and district championships in track & field and golf.  She is the daughter of Tom and Joan Friesenhahn and plans to study Animal Science.
   
“Bethany has a very high ceiling and we are excited about her potential,” said Alvarado.  “Her experience and success at Poth HS will allow her to take the next step and we look forward to watching her develop.”
   
Lauryn Lozano, a 5-10 right side hitter-setter from San Antonio, TX, attended Smithson Valley High School.  She earned second team all-district honors and led Smithson Valley to the playoffs.  She set a school record with 13 aces in a single match.  As a junior, she led the team to the Regional Finals and an Area Championship.  She is the daughter of Kendra Stegemann and Oscar Lozano and plans to study Psychology.
   
“Lauryn is the quinteseential utility player,” said Alvarado.  “Her versatility is huge and her love of the game is contagious.  She is like a sponge and wants to take in as much as possible.”
   
Laura Macek, a 6-0 middle blocker from Wilson, KS, is a transfer from Barton County Community College.  As a freshman at Barton she led the NJCAA in blocks and earned first team all-conference honors.  During her sophomore season she led the team to a third place finish at Regionals and was named honorable mention all-conference.  Previously, she attended Ellsworth High School where she was a three-time first team all-league selection.  She also earned all-league honors in basketball and track & field.  She is the daughter of Melvin and Kathleen Macek and plans to studying Accounting with a minor in Advertising.
   
“Laura has a great physical presence on the court,” said Alvarado.  “She has an unbelievable work ethic both on the court and in the classroom.  She comes from a highly decorated junior college and knows what it takes to win.”
   
Whitney Roth, a 6-1 middle blocker from Gering, NE, is a transfer from Western Nebraska Community College.  She was a part of two consecutive NJCAA Region IX Championships and two NJCAA Third Place finishes.  As a freshman the team went 59-4 and followed that with a 42-4 season as a sophomore.  At Gering High School she posted a .560 hitting percentage, 178 kills and 95 blocks as a senior en route to earning Star-Herald First Team All-Region, Western Conference All-Tournament Team, All-State Honorable Mention and Twin Cities All-Tournament Team honors.  She was Academic All-State and Honorable Mention Western Conference as a junior.  She is the daughter of Ted and Ronda Roth and plans to study Kinesiology.
   
“Whitney’s size, work ethic and experience are all what caught our eye when recruiting her,” said Alvarado.  “Her contribution to WNCC’s third place finish at nationals the past two years brings in a tremendous amount of understanding to what it takes to get the job done.”
   
Nina Taufa’asau-Vincent, a 5-10 outside hitter from Hayward, CA, is a transfer from Cal State-East Bay where she red-shirted last year.  She played scholastically at Moreau Catholic where she earned first team all-league honors as was the team’s most valuable player as a senior after totaling 264 kills and 86 service aces.  She led MCHS into the North Coast Section Playoffs all four years.  Her club team advanced to the Junior Olympics on three occasions.  She is the daughter os Wade and Yolanda Vincent and plans to study Pre-Med and French.
   
“I think that Nina brings a lot to the table,” said Alvarado.  “She has had the opportunity to train for a year and is anxious to prove that she can handle the tasks that she is given. She will bring a unique and distinct presence on the outside for us and her hard work over the past year will allow her to come in and compete right away.”
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