George Washington University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Five Newcomers for 2011
7/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
July 29, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington University volleyball coach Amanda Ault has announced the addition of five talented newcomers to the Colonials roster for 2011. Freshmen Savannah Clark, Landon Garvik, Christy Harper, Jessie Kupcha and Kelsey Newman will play for the Colonials in 2011. Following last year's seven-member recruiting class, the Colonials' roster has added 12 new players since the beginning of the 2010 season. GW returns 11 letterwinners, including five starters, from last year's team.
"We are extremely excited to announce our incoming class," said Coach Ault. "Anytime there is a coaching transition there are a lot of issues to have to negotiate, and to be able to keep these five student-athletes in the fold is something we are very excited about. All five are committed to our mission as a team, committed to growing this program and becoming better athletes. Not only will they help in our goals on the court, but I truly believe they will mix well with our returning team members and be great ambassadors for GW volleyball and the entire University."
Savannah Clark
5-9 - Freshman - Libero/Defensive Specialist
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Huntington Beach High School
Clark was named First Team All-Sunset League and Most Valuable Player at Huntington Beach High School. The Oilers were CIF Quarterfinalists in 2010 and CIF Finalists in 2009. She won the Scholar Athlete Award 2007-11 and was a member of the National Honor Society from 2007-11 and a four-year member of the Distinguished Honor Roll.
Landon Garvik
6-1 - Freshman - Outside Hitter
Carbondale, Colo.
Roaring Fork High School
Garvik's Roaring Fork High School Rams were 2009 and 2010 Colorado 3A Western Slope League Champions. She was named the team's Varsity Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the Colorado 3A Western Slope Player of the Year in 2009. She also was a Colorado 3A Western Slope League First Team All-Conference selection in 2009 and 2010 and was named Colorado 3A Western Slope League Player of the Year in 2010. Garvik was named to the All-Colorado Volleyball Class 3A All-State "First Team" and was a member of the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State First Team. As a senior in 2010, she hit .386 and once recorded 31 kills in a match.
Christy Harper
6-3 - Freshman - Middle Blocker
Centreville, Va.
Chantilly High School
The most local of the newcomers, Harper, from nearby Centreville, Va., was named First-Team All-District and Second Team All-Region as a senior at Chantilly High School. She also was named honorable mention All-Met by the Washington Post. The Chantilly Volleyball team MVP in 2010, she was named to the District All-Tournament Team and helped lead her squad to the 2008 District Championship and 2008 Region Championship. Harper was a National Honor Society member and AP Scholar with Honors (4.3 GPA).
Jessie Kupcha
5-7 - Freshman - Defensive Specialist
Sewell, N.J.
Gloucester Catholic High School
Kupcha was a three-year varsity starter and team captain as a freshman, sophomore and junior at Gloucester Catholic High School under coach Joe Gillespie. She was twice named the Rams' MVP as a sophomore and junior. Kupcha was selected to the First Team All-South Jersey in 2008-09 and also won the All-Conference Award the same year.
Kelsey Newman
5-10 - Freshman - Outside Hitter
Huntersville, N.C.
Charlotte Catholic High School
Newman is a four-year Varsity All-Conference member (2007-10) at Charlotte Catholic High School. She was the Varsity MVP from 2008-10 after leading the team in kills, digs, and blocks. The 2010 Charlotte Observer Player of the Year, she also was named to the Charlotte Observer All-Mecklenburg First Team for 2009-10. She was a three-time AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Max Preps Player of the Week. As a senior, she recorded 476 kills, 427 digs, 66 blocks and 109 service aces.
GW concluded the 2010 season with a 17-15 overall record, 6-9 in the Atlantic 10 Conference under former coach Jojit Coronel. GW opens the 2011 season Aug. 26 against American in the DC Challenge at American University's Bender Arena before hosting four matches the following day at Charles E. Smith Center. Each of GW's 13 home matches will be live video streamed on www.GWsports.com.
GW Volleyball recruits for 2011:
Savannah Clark 5-9 L/DS Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach
Landon Garvik 6-1 OH Carbondale, CO/Roaring Fork
Christy Harper 6-3 MB Centreville, VA/Chantilly
Jessie Kupcha 5-7 DS Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic
Kelsey Newman 5-10 OH Huntersville, NC/Charlotte Catholic
