HAYWARD, Calif. -- Cal State East Bay head women's volleyball coach
Jim Spagle has announced that high school standouts Taylor Brown, Claire Dietrich, Kiki Leuteneker, and Julie Navarro have signed national letters of intent to join the Pioneers. All four will be eligible as true freshmen for the 2015 season.
"All four of these athletes will play key roles for the Pioneer Volleyball program in 2015, both on and off the court," Spagle said. "I'm excited to welcome each of them to Cal State East Bay!"
Brown is a 6'0" middle blocker, currently in her last semester at Camarillo High School in Camarillo, Calif. As a junior in 2013, she posted 1.0 kill and 2.0 blocks per set with a .257 hitting percentage. She followed that up with a strong senior season in 2014, playing all 85 sets, hitting .248, and racking up 97 kills (1.1/set) along 139 blocks (1.6/set).
A 6'3" outside hitter from Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Dietrich is also expected to be an immediate contributor for East Bay. She competed on the Los Osos varsity team for four years, posting an attack percentage over .300 and leading the Grizzlies to records of 25-14 and 26-12 during her sophomore and junior seasons.
Kiki Leuteneker is a 6'2" outside hitter, currently finishing her senior year at Seabury Hall High School in Makawao, Hawaii. A four-year varsity player, she led Seabury Hall to four straight league titles and three straight appearances in the State Championship playoffs. Leuteneker was named All-State for her school's team, in addition to earning numerous awards and honors for Club Volleyball performance.
Standing 6'0", Navarro is a left-handed opposite from La Quinta High School in La Quinta, Calif. A prep teammate of current Pioneer
Brielle Weimer, Navarro was the top attacker for the Blackhawks as a senior and will provide much-needed versitility for CSUEB on the right side.
"Taylor will make a huge impact at the middle blocker position, Claire is an extremely strong and highly skilled outside hitter, Kiki is a dynamic attacker who can play all three positions across the front row, and Julie will be a major weapon for us as a left-hander on the right side," Spagle added.
The Pioneers continue to build a young, talented core of student-athletes, as these four signees join a squad that featured six freshmen as part of its regular rotation in 2014.
