April 26, 2005
LOS ANGELES - Loyola Marymount volleyball Head Coach Steve Stratos announced today that seven newcomers will join the program as freshmen in the fall. The incoming class is highlighted by San Jose, Calif., natives KC Walsh and Erin Downey.
Both graduating from Archbishop Mitty High School this June, Walsh and Downey lead a class consisting of three defensive specialists, two middle blockers, an outside hitter and a setter.
Walsh was a four-time first-team all-league setter who was named to the California State Championship All-Tournament team. Also a four-time All-California Central Coast (CCC) selection, Walsh, the sister of 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh, was named league and CCC Most Valuable Player in 2004. She was a three-time state champion and was named a first-team All-American and Player of the Year by Cal-High Sports. Volleyball Magazine included Walsh on its list of the "Fab 50," and she was named the San Jose Mercury News's Player of the Year in 2004.
"KC is considered one of the very best setters in the nation from the Class of 2005," Stratos said. "She's very advanced in all aspects of the game and has the mentality of a setter who knows how to win. KC is a three-time state champion and a big-time winner."
Downey was also a four-year varsity starter for three-time state champion Archbishop Mitty High School, earning four first-team all-league selections alongside Walsh. The outside hitter was a 2003 Junior Olympics silver medallist and was named to the Mercury News All-Central Coast Team in 2003 and 2004. Prep Volleyball named her one of the "Top 50 Juniors" in the nation in 2003 and was she selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 state title run.
"Erin was the MVP of the state championships and brings tremendous versatility," Stratos said. "She could play left, middle, or right side. One of the important factors about Erin is she plays big in big matches."
South Bay standouts Lindsay Banas and Emily Day join the Lions after both earning All-CIF and Daily Breeze All-South Bay team selections in 2004. Banas was a four-year varsity starter for Mary Star High School and was a three-time first-team all-league pick.
Day was also a three-time all-league selection out of West Torrance High School and was honored as the league's Most Valuable Player in 2003.
"Lindsay and Emily are both very good athletes," Stratos said. "Both have done a lot of winning during their high school careers and both have the potential to have an impact in our program."
Rounding out the Lions' incoming class are three defensive specialists in Katie Glomb, Lauren Kirk, and Kiera Reilly. Glomb received all-league honorable mention recognition in her two seasons with State Champion Archbishop Mitty. She was a Mercury News All-Central Coast selection and was named one of Prep Volleyball's 2004 "Defensive Dandies," placing her among the nation's top 25 defensive specialists. She is the second member of her family to become a Lion, as she joins her brother Michael, who is currently a redshirt freshman on the LMU baseball team.
Kirk joins the LMU volleyball program as a four-year starter out of Redondo Union High School. She was a 2004 first-team all-league and All-CIF selection. She was also named to the Daily Breeze's All-South Bay Team in 2004.
Reilly was a first-team all-league selection and reached the CCC semifinals in 2004. She also received Mercury News All-Central Coast honors.
"We're very fortunate to have three very fine defensive specialists entering our program," Stratos said. "Kiera and Lauren were all-league performers at the outside hitter position, but will now focus on playing back row at the collegiate level. Katie is considered one of the very best liberos coming out of the 2005 class and she, along with Walsh and Downey, took part in two state championship high school teams." The seven incoming freshmen will join transfer newcomer Christianna Reneau, a 2004 All-WAC and WAC All-Freshman selection at Fresno State. The 2005 Lions will open the season with an Alumnae Match on Saturday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Gersten Pavilion.
