July 25, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham volleyball coach Peter Volkert announced the team's 2011 recruiting class today, which includes one transfer and five freshmen coming to Rose Hill.

The team will add sophomore Krista Whitewood and freshmen Gabriela Cinkova, Rose Diaz, Catherine Galligan, Chandler Moore, and Lindsay Ritchie.

Here's a breakdown of each new addition:

Krista Whitewood - Sophomore - OH - Hamilton, New Zealand/Hillcrest (Pittsburgh)

- Transfer from Pittsburgh... Appeared in three matches for the Panthers. High School: Considered one of the top players to ever come out of New Zealand... Named captain and starting outside hitter on the New Zealand Youth National Volleyball Team, which played in the 2010 Asian Youth Women's Volleyball Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia... Played her fourth season as a member of her country's Youth National Volleyball program... Competed at the FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship in Kazakhstan and the Asian Junior Women's Volleyball Championships in Chinese Taipei... Member of the Hamilton Women's Volleyball club for six seasons, one of the region's top programs... Played beach volleyball competitively in New Zealand... Competed in the Under 21 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Alayna, Turkey.

Gabriela Cinkova

- Four-year varsity volleyball player at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California... Served as team captain, leading Live Oak to the 2010 Blossom Valley Athletic League/Mount Hamilton Division League Championship... Recipient of the 2011 Live Oak High School Scholar Athlete of the Year award, as well as the Outstanding Female Student of the Year award... 2010 BVAL MVP... Three-time All-BVAL First Team selection (2007, 2009, 2010)... Received the BVAL Junior of the Year (2009) and Freshman of the Year (2007) awards... Named Freshman Athlete of the Year by the Morgan Hill Times... Played club volleyball for Main Beach Volleyball Club, which qualified for the USA Junior Olympic National Championship in 2008 and 2009... Valedictorian at Live Oak High School... Received the Silver Cord in Community Service Award.

Rose Diaz - Freshman - MH/OH - El Paso, Texas/Coronado

- Graduate of Coronado High School... Averaged 3.6 kills (478 kills) and 4.9 digs (646 digs) per set during her season senior to go with 34 aces... Named First Team All-District in 2010 by the Las Cruces Sun-News... Selected Third Team All-State by the Texas Sports Writers Association.

Catherine Galligan - Freshman - L/DS - La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla

- Varsity volleyball player at La Jolla High School... Also played for the varsity softball team... Team captain for volleyball... First Team All-CIF selection... Western League honorable mention pick... Played club volleyball for Coast Volleyball Club.

Lindsay Ritchie

- Four-year varsity volleyball starter at Campolindo High School in Moraga, California... Starting middle hitter for the Campolindo's 2010 California Division III State Championship team... Received the team's Best Offense Award, as well as First Team All-DFAL... Played club volleyball for NorCal Volleyball Club... Helped her club team to Junior Nationals in each of the last five years (2007-11), which included a 13th place finish in the National Division in 2008... Selected to the NCVA 18U Team as a 15-year old... Received the NorCal 18 Black Best Offense Award in 2010.

Lindsay Ritchie - Freshman - RS - Banning, Calif./Beaumont

- Three-year varsity volleyball player at Beaumont High School, as well as a four-year member of the varsity track & field team... Served as team captain of both squads... Two-time First Team All-Mountain Pass League (MPL) selection in volleyball (2008 & 2010)... Helped Beaumont reach the CIF-Southern Section Playoffs in 2008 and 2010... Led the MPL in blocks in 2009... Qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Championship in the shot put event in 2009 and 2010, earning 15th place in 2010.... 2010 MPL MVP for field events... Two-time First Team All-MPL selection in the shot put (2010-11)... Holds the school record in the shot put (41' 1")... 2011 CIF-Southern Section Scholar-Athlete nominee... Played club volleyball for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club 18-Select... Scholarship chairman for her chapter of the National Honors Society... 2011 MPL Scholar-Athlete.