MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama head volleyball coach Nicole Keshock announced Monday that Hristina Markova (Sofia, Bulgaria), Maria Kashavelova (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Juliana Pallamin de Almeida (Sao Jose dos Campo, Brazil) have each signed their national letters-of-intent to play for the Jags during the upcoming 2007 campaign.
“I am extremely excited about all three of this year’s signee class,” said Keshock. “All three of the signees are very ambitious and driven.”
Markova comes to USA after playing club ball the last two seasons for Levski, her club team in Bulgaria. The 6-0 outside hitter was a starter each of the past two seasons for Levski, helping them to a third place finish at the 2005 nationals and then a runner-up finish a season ago. Markova was also a member of the Bulgarian Junior National Team’s expanded roster.
“Hristina will be competing at the outside hitter and middle blocker position for us,” said Keshock. “She makes things happen on the court and hits a deep, heavy ball that is hard to read. She also has a variety of other shots that the defense will struggle against.”
The Jags second signee, Kashavelova, was also a teammate of Markova at Levski. For the past two seasons, Kashavelova was the starting setter for Bulgarian club team. She was also named the best setter in Bulgaria three straight years (2003-05) and has been the starting setter for the Bulgarian Junior National team each of the past two seasons.
“Maria will make an immediate impact in the setting position,” said Keshock of Kashavelova. “At 5-11, she is a great blocker that will help defensively, as well as being one of the most consistent setters we have ever had. Her sets are on the mark almost every time, which will really help our hitters be more successful.”
The third member of the 2007 Jaguar signee class comes from Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. Almeida, a 5-10 outside hitter, has played the last few seasons for her Brazilian club team, Fadenq SJC, SP- Brazil. While with the club team, she helped lead them to back-to-back Sao Paulo Junior State Championships in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, she was also an All-State Open Tournament runner-up and led her club to the Youth Tournament Championships each of the past four seasons. Almeida was also named the best hitter in her region for each of past three seasons.
“Juliana is an outside hitter with tremendous ball control,” said Keshock. “The teams that she competed on in Brazil and the level she has played at will make her one of our smartest players. She is able to see the court very well and is able to put the ball where she wants it to go.”
Joining the three signees for the 2007 season, USA also adds depth to the roster with the addition of three walk-ons; Jillian Jordan a 6-1 middle blocker from Vancleave HS in Vancleave Miss., Liz Steadman a 5-5 libero from Milton HS in Milton, Fla., and Kari Frazier a 5-9 libero from Baker HS in Mobile.
