Head Coach Kimi Olson has brought in two in her second-ever recruiting class
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University Head Volleyball Coach Kimi Olson has announced the addition of a pair of student-athletes for the upcoming 2017 campaign following the signing of their National Letter of Intent (NLI), April 12. Olson brings in Alejandra Sanabria (Coconut Creek, Fla.-Monarch (Polk State)), who will transfer from Polk State College in Lakeland, Fla., and Carissa Spalt (Tucson, Ariz.-Sabino) to join her squad.
"We are extremely excited to add Alejandra and Carissa to this recruiting class," remarked Olson. "These players will really give us depth at both the middle and outside positions, while especially making us a more physical blocking team from pin to pin. I credit our staff in the recruitment of a strong incoming class of four athletes. We've added Alejandra and Carissa to the dynamic group of already signed student-athletes, Franki Strefling and April Houston."
Sanabria spent two seasons at Polk State before signing her NLI to join the EMU volleyball program. The Coconut Creek, Fla. native appeared in 11 matches during her freshman campaign, averaging 0.52 kills and 0.65 blocks per frame. As a sophomore, Sanabria appeared in all 35 matches for the Eagles. Hitting at a .258 clip, the 6-foot tall middle blocker notched 0.77 kills per set, while blocking 0.87 blocks per set. Her 111 total blocks ranked second on the team and she also appeared in the second-most sets of any member of the 2016 Polk State team. Prior to traveling to Lakeland, Fla. to compete for Polk State, Sanabria was a four-time varsity letterwinner at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Fla. Sanabria was named to the all-county team following her senior season as a Knight. In her senior campaign, she averaged 1.3 blocks, while notching 1.8 kills per set and hitting at a .369 clip. In addition to her talent on the court, Sanabria shines in the classroom, being named to the National Honor Society at Monarch.
Alejandra Sanabria
Spalt comes to EMU by way of Sabino High School in Tucson, Ariz. where she was a four-year letterwinner as a SaberCat. She earned AIA Honorable Mention in her section following both her freshman and sophomore seasons, before being named to the First Team in her junior year and First Team All-Region as a senior. Additionally, she was named the AIA Regional Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to earning AIA All-Conference First Team and 3-A All-State honors after her senior year. The 5-foot-10 outsider hitter was the MaxPreps.com leader in kills for the state of Arizona in 2016 while also earning American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week honors (Oct. 24, 2016) once in her final campaign at Sabino. In addition to her success on the court, she earned a pair of varsity letters in track and field anda spot on the varsity soccer team at Sabino before tearing her ACL. Spalt is exceptional in the classroom as well, being named to the National Honor Society as a junior and senior, while earning First Team Academic All-Arizona honors. Additionally, she earned the Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar-Athlete award and was an Arizona Republic Academic All-Star with a grade point average exceeding a 3.8.
