George Washington University Athletics
Volleyball Signs First Recruit for 2009
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 3, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington University volleyball coach Jojit Coronel has announced that Lauren Whyte has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Colonials beginning in 2009. She is the first member of the Colonials' 2009 recruiting class.
A 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Olmsted Falls, OH, Whyte helped lead her Olmsted Falls High School team to the Division I State Championship title this season by defeating Prepvolleyball.com's No. 2 team in the country, Ursuline Academy. Both teams were undefeated going into the match but the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs (29-0) prevailed, 3-1, marking the first time in 13 years that a public school has won the Ohio Division I state championship. Whyte finished the last match of her career with 36 kills in 86 attempts and 10 errors to go with 22 digs. She has been a four-year starter for the Bulldogs.
As a senior, Whyte recorded 405 kills, 226 digs and 35 blocks under coach Dawn Moses. She is the school record holder in career kills with 1,431 (5.7 kills per set) and was named the Player of the Year by the Cleveland Plain Dealer and by Ohio Magazine. She also was named the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year, Ohio Division 1 District 2 Player of the Year and first team all-state for Division 1. She also has been nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio. Whyte was nominated to the Under Armour American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America second team. A total of 48 players were named to the first and second teams as selected by the AVCA.
"Lauren is a complete player," Coronel said. "She attacks from everywhere and has great volleyball instincts. You don't often find a player with her ability in the front row and back row and in every position. I certainly feel she will help our team immediately and is capable of great things in our A-10 conference," Coronel added. "Lauren deserves all these achievements and more. She's in the top percentile of her class and works extremely hard in everything she does. Lauren is a great fit for our team and our university and look I forward to coaching her next season."
GW concluded the 2008 season with a 19-11 overall record, 9-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and qualified for the A-10 Championship tournament for the second straight year.
GW Volleyball signees for 2009:
Lauren Whyte 6-1 OH Olmsted Falls, OH/Olmsted Falls High School
