Colorado University Athletics
VOLLEYBALL SIGNS PAIR FOR 2005 SEASON
January 05, 2005 | Volleyball
BOULDER - Mallori Gibson of Bakersfield, Calif., and Lauren Schaefer of Mountain View, Calif., have signed national letters of intent to play volleyball and continue their education at the University of Colorado in 2005-06.
Gibson, a 5-11 outside hitter, was a four-year letter winner for Foothill High School. She was named Kern County Player of the Year by the Bakersfield Californian after compiling 596 kills, 417 digs and 65 blocks for the Trojans who finished 18-12 in 2004. Gibson led Kern County in kills, digs and aces as a senior outside hitter after playing middle blocker for her first three seasons. She was a four-time All-South East Yosemite League selection, a three-time all-area pick and a three-time team MVP. Gibson is also a three-year All-SEYL pick on the Trojans' basketball team and has won four league titles in track & field ? twice in the shot put, once in the long jump and one in pole vault.
"Mallori has had a great senior year in high school and will again play for a strong club this season," Colorado head coach Pi'i Aiu said. "We are very excited about her playing at Colorado. She is a good jumper and very physical player.
Schaefer, a 6-3 middle blocker, led Los Altos High School to a program-high 29-7 record in 2004. She paced the Eagles with 372 kills, 332 digs and 166 blocks, 88 of which were solo. Schaefer led the Eagles to a gold medal at the Harbour Invitational Tournament, earning MVP honors. She was named the San Jose Mercury News Athlete of the Year and was a two-time all-league pick. Schaefer plays her club ball for Vision Volleyball out of San Jose. Her Vision 16 Gold team won the bronze medal at the Junior Olympics and her Vision 18 Gold team picked up a silver medal. Schaefer is also a two-year letterwinner for the Los Altos basketball squad.
"Lauren led her high school team to a very successful season in a tough division for high school volleyball in Northern California," Aiu said. "She will play this spring for one of the elite Junior programs in the country and gives us some much needed height in the middle and will give us a good balance with the three returning middles."
Colorado, who returns all starters and 12 letterwinners next fall, finished 14-14 overall in 2004, advancing to its 13th NCAA Tournament in the last 14 years.
