May 28, 2008

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham volleyball head coach Peter Volkert announced the newest additions to the 2008 squad today, as seven players will suit up for the Rams next season. They are setter Samantha Jacobson (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West), libero Megan Arend (Elk Grove, Calif./St. Francis), outside hitter Kim Capicotto (Northridge, Calif./Chaminade College Prep), outside hitter Brittany Daulton (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), defensive specialist Erickson Brown (Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist), libero Bianca Hernandez (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach), and right side hitter Winston Reynolds (South Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy).

Jacobson, who will be a junior this fall, joined the Rams this past spring season. She was a four-year varsity volleyball player at Glenbard West High School, serving as team captain in 2004 and 2005. A two-time MVP, she earned All-Area honors in 2005 and Academic All-Conference accolades in 2006, and played club volleyball for Sports Performance. A member of the National Honor Society in high school, Jacobson was also a four-year member of the honor roll.

A native of Indianapolis, Daulton was a three-year varsity volleyball player at Lawrence North High School, where she earned a number of accolades over her career. She was named to Prepvolleyball.com's High School All-American team and was the runner-up for Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She was selected as the 2007 Marion County Player of the Year and Indianapolis Star Super Team Player of the Year. A three-time All-County and All-Conference selection, she was named First Team All-State in 2007 and earned Best Offensive and Defensive Player honors in 2006 and 2007. For club, Daulton played for Team Indiana Volleyball Club, which placed tenth at the 2007 Nationals.

Arend, an Elk Grove, California native, played four seasons of volleyball at St. Francis High School, receiving the 2007 Sportsmanship Award for the Delta River League. She earned All-Tournament libero honors at the 2007 Galena High School Invitational and was selected to the Optimist Club of Sacramento All-Star game in 2008. She has played five years of club volleyball, most recently for the Gold Cal Volleyball Club and Force Volleyball Club. As a member of Force, she helped her team qualify three times for the U17 Open Division in the Junior Olympics, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Away from the court, Arend received the General Excellence Award for academics three times and Honors Awards for Chemistry, English, Painting, and World History. She was also active in volunteer work at the Wellspring Women's Center, the Pink Ladies Club, and the Alzheimer Awareness Club.

Capicotto, a Northridge, California native, was a four-year varsity volleyball player at Chaminade College Prep, serving as team captain for three seasons. She finished her high school career as the all-time kills leader at Chaminade and was a two-time First Team All-Area selection by the L.A. Daily News. She was also selected First Team All-Mission League three times (2005-07) and best offensive player by the team twice (2005-06). She also served as the co-captain of her club team, EVBC, every season. In the classroom, Capicotto was a member of the National Honor Society and earned First Honors and Scholar-Athlete Honors each semester at Chaminade.

Brown, an Oak Lawn, Illinois native, played volleyball all four seasons at Marist High School, including the final two on the varsity. She received the Red Hawk Award as a senior, and had previously served as a team captain. She played club volleyball for Celtic Force 18 Green, which took first place at the President's Tournament, ninth in the Power League, and second place at the Indianapolis Tournament. Away from the floor, Brown was a four-year representative on the Executive Student Council and a two-year Student Ambassador Officer. She was also a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.

Hernandez, a native of East Morchies, N.Y., was a three-year varsity volleyball player at Westhampton Beach High School. She served as the starting libero all three years, and was a 2008 First Team All-State and All-Long Island selection. A three-time League 6 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Suffolk County selection, she helped Westhampton to the 2008 Long Island and Class "A' County Championship, while making their first appearance at the NYS Final 4. She set school records for digs (38) and aces (8) in a match and was listed as a 2007 Newsday Player to Watch. She played club volleyball for the Island Volleyball Academy 18-Elite as well as for the Long Island Fury (15-17), serving as the starting libero for both teams.

Reynolds, a California native, was a four-year volleyball player at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, playing both middle blocker and opposite hitter. She helped her team to the CIF Southern Section semifinals and played club volleyball for San Gabriel Volleyball Club.

The Fordham Volleyball team is coming off a 15-20 season in 2007, 5-8 in the Atlantic 10, as the team advanced to the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the second straight season.