Volleyball transfers happy to be Bearkats
4/14/2010 3:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The pair are 6-0 outside hitter Brittany Hoag from Arkansas State University and 5-5 defensive specialist Crystal Roberts from Southern Arkansas.
Bearkat assistant coach Joe Lind believes that having the new girls is a breath of fresh air, and will only make the team stronger with more competition on the volleyball floor.
"Brittany and Crystal have good technique and hustle," said Lind. "They have done more than we have asked them too and look even better now then when we started. They will add to the competition, making everyone better."
At Arkansas State, Hoag led her team in kills and attempts. She also was second in digs and service aces. She will be playing as the outside hitter and opposite position for the Bearkats. Hoag is originally from Crosby, and is excited to be back in Texas where she can be closer to her family and pursue her major in Nutrition Science.
"Sam Houston was the first school that I visited when I was considering transferring, and I loved it immediately," Hoag said. "I liked the nutrition department's degree plan and what they had to offer. But the biggest deciding factor for me was the coaches and girls on the team. We have a lot of chemistry and we are close friends, which is something that I did not really have with my other team. I really want to provide that extra push and contribute to the overall success of the team."
Head coach Brenda Gray is impressed by the effort that Hoag has put forth since she has joined the Bearkats and believes that she will have a strong impact on the team.
"We pursued Brittany, she was the best player on her former team and she signed with us because she was not happy where she was at," Gray said. "When Brittany got here she made an immediate impact. She has a lot of playing experience and finesse. She is a true Division I player and she is also successful academically. Her joining our team was a win-win situation, the whole picture looks good."
Roberts has also made a significant impact the team since she has arrived at Sam Houston. The Southern Arkansas transfer led her team in digs and set a new conference record for digs in a match. She is from Hutto and has been working through the spring season. Roberts is majoring in Biology and after she graduates hopes to attend medical school and become a sports orthopedist.
"When I visited Sam Houston for the first time I fell in love with the campus," said Roberts. "I was also happy because it was not as far away from home and the coaches and girls on the team were really nice as well. Coming in as a transfer, I was welcomed and just like the other players was challenged in the same ways. I know that coach Gray and coach Lind are going to help me be the best player I can be and I hope that I can play to my best ability and contribute to this team."
Lind is pleased by the way that Roberts has improved since she has arrived at SHSU and is optimistic that she will become an even stronger player over the spring season.
"Crystal was one of the best players on her team in Arkansas and worked hard and arrived at Sam Houston in shape and ready to play in the upcoming season," Lind said. "We are going to see how the semester goes, but overall she brings a promising talent to the team."
Roberts has is excited about playing for Sam Houston and is optimistic that she will be successful with the help of her coaches and teammates.
"It is so good to be able to play for Sam Houston, I really missed playing at a high level since Southern Arkansas was a Division II school," Roberts said. "However, playing in Arkansas did help me learn how to play on the college level and prepare me for the future. I was never really close to my team in Arkansas, so I am thankful for the girls here. They are very encouraging and they believe in me. I know that as long as I have them I can achieve anything."
