SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State volleyball head coach Ruben Volta announced today that outside hitters Sloan Lovett (Durango, Colo.) and Lauren Aikels (San Diego, Calif.) have signed National Letters of Intent, and will enroll at Sacramento State as freshmen in the fall of 2012.
“Both Lauren and Sloan are athletic and quick with good leaping ability and arm swings,” Volta said. “They will provide us more offensive firepower and I anticipate them competing for a starting spot next year. I’m counting on both players becoming six-rotation outside hitters.”
SLOAN LOVETT
A 5-foot-9 native of Durango, Colo., Lovett just concluded her senior season at Colorado’s Durango High School where she helped lead the team to back-to-back state tournament appearances, regionals championships, district crowns and Southwestern League titles in 2010 and 2011. This season, she was the unanimous choice as the Southwestern League MVP after averaging 4.2 kills, 2.8 digs and 0.5 aces per set, and led the Demons in total kills (364) and aces (40) while ranking second in digs (244).
As a junior, Lovett was named the Southwestern League’s co-MVP, honorable mention all-state, first team all-league and academic all-state after averaging 3.9 kills, 2.8 digs and 0.4 aces per set. During her four seasons, the Demons combined for a 67-31 overall record and a 31-9 league mark. She was a four-year starting varsity outside hitter for Durango as well as a three-time first team all-league selection (2009-11).
LAUREN AIKELS
A 5-foot-11 native of San Diego, Aikels just concluded her senior season at San Diego’s Westview High School where the Wolverines lost in the semifinals of the CIF San Diego Southern Section playoffs. The team finished with a 20-10 overall record and 7-3 Palomar League mark. A three-time all-league selection (first team this year, honorable mention as a freshman and junior), Aikels led Westview in kills this season by a large margin while also finishing second to the team’s libero in digs.
Aikels started her freshman year as a middle blocker, sat out her sophomore season with injury and started at outside hitter her final two seasons. During her four years, the Wolverines have combined for a 70-45 overall record and 26-14 league mark.
