The UC Santa Barbara women’s volleyball team announced on Wednesday that it has signed two standout players to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2012 season.
Joining the Gauchos for the new year will be outside hitter Alex Flores and middle blocker Britton Taylor.
ALEX FLORES — San Juan Bautista, California
Flores was a two-time Mission Trail Athletic League MVP while leading Anzar High, where she broke the school record with 797 kills as a senior. The Anzar High class president, the 5-foot-11 Flores was a three-time team captain and was well-decorated throughout her career after earning a starting spot as a freshman. She helped lead her club team to a gold medal finish at the 16-and-under Junior Olympics.
“I’m very impressed with her arm speed and her jump,” UCSB head coach Kathy Gregory said. “She has a lot of raw potential and a fight in her that tells me she is going to push our other outside hitters to be better. She’s also one of the top student-athletes I’ve recruited, so I know she will be able to handle the rigors of playing collegiate volleyball and maintaining her grades.”
BRITTON TAYLOR — Corona del Mar, California
Taylor, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Corona Del Mar High, was a First Team All-Orange County selection as a senior, a First Team All-CIF pick and was named the Pacific Coast League MVP. She was twice named a Player of the Week during a sensational senior year. Taylor was a three-time All-Tournament Team selection, including an honor during the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.
“Britton will be an impact player, immediately,” Gregory said. “She is one of the best slide hitters coming out of high school. She has tremendous focus and I believe she will be able to adjust to the speed of the game in her first season. She’s also been coached in club the last several years by one of the top club coaches in America. Charlie Brande knows collegiate volleyball and has made her ready to not just play, but to compete and start.”
