SUU volleyball program continues to build

SUU became home to a women's volleyball team back in the fall of 2008, even though competition will not officially start until fall 2009.

The T-Birds are already practicing bumping, diving and serving their way to becoming opposition ready.

Freshman outside hitter/middle blocker Tess Lawrence, from Layton Christian Academy, and Analaine Pelaez from Fremont High School, were the first to sign national letters of intent to SUU volleyball coach Debbie Baker and the T-Birds.

Lawrence is a 5-foot-11 utility player who has a lot of power off the floor.

Pelaez is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter who has tremendous hitting control.

Junior Megan Metcalf, who is a transfer from Salt Lake Community College, joined Lawrence and Pelaez to become the third member for the 2008-2009 volleyball team's first signing class.

Because of a knee injury, Metcalf will be on the disabled list for the year, but looks forward to getting back on the court next season.

The final member of the program's first recruiting class was freshman middle blocker Cashaana Renfro from West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The 6-foot-2 Renfro should be a powerhouse for the T-Birds.

Baker said Renfro is an impressive athlete.

"Cashaana (Renfro) is incredibly athletic and you can't coach six feet," Baker said. "She is really raw when it comes to her volleyball skills, so I'm really looking forward to having her in the gym for this first year to fine tune her abilities. She is going to be a very good player for us."

The T-Birds recently added three more signees to the roster, adding to the current nine-man roster.

Brittany Clark, Glendale Community College in Ariz., Tara Sawyer Chaffey Community in Calif. College and Courtney Lelepali from Punahou High School in Hawaii round out the program's second recruiting class.

Clark is a 5-foot-9 setter who lettered in both volleyball and track and field at Glendale Community College.

Sawyer is a 6-foot middle blocker who played two seasons at Chaffney Community College and served as a captain in her sophomore season.

Punahou earned three varsity letters in her prep career at Punahou High.

The three most recent signees won't be on campus until the Spring 2009 semester.

Punahou earned three varsity letters in her prep career.

With a current nine-man roster, eight of the members being freshmen, the T-Birds will have their work cut out for them. However, with the faculty, staff, coaches and student body behind them there is good reason for hope for the 2009 inaugural season.

The inaugural volleyball season will begin in 2009 when the T-Birds face Sam Houston State during a tournament in August.

The home opener is slated for Sept. 10 when the T-Birds will play host to IPFW.