Nov. 11, 2016
San Diego State Head Volleyball Coach Deitre-Collins Parker has announced the signing of three players for the 2017 season. The group, three freshmen, includes a setter and two middle blockers.
The trio of signees includes Gabrielle "Gabi" Peoples from Beaverton, Ore., Erin Gillcrist from Lakewood, Colo., and Andrea "Onnie" Walker from Fairfield, Calif.
"We are excited to sign these three talented and versatile student athletes," commented Collins-Parker.
Gabi Peoples is setter from Beaverton, Ore., who spent her first three years of high school in Santa Barbara, Calif., before stepping in to assume duties as starting setter for her senior season at Beaverton HS.
While at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, the 5-10 Peoples earned all-city honors as a sophomore and junior and was an All-Channel League selection in 2015 and 2016. She was named to the AVCA Phenom List the past three years and received PrepVolleyball.com "Soph 79" honorable mention recognition in 2015.
Peoples was selected to train and play with a team of 2016 and 2017 college committed student-athletes during the summer of 2016 and competed with The BIP (Bring It Promotions) SE U17 team that competed in the 12th annual Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia, last summer.
"We are excited for what she will bring to this program," note Collins-Parker. "She is a natural leader and a great competitor."
Erin Gillcrist is a 6-1 middle blocker who attends Lakewood High School and also plays of the Colorado juniors club team. She hails from a volleyball family as both of her sisters played Division I volleyball -- Marie is currently at Rhode Island while Rachel played at St. Mary's (CA). In addition, her mother and aunts played collegiately at the University of Tennessee.
As a senior at Lakewood HS this past season, Gillcrist averaged 4.7 kills per set with a .547 kills percentage and a .350 hitting mark. She also averaged 0.9 blocks, 0.5 aces and 1.9 digs per set over 25 matches.
"Erin is a solid volleyball player," said Collins-Parker. "She is able to play any position on the court. She has set, played outside and right side hitter for both her high school and club teams. She has a great command of the game and we expect Erin to make an immediate impact on the program. She already competes at a very high level."
Onnie Walker recently completed her prep career at Vanden High School in Fairfield, Calif., where she earned all-Solano County Athletic Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2016 season. During her playing days she has spent time playing outside right side after beginning the game as a setter.
The 6-1 Walker, who is expected to take up the role of a middle blocker with the Aztecs, averaged 1.6 kills per set along with a .459 kill percentage and a .204 hitting mark.
As a junior, Walker averaged 2.4 kills per set and compiled a .450 hitting percentage this past season. Her other stats included 1.1 blocks, 08. Digs and 0.5 service aces per set.
" We are getting a natural blocker in Onnie," noted Collins-Parker. "She is smooth athlete that is quick laterally and fast off the ground. The best thing is she has so much room to grow. She, like our other two signees, has a great work ethic. I expect for her to develop into a top middle in our conference.
"With this class we add more athleticism to an already athletic team. With that athleticism we add solid volleyball backgrounds that will really help us in the future. All three will be impactful players in our program."