April 9, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- Outside hitter Alex Jupiter (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) has signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the USC women's volleyball program in 2008, head coach Mick Haley announced today.

Jupiter, a 6-3 senior, is one of the nation's top beach players in her age group. She recently competed on the Sunshine Volleyball Club squad that won the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational.

"Alex adds another impact player to our recruiting class this year," said Haley. "She is a very athletic player who possesses a great amount of ball control ability based on her experience on the beach. Her play at the net makes her a great all-around player for our program."

She joins the nation's top incoming setter, Kendall Bateman, who signed a letter-of-intent last November.

USC made its fourth NCAA Final Four appearance in six years last December and finished third in the national polls with a 29-5 record. Junior All-America setter Taylor Carico headlines the group of returners for the Women of Troy in 2008 that includes four players who were recently named to the U.S. National Women's A2 Program (junior libero Alli Hillgren, sophomore middle blocker Zoe Garrett, sophomore outside hitter Kimmee Roleder and redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Williams).