CHICO – The Chico State volleyball team has begun the process of bolstering its roster for the 2010 season, and a pair of talented high school hitters will officially be sporting Wildcat colors this fall. Juliet Conant of East Nicolaus High and Campolindo High’s Alex Shurtz have signed their National Letters of Intent to play for the ’Cats when the team returns to the court in August.
Conant, a 6’3” opposite/middle hitter, is coming off a 2009 season in which she earned the Mid-Valley League co-Most Valuable Player award, registering 287 kills on the year, along with 52 aces, 66 blocks and 145 digs in leading East Nicholaus to a share of the Mid-Valley League title. She was also named to the MaxPreps California All-State Volleyball Division V second team.
“Juliet is the tallest player I’ve brought in at Chico State in the last seven years, and getting some height on the roster was a big part of what we wanted to accomplish in this year’s recruiting class,” Chico State Head Coach Cody Hein said Conant officially committed to the ’Cats. “She will provide a huge block either in the middle or on the right side as an opposite. She came to our camp last summer and really impressed us with her work ethic and coachability. We think she has the potential to make a major impact within the program over the next four years. It’s also nice to add a North State student-athlete; she’s one of two or three we’ll ultimately bring in this year.”
Conant had an amazing junior year, earning all Northern Section first team honors by posting an eye-popping 415 kills on the year and spearheading the Spartans to the Division V championship game.
Campolindo High School star Alex Schurtz brings versatility to the Wildcats' offensive attack.
Shurtz, a 5’10” outside/opposite hitter, adds a versatile player to the Wildcats roster. “Alex has the ability to hit from either pin effectively,” Hein said. “She played outside hitter in high school but plays opposite in club. That versatility fits in nicely with the speed and flexibility we try to incorporate into our offense. Trying to get some Bay Area talent was another one of Coach [Jamie] Houle and my priorities, and we are very excited about this East Bay product.” Coming from a perennial powerhouse program, Shurtz led Campolindo High in kills for three straight seasons and was a key factor to the Cougars reaching the North Section playoffs from 2007-09.
In other spring volleyball news, the Wildcats looked good in splitting eight matches during a mid-April tournament at the University of Nevada Reno. The ’Cats held their own in a pair of losses to Sacramento State, but beat JC powerhouse College of Southern Idaho and posted wins against San Francisco State and Southern Idaho’s freshman team.