Volleyball: Hammersmith Adds Four to Roster
May 21, 2009 03:28 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 21, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Volleyball Coach Veronica Hammersmith today announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2009 roster.
“I think this incoming class is going to fill some needs for us,” Hammersmith says. “We need some big people at the net and we need some service receiving, passing and defensive help, which has been weaknesses for us. I think these guys fill some of those needs.”
Whitney Lee (Live Oak, Calif.) has signed a national letter of intent with the Mountaineers, while Lauren Evans (Canyon Lake, Calif) joins after spending two seasons with Concordia University-Irvine. Stephanie Mock (Renfrew, Pa.) and Karly Rasmussen (San Marcos, Calif.) will also join the Mountaineers as walk-ons.
Lee, a 6-2, middle blocker, comes in as a Southern California All-Star and captain at Sutter High. There, she was awarded team MVP and named the Athlete of the Year by her hometown paper, the Appeal Democrat. Lee also earned valuable experience as a top player for the Nor-Cal Select club volleyball and the North Valley Juniors teams.
“Whitney has good size and is strong,” Hammersmith says. “We feel that she will work well in the middle for us and that she is going to be a good player.”
Evans, a 6-1, middle blocker, joins the Mountaineers as a transfer from Concordia University-Irvine where she notched 161 kills and 122 blocks in her career. While there, Evans aided her team to a 2007 NAIA Final Four and a 2008 NAIA National runner-up appearance. Before joining the Eagles, Evans was a First-Team All-League and First Team All-Valley player from Temescal Canyon High. She also played for the 951 Elite club volleyball team.
“Lauren is going to bring some good experience to our team,” Hammersmith says. “She has played two years at college under a very good coach and we are very happy to have her. Lauren has experience playing in the middle and the right side, both of which may turn out to be very useful in her career here.”
Mock, a 5-4, defensive specialist, walks on after spending last season as captain and Defensive Player of the Year at Butler High. Mock was also named to the 2008 WPIAL Class AAA Second Team and All-Section First Team. She also played with the Pittsburgh Three Rivers club team which finished in fifth at the Nationals in Dallas, Texas, in 2008, and plans to attend nationals in Miami, Fla., in June, 2009.
“Stephanie is going to be a valuable walk-on for us as a defensive specialist,” Hammersmith says. “She plays with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, and reminds me of TJ (Tamara De Angelis) in that way. I think she will be someone who will add to the atmosphere of our team.”
Rasmussen, also looks to add depth the Mountaineer roster as a 5-6, defensive specialist, after being a three-year starter and captain at San Marcos High. There, Rasmussen led her team as a First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-Section player, while also being named the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2009. She also played for 951 Elite Volleyball club team.
“Karly is a very talented setter and defensive specialist.” Hammersmith says. “We are happy to have somebody with her degree of skill and ability. I think she is definitely going to fight for a chance to be on the court.”
The Mountaineers are set to begin the 2009 season on Aug. 28, with the WVU Classic.
