SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco State women's volleyball head coach Michelle Patton has announced the addition of seven talented recruits for the 2010 season. This year's signing class includes a mix of four high school seniors, two junior college players and one NCAA Division I transfer. The newcomers include
Katie Judd,
Sarah Kurfess,
Megan Larmour,
Katie Mullen,
Reyna Rochin,
Laura Watt and
Nicole Yap, who will all be eligible to compete for the Gators this fall.
Katie Judd is a 5-9 outside hitter from Lomita, Calif., who was a four-year varsity starter at Torrance High School. Judd garnered first-team All-Pioneer League accolades on three occasions and was a second-team All-CIF Southern Section honoree as a sophomore. In addition, she also received her team's most valuable player award as a senior and was named most inspirational as a sophomore and junior. Judd intends to major in biology.
“Katie has a very good arm and will be one of the toughest jump servers in the gym,” Patton said. “She has a great personality, and I know she will show up ready to work hard on day one.”
Sarah Kurfess is a 5-5 libero/defensive specialist, who was a two-year competitor at Bakersfield College. During her sophomore campaign in 2009, Kurfess was a first-team All-Western States Conference selection, finishing second in the state with an average of 6.94 digs per set. Last season, Kurfess also helped the Renegades to an eighth-place finish in the California State Community College tournament. A 2008 alumnus of Stockdale High School, Kurfess was a first-team All-Southwest Yosemite League honoree and a first-team all-area pick as a senior. She was also voted her squad's most inspirational player and was named to the all-tournament team at the Highland High School Varsity Volleyball Invitational. Kurfess intends to major in kinesiology at SF State.
“Sarah has the ability to come in and stabilize our offense immediately with her ball control,” Patton said. “She has a ton of natural talent, wants to be leader, and really knows how to play the game.”
Megan Larmour is a 5-11 outside hitter, who will graduate this spring from Heritage High School. Lamour was a first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League selection during her senior campaign and received her squad's most valuable player award. She plans to major in nursing at SF State.
“Megan has the ability to jump high and hit hard,” Patton said. “She has the desire to do what it takes to be great. She is willing to do the little things that are required to have success at this level.”
Katie Mullen is a 5-7 setter, who will graduate this spring from Rosary High School in Fullerton, Calif. Mullen received honorable mention All-Trinity League distinction and was once voted that conference's rookie of the year. The Yorba Linda native also captured her school's Rosary Royal Award and garnered scholar-athlete recognition. Mullen plans to major in communications at SF State.
“Katie will come in and help stabilize the setting position in our gym,” Patton said “She has great leadership, makes good choices, and knows how to get the offense rolling.”
Reyna Rochin is a 5-2 libero who played for two seasons at L.A. Pierce College, where she helped the Brahmas to the Western States Conference championship in 2008. She graduated from Chatsworth High School and was voted her team's best defensive player on two occasions. Rochin's intended major is fine arts.
“Reyna is a fiery competitor and brings a great defensive presence to our team.” Patton said. “Her ability to react, coupled with great instincts make her a great asset to our team.”
Nicole Yap is a 5-10 outside hitter from Sacred Heart Cathedral High School in San Francisco, where she landed on the CIF Division III all-tournament team as a senior after helping the Fighting Irish to a runner-up finish at the 2009 state championships. Yap also garnered first-team All-West Catholic Athletic League accolades last season and was an ESPN Rise athlete of the week recipient. She plans to major in business marketing.
“Nicole is a great all around player,” Patton said. “She plays with a maturity beyond her years and has great composure on the court. “She has great ball control and understands the game at an extremely high level.”
Laura Watt, meanwhile, is a 6-1 middle hitter, who enrolled at SF State in time for the spring semester after playing in four matches at Boise State University in the fall of 2009. A native of Encinitas, Calif., Watt graduated from La Costa Canyon High School, where she was a member of the nation's No. 1-ranked volleyball team as selected in 2008 by PrepVolleyball.com, MaxPreps.com and
Volleyball Magazine. During that season, Watt helped the Mavericks capture the CIF title, earning the state championship's Sportsmanship Award. As club performer, Watt also played for two fifth-place Junior Olympics teams in 2007 and 2009. She is majoring in apparel design and merchandising at SF State.
“Laura has been training with us for one spring and we have seen some real improvement going into the fall,” Patton said. “She has been a great teammate, is a hard worker on and off the court, and I am looking forward to seeing her continue to develop.”
SF State, which last year made its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1987, opens its 2010 schedule on Sept. 3, when it competes at the annual Seawolf Spike Invitational on the campus of Sonoma State
University in Rohnert Park, Calif.
2010 SF State Volleyball Signees
Sarah Kurfess; 5-5; L/DS; Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield College/Stockdale HS
Reyna Rochin; 5-2; L; Woodland Hills, Calif./L.A. Pierce College/Chatsworth HS
Laura Watt; 6-1; MH; Encinitas, Calif./Boise State/La Costa Canyon HS
Nicole Yap; 5-10; OH; San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral HS
