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For Immediate Release 2 December 2002
The fall
2002 signing period for student-athletes from Nov. 13-20 saw
the Southwest Baptist University volleyball team receive four
National Letters-of-Intent. Signing to come to SBU next fall
are Lisa Bruggenthies, Kaera Baltrip, Ashlee Denbow and Tawny
Hammons.
Bruggenthies is a 6-0 opposite hitter from Seattle, Wash.
She helped lead the College of Southern Idaho to a National
Junior College Championship in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, she
was No. 10 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference with a .287
attack percentage. Lisa had 160 kills, 56 errors and 362 total
attempts that season.
“Lisa brings a wealth of experience to us,” said
SBU Head Coach Mark Pryor. “She has won national championships.
There are not many signees in any sport that you can say that
about…ever. She will solidify our right side blocking
and add some needed offensive punch to that position. It will
help us become less left side oriented and give opposing middles
fits as our offensive scheme becomes more diverse. Lisa’s
experience will be a huge benefit to our program and I expect
her to contribute right away.”
Baltrip is a 5-11 outside hitter from Silsbee, Texas. She
is attending Seward County (Kan.) Community College this year.
She has gained valuable experience this season in a challenging
conference. Baltrip has been named to several all-tournament
teams in 2002 and has garnered first team all-Kansas Jayhawk
Community College Conference honors this season. She is one
of three freshmen to earn that distinction and one of only
ten players overall.
“Kaera is just an athlete, plain and simple,” Pryor
said. “She will be able to become an extremely terminal
outside hitter for us. This year she led SCCC to a sixth place
national finish at the NJCAA championships and rarely came
off the floor. She will be one of the best athletes in the
conference. Kaera’s presence on the left will be able
to free up our middles, because she has the ability to take
over a match offensively.”
Denbow, a 6-0 middle, comes to SBU from Licking. While at
Licking, Denbow won first team all-district accolades her
sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. Ashlee won team awards
for best hitter (3 years), best blocker (4 years), and best
defensive player (most digs). She will graduate from Licking
High School in May, 2003.
“Ashlee is going to be a great player; she has all the
ingredients,” Pryor said. “She is lean, quick and
jumps well. She may compete for time right away due to her
competitive nature. I see her playing middle for a year or
two, and then possibly transitioning to the outside hitter
position. Ashlee will be able to play all the way around and
will push for time from the moment she steps on campus.”
Hammons arrives at SBU as Pryor's third local player to join
since he took over the SBU program. Hammons, a 6-0 middle,
holds season records at Ash Grove for most kills in, highest
kill percentage and most blocks. As in her junior year, this
season, Hammons was again named first team All-District. This
season she received more votes than any other district player.
During her sophomore year she was a second team selection.
In addition to leading the Pirates in kill percentage and
most kills, Hammons shared best passing percentage honors.
She will graduate from Ash Grove High School in May, 2003.
“Tawny hits the ball hard… real hard.,” Pryor
said. “She has a great swing and hits an extremely ‘heavy’
ball. She will add depth to the middle position and I could
see her seeing significant playing time in her freshmen campaign.
She hits very well off one foot. The versatility she gives
us offensively will help create match up problems for opponents.
It is great to find a local athlete so close to us that really
wants to be here at SBU and believes in what we are doing
as a program.”
Denbow and Hammons will both compete for the Springfield Juniors
Club Volleyball program this year. The two will be coached
by Lori Endicott-Vandersnick.
“Any time that you have a club coach with the talent
and knowledge that Lori has, that is just a huge plus for
our program,” Pryor said. “It will help these two
incoming freshmen increase their learning curve and get them
ready for volleyball at this level. Having Lori as their coach
for the next six months will be a great experience for them,
and it will make them all the more ready to contribute to
our success in 2003.”
SBU finished the 2002 season with a 10-24 record, winning
more matches this season than in the previous two seasons
combined.
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