FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 12, 2008

CONTACT: San Francisco State University Sports Information Office

PHONE: 415-338-1579

GATORS ADD SIX MORE TO RECRUITING CLASS

San Francisco, Calif..---- First-year head coach Michelle Patton has the signing of six more recruits for the upcoming 2008 season. These six add to the six that Patton has signed earlier this year. The Gators will begin their 2008 season on August 28, when they participate in the Sonoma State Volleyball Tournament in Rohnert Park, California.

The first signee is Allison Grandy from Laguna Hills, California. The 5-10 libero will graduate from Laguna Hills High School this Spring. She was the Team’s Most Valuable Player and also was selected to the First Team All-Pacific Coast League. Grandy was named the November 2007 Athlete of the Month and named to the All-Century Tournament Team.

"We're excited to have Allison join SF State Volleyball,” said SF State Coach Michelle Patton. “Outside of having a great work ethic, Allison is a fundamentally sound player with a nice platform for passing,” added Patton. “With steady improvement and the chance to contribute defensively, we look forward to seeing her develop this fall.”

Christina Johnson is a 5’6 libero from Wildomar, California, where she attended Elsinore High School. She was a two-time First Team All-League selection as well as being named a two-time Best Defensive Player. The 2007 team captain also named to the First Team All-Nighthawk Invitational Tournament Team. Johnson was a member of the Sunbelt League Championship Team in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Elsinore High School also was a member of the 2007 CIF Southern Section Division 2A Quarter-finalist Team.

"Christina is an outstanding athlete who has the ability to make great defensive plays,” added Patton. “She has a lot of natural talent and she sees the game at a very high level. With consistent hard work in the pre-season, Christina has an opportunity to make a smooth transition to college volleyball and be a solid contributor."

Maddy Lorenz is a 5’11 outside/middle hitter from Spokane, Washington. She is transferring to SF State from Concordia College in New York, where she was selected to the Third Team All-Conference. "Maddy is a versatile player who has had success as a player in club as well as her first year in college,” said Patton. “She brings experience to our team and is an extremely motivated player with a great upside offensively. We are looking forward to working with her this fall."

Lorenz finished in the top five in the ECC in kills per game and points per game while being named four-times the conference’s Rookie of the Week. The Spokane, Washington, native also was a member of the AVCA’s 30-kill club as well as the Welcome Home All-Tournament Team. Prior to Concordia, Lorenz was a two-time MVP at Joel E. Ferris High School and two-time All-Conference selection.

Halimah Oswald is a 5’11 middle blocker from San Francisco. She will graduate this Spring from Waldorf HS, where she was a three-time selection to the All-League Team. Oswald also was a three-time selection to the All-League team in soccer.
"We are excited about the addition of Halimah and her decision to represent Gator Volleyball in 2008,” noted the Gators’ first-year head coach. “Being a local stand-out, Halimah now has an opportunity to continue her success in college here at home in San Francisco,” said Patton. “She is an excellent jumper that displays strength and power when hitting. With dedication to hard work and consistent improvement, we look forward to seeing her excel this fall."

Brittany Powell is a 6’1 middle blocker from San Diego where she attended Otay Ranch High School. She was named to the All-League team this past season as well as being named the Best Offensive Player of team. "Brittany is a motivated player who is always striving to get better,” added Patton. “Offensively, she has the potential to be a force in the middle,” noted Patton. “With a strong work ethic and attention to detail, Brittany has an opportunity to elevate her game this fall. We are confident she will only continue to improve."

Mary Maiocco is a 5’10 setter from Bakersfield, California, where she graduated from Bakersfield High School. She was the team’s Co-Most Valuable Player as well as being a member of the Jockey Club. Maiocco also was three-times named All-League including once being a First Team selection. She also was All-Area Second Team this past season.

"Mary brings much needed depth to our setting position this fall,” said Patton. “She is a fierce competitor on the court and has a great feel for running the offense,” added the first-year head coach. “I am looking forward to working with her this season and can see her adapting to the speed of the college game very quickly."

SF State will be bringing back women’s volleyball this coming Fall. The Gators are affiliated with the NCAA Division II and a member of the prestigious California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).