LOUISIANA La. – Louisiana’s Lady Cajun volleyball program announced four new additions to its roster for the 2007 season.
- Lindsay Brown (Yorba Linda, Calif.),
- Casey Merrell (Gilbert Ariz.),
- Amie Goodwin (Tucson, Ariz.)
- Monica Deschaine (Boerne, Texas)
All four future Lady Cajuns are high school seniors who have signed national letters of intent to join the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2007.
Brown is an outside hitter at El Dorado High School in Yorba Linda. She’s been a member of the All-Century League squad the past three years which included first team honors in 2005 and 2006.
Brown holds the El Dorado HS school records for digs in a single season and in a career.
Brown participated in the Global Challenge playing against teams form Canada, China and Russia. She received the 2005 and 2006 “Coaches Award” for outstanding leadership, sportsmanship and best all-around player.
Brown has been a scholar athlete in each of the past four years.
Merrell spent her high school career between two schools. She prepped at Higley High School as a freshman in the 2002-03 academic year and has been at Gilbert (Ariz.) High School the remaining years of her career.
Merrell has played her high school career as a setter. She was invited to represent the United States for the USA Spike It volleyball team in Europe this past winter. She was also selected to participate in the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball camps in 2006.
As a freshman, Merrell was all-district honorable mention selection at Higley HS. In her sophomore season she was selected to the Fiesta Region Conference first team. She was also a member of the Arizona Republic and Tribune All-State team as a sophomore.
Goodwin has played outside and right side hitter at Sabino High School in Tucson.
Goodwin was a member of the all-district first team in 2006 and was the district Player of the Year. She earned all-state honors in 2005.
She was named Sabino volleyball Most Improved Player in 2004 and in 2005 was named Sabino volleyball MVP.
Deschaine has played middle blocker and outside hitter at Boerne (Texas) High School helping lead the Greyhounds to district titles in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Deschaine was a first team All-Distrcit 27-4A member in 2005 and 2006 and was named Academic All-District the past three years.
In 2006, Deschaine had 350 kills and a .297 hitting percentage. She ended her career with 751 kills averaging 3.2 kills per game.
"All of our recruits are great students, volleyball players, and most importantly great people,” said head coach Amy Kraljev. “They all want to be here, contribute, and help take this program to the next level".
The Ragin’ Cajuns will enter year three under Kraljev during the 2007 season. UL will have six letterwinners returning next season to join the recent additions.
LOUISIANA SI