April 17, 2007
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University volleyball Head Coach Jeff Werneke announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2007 season. Werneke, the 2006 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year, will welcome middle hitter Kayla Hughes (Portland, Ore./Jesuit), right side Lauren Wagner (Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), and outside hitters Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) and Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) to the class of 2011.
"The depth and the background of these four athletes will fit very well into our program and will bring instant competition to our practices every day," Werneke said. "These four are not only outstanding student-athletes but quality people as well. They will be great representatives of our program and the University."
Kayla Hughes, a 6'2" middle hitter, had a stellar senior campaign helping Jesuit High School to a fourth place finish in the state and earned an All-State honorable mention. The two-time Metro League All-Star, also plays club volleyball for Rose City, a top-10 team in the nation which also finished fourth at the Reno Volleyball Festival.
"Kayla is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in track and field at the state level," Werneke said. "She is an elite athlete with tremendous ability that brings both depth and height that we need in the middle. Kayla has the potential to make an impact on our program."
Wagner, a 6'0" right side, helped Cretin-Derham Hall to a 24-6 overall record and a spot in postseason play. She averaged 5.3 blocks per game and 7.7 kills as a senior and earned All-Conference honors. Wagner is a member of the M1 Juniors, a top five club in the nation.
"Lauren is going to add depth to the right side, but also has the ability to play on the outside and in the middle," Werneke said. "Her versatility and size are key components to her ability to contribute to our program."
Lopez, a 5'9" outside hitter, was an All-State honorable mention and was named "Best of the Best" outside hitters by the Rocky Mountain News. Lopez also played club volleyball for Front Range, a nationally competitive squad, and currently plays for Club One, a top level club.
"Alex has excellent back row defensive and ball control skills and, offensively, she can hit a variety of sets," Werneke noted. "She is continually developing her game and has the potential to come in and compete for a spot right away."
Lauren Hughes, a 5'10" outside hitter, was a first team All-Trinity League pick as a senior. Hughes plays club volleyball for Cal Juniors, one of the top club teams in California and top-25 in the nation.
"Lauren will add depth to the outside for us as she hits a heavy ball with a live arm," Werneke said. "Because of her experience she will challenge for playing time."
Fairfield went 24-8 overall and 18-0 in conference play during the 2006 campaign, capturing its third-straight MAAC Regular Season Championship. The Stags, whose 24 wins are the fifth most in program history, also posted a 20-match winning streak and their third-straight winning season. Fairfield will lose just two student-athletes from the 2006 squad and will return nine Stags, including the 2006 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and Setter of the Year.
