Dec. 4, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Loyola Marymount volleyball and Head Coach Steve Stratos announced the signing of two volleyball standouts earlier this week. Olivia Bailey (Hockaday School/Dallas, Texas) and Kenna Crouse (Santa Margarita Catholic High School/Coto de Caza, Calif.) each signed National Letters of Intent to join the Lions in the fall for the 2009 season.
"We as a coaching staff and team are very excited about signing Olivia and Kenna," Stratos said. "We feel that both players have the ability to come into the program and play right away. They are both accomplished and dedicated athletes, and we look forward to having them on the squad, battling for starting positions from the beginning."
Bailey, a 2007 AAU All-American and member of the Skyline Club Team in Texas, was a four-year varsity letter winner for The Hockaday School. Named All-Southwest Preparatory Conference and All-North Zone in each of her last three seasons, the 6'0" setter was named to PrepVolleyball.com's "Senior Aces" list. A two-time conference Most Valuable Player, she is also an accomplished beach volleyball player after winning Regional Championships in 2005 and 2006. "Olivia plays for one of the best club volleyball teams in Texas," Stratos said. "She is a great all-around player who began her career as an outside hitter before developing into one of the top setters in Texas. Olivia is a very intelligent volleyball player and understands the dynamics of the game."
Crouse was a three-year varsity letter winner at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. The 6'1" middle blocker most recently led her team to the CIF Division I-AA title and a spot in the semifinals of the State Championship. A stellar student off the court after being named to the President's Honor Roll in all four years at Santa Margarita, she helped her team to the Junior Olympic 16 Open Championship and a bronze medal as a part of the Junior Olympic 18 Club team. "Kenna is a talented middle blocker with a very live arm," Stratos said. "She is a very accomplished player already, having competed at extremely high levels as part of her high school and club teams. Kenna plays with tremendous enthusiasm and is a flat-out winner, showcased by her success in the Junior Olympics and her recent run to the State Semifinals."
"With an already exciting and talented group of young players in our program, we are anxious to add Olivia and Kenna to the mix for next season," Stratos added. "Both players are not only talented on the court, but outstanding students in the classroom, and we feel that they will be a perfect fit here at LMU."
