Four recruits commit to Duck volleyball
The University of Oregon volleyball team took a major step toward respectability with four recruits signing during the early signing period that ended Wednesday.
Coach Jim Moore and his staff have signed Neticia Enesi, Lindsey Stone, Sonja Newcombe and Nevena Djordjevic.
Enesi is her high-school conference’s player of the year. Newcombe is the reigning state Player of the Year for California and led her team as a junior to the state championship.
The 5-foot-9 Stone is a setter on the undefeated Ashland team that recently won the Oregon Class 4A state title.
“I think she’s a person who can grow immensely as a player,” Moore said. “She has limited experience, but has all the athletic ability necessary to become a very good setter.”
Enesi is 6-foot-1 and was a blocker in high school, but will likely move to the outside hitter position on Oregon’s team.
“Neticia is physically as good as they come,” Moore said.
Initially, Moore said everyone thought Newcombe would choose an elite Arizona program. Instead she chose Oregon.
Moore said drawing top-notch United States volleyball players is an important part of building a program.
“That’s what it’s about,” Moore said. “That’s the reason we may have to get a foreign player because we are not going to steal those players very often. Sonja was one of those kids we were able to get.”
With Oregon (12-14, 1-13 Pacific-10 Conference) sitting near last place and losing seniors Kelly Russell and Jaclyn Jones, the new recruits will be looked to for help immediately, Moore said.
“They’re going to have to contribute,” he said. “We are very excited with all of them.”
– Jeffrey Dransfeldt