University of Houston Athletics
Volleyball Signs Three Players
4/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
April 12, 2007
HOUSTON - Head coach Bill Walton announced the signing of Robin Fitzgerald, Malia Vavao and Lucy Charuk to National Letters of Intent during the recent signing period Thursday. The trio begins their Cougar careers as freshmen for the 2007 season.
Fitzgerald (College Station, Texas) has recorded 13-5A All-District and All Brazos Valley First-Team honors in each of the last two seasons as a setter at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station. She also has been the starting setter for the Texas Tornadoes club team over the last year.
"We asked Robin to up her level of intensity, determination and leadership when she joined the Texas Tornadoes," Walton said. "She now understands that the best statistic that a setter can have is whether her team wins or loses. Robin possesses excellent foot speed and hands along with her 6-foot frame. She will have a chance in August to compete for the starting setter role."
Vavao (Torrance, Calif.) racked up a pair of All-CIF First Team selections in 2005 and 2006 while playing middle blocker at Torrance High School. She also was one of 30 players to compete with the 2006 USA Women's Junior National A2 Camp in Florida.
"We saw Malia play at the All-Star Tournament with the A2 team," Walton said. "She was one of the most aggressive blockers on the team. Malia has not only the potential to play middle blocker but to be an attacking outside hitter for us down the road."
Charuk (Tsawwassen, British Columbia - Canada) was a member of the British Columbia Provincial team that participated in the Canada National Team Challenge Cup in July 2006. She also was ranked as one of the Top 25 volleyball prospects in Canada and played on the Vancouver Thunder Club team.
"Lucy has aspirations of one day playing for the Canadian National Team," Walton said. "With her 6-2 frame, Lucy can be a stopper for us at the middle blocker position. She can match up one-on-one with the other team's marquee outside hitter. I expect her to start for us in the middle if she comes in ready to play with her blocking skills."
Fitzgerald, Vavao and Charuk join Hannah Sullivan and Aida Bauzá, who signed NLI's with the Cougars during the early signing period back in November. Sullivan was recently one of 150 players to be named to the 2006 Prep Volleyball.com High School All-America squad in January.
