The Stanford Cardinal women’s volleyball team has five incoming freshmen in 2010, three outside hitters, one defensive specialist and one middle blocker making up a young group of players with plenty of playing experience. Prep Volleyball.com named the Stanford volleyball team third in the country in their annual Top 30 recruiting class ranking.
Outside hitter and 2009 California Gatorade Player of the Year Rachel Williams will bring an impressive list of accomplishments with her when she steps on the USC campus next year. Rachel is a 2008 and 2009 California Interscholastic Federation State champion who was named as a member of the AVCA High School All-American first team. Both Volleyball Magazine and Max Preps named her their National High School Player of the Year.
Another Cardinal outside hitter Lydia Bai is the daughter of 1984 Chinese Olympic gold medalist as a player and 2008 American Olympic silver medalist as a coach, Jenny Lang Ping. With that impressive pedigree, Lydia is expected to be one of the more versatile players to wear a Cardinal jersey next year. She attended Arnold Beckman High School for four years where she was her team’s captain, she was named to the All-Pacific League First Team as a freshman and was the Pacific League Most Valuable Player in 2009.
Lydia’s international experience includes being a member of the United States Youth National Team.
Carly Wopat is a 6’2″ middle blocker who will attend Stanford with her 6’1″ twin sister, outside hitter Sam Wopat. The sisters are 2009 CIF Southern Section Champions who helped lead their Dos Pueblos High School team to two Channel League titles. Carly’ accomplishments include:
-being named the Channel League Most Valuable Player
-a finalist for the California Gatorade Player of the Year award
-was a 2009 PrepVolleyball All-American
-in 2009 a Volleyball Magazine All-American
-#4 on the PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list
Sam Wopat’s accomplishment’s are similar to those of her sister’s. The four-year varsity volleyball team player was twice picked to the All-Channel League first team as well as a CIF Southern Section First Team member. Volleyball Magazine picked her to be on their All-American Second team and she too was named as a PrepVolleyball High School All-American.
Considered a top high school defensive specialist Mary Luck is a district champion and regional finalist who attended Stratford High School in Houston, Texas.
The Texas All-Star garnered All-State honors last year and was named the District 18-5A Most Valuable Player. Mary’s club team is the Texas Elite Volleyball club where she competed for three years.