Nov. 14, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State Head Volleyball Coach Deitre Collins-Parker has announced the signing of a pair of athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2012 season. That twosome includes outside hitter Ellen Novotny (Houston HS in Germantown, Tenn.) and setter Tanna Aljoe (Grapevine HS in Grapevine, Texas).
Novotny was a member of the all-district and all tournament teams the past two seasons while helping Houston High to a top 10 ranking in the state of Tennessee's AAA division. She has also won recognition as a member of the all-regional tournament team and was named the regional MVP in 2011. She was honored as one of the Best of The Preps for volleyball by the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper.
The 6-0 Novotny averaged 2.6 kills and 2.4 digs per game as a senior and compiled a .406 kill percentage. She was also a member of the Memphis Junior club National team in 2011 and previously played for team with the Memphis Metro and Delta Force clubs that qualified for the USA Volleyball nationals.
Aljoe has been a standout at Grapevine HS where she has won first-team all-district accolades and was a member of the all-Texas second team in 2010. She has been a two-time Lonestar Volleyball Selection (all-Texas team) and during her three seasons has been named to several in-season all-tournament teams as well.
This season Aljoe averaged 8.9 assists and 2.7 digs per game for the Mustangs whose recent run to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs included an upset win over the state's No. 1 ranked team (Southlake HS). The 5-10 setter has played for the Texas Advantage volleyball club the past four years, serving as a team captain every season. Most recently her 17s team captured the Tour of Texas championships and won a silver medal at the AAU National Championships where she was named to the all-tournament team.
Both players are expected to receive additional postseason prep honors for their performances during the 2011 campaign when those awards are announced in the near future.
San Diego State is preparing for the Mountain West Tournament to be held in Albuquerque beginning Friday, Nov. 18. The Aztec (17-9 overall) finished 10-4 in league play to place second in the final standings and earn the No. 2 seed at this week's conference championship event.