Women of Troy given honors

Freshman outside hitter April Ross, who has already made a name for herself in the women's volleyball world, was named Volleyball magazine's 2000 Freshman of the Year and named to the third-team All- American. Ross was also named Pacific-10 Conference Freshman of the Year.

Ross, along with teammate Jennifer Pahl, was named to the AVCA All-America second team.

Middle blocker Pahl was an Asics/Volleyball magazine honorable mention, while freshman middle blocker Katie Olsovsky was named to the All-Freshman team.

UCLA's junior outside hitter Kristee Porter was named the Asics/Volleyball magazine Player of the Year. Senior middle blocker Elisabeth Bachman was given an honorable mention.

Tina Harrison | Assistant Sports Editor

Soccer signs

USC soccer head coach Jim Millinder announced the signings of four highly-touted southern California players Wednesday.

Club and high school teammates Megan Kakadelas and Kaitlyn Pruett of Carlsbad and Encinitas, respectively, and club teammates Ashley Casas and Carolyn Staples, both of Mission Viejo, have all signed letters of intent for the Women of Troy.

"This is an outstanding class," said Millinder. "They all possess the ability to be top-notch Division I players. I feel certain that they will all make an immediate impact and all of them will have the chance to start right away."

Kakadelas was an NCSAA Under-17 All-American first-team selection last year, as well as a first-team All-Avocado League selection. Pruett joined Kakadelas on the All-League first team, and was also named first team All-CIF.

Casas brings international experience to USC, playing in a total of six national team matches at the U-16 and U-17 levels. She was also named a Parade All-American this year. Staples played her first two seasons of high school soccer at Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. before transferring to Calvary Chapel High in Santa Ana, Calif.