PrepVolleyball.com gave the University of New Mexico a “High Honorable Mention” for the their 2010 recruiting class. The website organizes its ratings in four categories; “Top 30 Recruiting Classes”, “Highest Honorable Mention”, “High Honorable Mention” and “Honorable Mention”.
New Mexico: Mariah Agre, 5-11 S, Elsinore (Wildomar CA); Juliane Hanna, 5-10 OH, Loudoun County (Leesburg VA); Miquella Lovata, 5-3 Libero, Pojoaque (NM); Ashley Newman, 6-0 OH, St. Pius X (Albuquerque NM); Lexi Ross, 6-1 OH/MB, Lakeridge (Lake Oswego OR)
Also noteworthy is Hawai’i’s ranking: #10. Why? NMSU will be dealing with this set of recruits over the next four years, and UNM is set to play Hawai’i on September 4th with a return game in 2011.
10. HAWAII: Kaela Goodman, 6-1 RS, Mission Viejo (CA); Emily Hartong, 6-1 MB, Los Alamitos (CA); Mita Uiato, 5-8 S, Poly (Long Beach CA); Michelle Waber, 6-3 OH, Elsinore (Wildomar CA)
Comment: The Rainbow Wahine signed a quartet of Californians, each a Top 100 Senior Ace, in the Early Signing Period. Coach Dave Shoji said that each has the potential to contribute early for a team that reached the Final Four a year ago. Hartong, a fast middle with a good block and big strike behind the setter, is a favorite to start for the graduating Amber Kaufman. Coach Shoji said the players are virtual clones of one another. Waber is a physical outside with great all-around skill. She gives Hawaii size and power on the pin, as does Goodman, who is a very strong blocker on the right side. Uiato rounds out the class. She’s not tall, but is a natural-born setter. She makes the art of setting look easy. The setter of the future for Hawaii, she could make a deep impact as early as this fall.