Dec. 7, 2009

Lamar volleyball coach Justin Gibert announced the signing of three student-athletes to play for Lamar beginning next fall.

Megan McStravick, Kaylee Piatt and Megan Schwartz are three Texas natives who will join a Lady Cardinal program that has won 57 matches over the past three seasons.

"Our early class has really good athleticism and good skills," Gibert said. "They are all made in the mold that has made Lamar successful over the past few years and will continue to add to our success. They all have different specilities but that will blend together to make a very strong 2010 team."

McStravick is a 5-foot-11 outside hitter who attends Fort Bend Travis High School, while playing club ball for the Southwest Juniors. She was recently named to the All-Greater Houston third team and second team District 22-5A.

"She is a very physical kid who has a significant background at the middle blocker position," Gibert said. "We plan to move her to the outside and I think she will make a good adjustment and will be a big physical presences at the net.

"I look forward to having the blocking experience she had in the middle combined with the strong attacking on the outside. She has solid all-around skills but the highlight of her game is her net play. She's proven to be a vocal and emotional leader on her teams, which is something that can help us."

Piatt is a 5-foot-9 setter out of Bryan HS and the Brazos Volleyball Club. She will be expected to play a big role with the loss of Adrianne Meengs, who finished her career fifth all-time at LU with 3,287 assists. Piatt led Bryah HS to an 18-17 record and a berth in the Class 5A bi-district round despite missing much of the second half of the season with a broken bone in her hand.

"We lose a big presence in the middle with the loss of Adrianne Meengs and Kaylee is in the same mold as (Ady) as a physical setter," Gibert added. "She is very rangie - both at the net and off the net. She has a great combonation of quickness and athleticism and we look for her to be able to lead the team at the setter position. She needs a little bit of work but will get better with time and she's pretty physcial."

Schwartz is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Klein Oak HS and Willow Brook Sports Club with great ball control. She helped Klein Oak reach the second round of the playoff as a junior and senior. In addition, the Lady Panthers won the program's first Class 5A district title in 19 years as she picked up District 13-5A Most Valuable Player honors. Her sister was a four-year letterwinner at Southland Conference foe UT Arlington.

"She is a very skilled athlete who will can be a great outside hitter for us," Gibert said. "We look for her to make an impact right away with our serving and passing game as well as our offensive capabilities at the net. She can serve and pass really well.

"Because her sister played at UTA, she is familiiar with the teams and that familirarity will help her make the adjustment ot the collegiate game."