SAN DIEGO – San Diego State volleyball head coach Brent Hilliard has announced the signing of high school standouts Natalie Hughes (McKinney, Texas), Campbell Hague (Cheney, Kan.) and Fatimah Hall (Long Beach, Calif.) to National Letters of Intent. The highly prized trio of future Aztecs will arrive on the SDSU campus in time for the 2023 campaign.
"We are very excited with the addition of Natalie, Campbell and Fatimah to our Aztec family," Hilliard said. "Each player provides a much-needed skill set that will help our team in its goal of winning a conference championship."
A 6-4 opposite hitter, Hughes earned first-team AVCA High School All-America honors after leading McKinney North High in kills (473), kills per set (4.4), hitting percentage (.316), total blocks (83) and blocks per set (0.8) this season, according to MaxPreps.
Hughes, who just completed her senior campaign, led the Bulldogs to their second straight Class 5A Region II quarterfinal playoff berth after a finals appearance in 2020.
Hughes has amassed over 1,100 kills during her prep career and has broken the school's all-time record with 353 total blocks, according to MaxPreps. She garnered first-team all-District 13 5A accolades in 2021 after collecting Blocker of the Year plaudits in 2019.
A Class of 2023 Top 150 player who received All-America honorable mention from PrepVolleyball.com, Hughes also competed for the renowned Madfrog Volleyball Club, helping her squad to a fifth-place tie in open competition at the 2022 Girls Junior National Championships.
"Natalie brings a dominant blocking presence on the right side that will help our team immediately," Hilliard said. "Her size and explosiveness should give her an early opportunity to see the court upon her arrival. Natalie also exudes unbridled enthusiasm and is extremely competitive in nature. We can't wait to see her play next fall."
A 6-2 middle blocker/outside hitter, Hague collected Most Valuable Player honors in the Central Plains League as a senior after leading Cheney High in numerous categories, including kills (338), kills per set (3.60), hitting percentage (.270), service aces (42), total blocks (73), blocks per set (0.8), according to MaxPreps.
A two-time all-conference selection, Hague contributed to a winning tradition at Cheney High, helping the Cardinals to a combined 106-14 record in her three seasons as a prep, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the 2021 Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 3A Championship as a junior followed by a third-place standing this season.
A multi-sport athlete, Hague also excelled on the basketball court, earning a spot on the all-tournament team at the 2021 Kansas state championships after helping Cheney to the Class 3A title. Additionally, she garnered second-team all-conference accolades following her junior campaign last season.
Not to be outdone, Hague finished runner-up in the triple jump at the 2022 Kansas state track and field championships last spring and was a qualifier in the long jump, javelin and triple jump at the state meet as a sophomore in 2021.
"Campbell is a true diamond in the rough, and her size will translate to both the middle and outside hitting spots for our team moving forward," Hilliard said. "Our coaching staff has been looking for true athletes that are physical and dynamic in nature. Campbell provides both of these characteristics along with the skill that is unique for someone her size. I have no doubt that she will make an immediate impact on our team upon her arrival."
A 5-9 setter, Hall also brings a winning pedigree to The Mesa after helping her Lakewood High squad compile a 54-14 record over the past two seasons, highlighted by a pair of Moore League championships with a 24-0 mark in conference play, during which the Lancers lost just one set.
As a senior in 2022, Hall racked up over 800 assists and 200 digs, helping Lakewood High secure berths in the prestigious CIF Southern Section Division I championships and CIF State Open Division playoffs, as the Lancers finished with a No. 8 state ranking in the Open Division.
In mid-September, Hall was named Girls Athlete of the Week by the Long Beach Press-Telegram and additionally helped her squad finish 11th out of 64 teams at the renowned Durango Fall Classic tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 2021, Hall received second-team all-conference honors, helping the Lakewood squad to a high ranking of No. 2 in the state's Open Division.
"Fatimah is the setter we've been searching for quite some time, and she has great location, deception and athleticism to match," Hilliard said. "Her volleyball IQ is off the charts, and she knows how to make her hitters successful no matter what style of offense she is running. Since the first recruiting opportunity with Fatimah, I have been impressed with her work ethic. I truly believe she will lead our Aztecs to new heights once she arrives on The Mesa."
San Diego State closes out its regular-season schedule this week with a pair key Mountain West road matches at Nevada (Nov. 17) and San José State (Nov. 19).