The volleyball team announced five additions to their roster today – the first class of recruits who will take to the court with new head coach Amanda Ault and new assistant coach Ryan Freeburg.
Savannah Clark, Landon Garvik, Christy Harper, Jessie Kupcha and Kelsey Newman follow the seven-member 2010 recruiting class for the program, and will join the 11 returning letterwinners for GW in the upcoming season.
“Anytime there is a coaching transition there are a lot of issues to have to negotiate, and to be able to keep these five student-athletes in the fold is something we are very excited about,” Ault said. “All five are committed to our mission as a team, committed to growing this program and becoming better athletes. Not only will they help in our goals on the court, but I truly believe they will mix well with our returning team members and be great ambassadors for GW volleyball and the entire university.”
Clark, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., is a libero/defensive specialist who was named to the First Team All-Sunset League and most valuable player at Huntington Beach High School. While she competed with the Oilers, they were CIF Quarterfinalists in 2010 and CIF Finalists in 2009.
Garvik is an outside hitter from Carbondale, Colo., and was a member of the Roaring Fork High School Rams when the team was 2009 and 2010 Colorado 3A Western Slope League Champions. She was named the Rams’ Varsity Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the Colorado 3A Western Slope Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010. Garvik was a Colorado 3A Western Slope League First Team All-Conference selection in 2009 and 2010 and was named to the All-Colorado Volleyball Class 3A All-State First Team.
Harper is a middle blocker from Centreville, Va. She was named First-Team All-District and Second Team All-Region as a senior at Chantilly High School and was also named honorable mention All-Met by the Washington Post. Harper was the Chantilly Volleyball team MVP in 2010, and helped lead her squad to the 2008 District Championship and 2008 Region Championship.
Kupcha, a native of Sewell, N.J., is a defensive specialist. She was three-year varsity starter and team captain as a freshman, sophomore and junior at Gloucester Catholic High School and was twice named the Rams’ MVP as a sophomore and junior. Kupcha was selected to the First Team All-South Jersey in 2008-09 and won the All-Conference Award the same year.
Newman, a native of Huntersville, N.C., is an outside hitter. She recorded 476 kills, 427 digs, 66 blocks and 109 service aces as a senior, and was a four-year Varsity All-Conference member at Charlotte Catholic High School. Newman was the Varsity MVP from 2008-10. leading the team in kills, digs, and blocks. The 2010 Charlotte Observer Player of the Year, she also was named to the Charlotte Observer All-Mecklenburg First Team for 2009-10.