Dec. 3, 2007

FAIRFIELD, CT - Sacred Heart University women's volleyball coach announced today the signing of four players from California to National Letters of Intent to play for the Pioneers starting in 2008.

Leading the list of players coming from the West Coast is Brittany Best, a 5'9" outside hitter from Norco High School. She was a four-year varsity starter and was named all-league her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She was selected a Norco Press Enterprise Player to Watch in the very volleyball-rich Inland Empire in 2007. She has played club volleyball for six years in the Temecula area and starred on Viper Volleyball Club's 15 and under team that won the Volleyball Festival in Reno, Nevada in 2005.

Along with fellow incoming freshman, Ashlyn Trimble, Best played on Viper Volleyball club's 14 and under team that took first place in the Holiday Classic in 2004 and on the 15 and under team that repeated as champion in 2005. Last season, she again had a leading role on Viper's 18 and under team that took 11th place at the Volleyball Festival in Reno Nevada.

"Brittany is a very explosive and dynamic offensive player," says Machan. "She can attack very effectively out of both the front and back row. Along with her attacking ability, she will bring a history of success and a competitive edge that will help the program continue in its quest for regional prominence."

Trimble, a 5'11" outside hitter from Temecula Valley High School was also a four-year varsity player for the Inland Empire powerhouse. This past season, she was selected first team All-League and was honored as the Most Valuable Player.

Trimble has been competing in club volleyball since she was nine years old and has played for Viper Volleyball Club in Temecula Valley. She also made the SCVA regional team in 2004 that finished first in the High Performance Tournament in Austin Texas.

"Ashlyn is a very versatile player and an excellent athlete," says Machan. "She is a wonderful attacker and very good all around player. Even with all the success she has had as a player, I believe she is just beginning to tap into her potential."

The next signee is Jessica Colberg, a 5'9" outside hitter from Long Beach Poly High School. She is also a four-year varsity player and a three-year starter for the perennial national volleyball powerhouse. Colberg was voted varsity Rookie of the Year in her sophomore campaign and Best Offensive Player in her junior year. In her senior year she was named to the Long Beach Press Telegram "Dream Team" that highlights the best players in the Long Beach area.

Colberg has played club for five years and played on Roxy Beach's 14 and under team that won the Gold Medal in the 14 Open division at the National Junior Olympics. Last year, she started on the outside for the SCVC 17's team that finished in 11th place in the National Junior Olympics 17's Open Division. She has also won numerous beach doubles tournaments including the AAU Junior National Championship in Hermosa Beach.

"Jessica is a very good all around player," says Machan. "Along with being an excellent attacker, she has all of the other skills and can help the team in so many ways. She also has infectious enthusiasm for the game that will add a level of excitement and energy to the program."

The final recruit to sign for next season is Maile Hetherington, a 5'10" outside hitter from Thousand Oaks High School. She was a starter on a team that was regional volleyball power. In her senior year, she was named captain of the team and was selected to the all-tournament team at the Royal Tournament that season, and was the MVP of the Summer Watts Tournament.

She is a Scholar Athlete who led her team to the third round of the CIF Southern California Championships against defending champion and nationally-ranked Redondo Beach High School. She notched 21 kills and 17 digs in a tough five-game loss. Hetherington has played club volleyball for four years and competed on Point West Volleyball's 17 and under team that placed 13th at the Volleyball Festival in Reno, Nevada in 2007.

"Maile is a very dynamic athlete and is going to bring an elevated level of physicality and power to our program," says coach Machan. "She is a very explosive player that is just beginning to come into her own. She has amazing potential and should develop into a dominant offensive force in the region."