April 15, 2005

West Texas A&M University head volleyball coach Tony Graystone announced today (April 15), that he has added to the 2005 recruiting class, signing two players to boost the Lady Buffs' defense.

Sara Contreras and Kelly Culley signed National Letters of Intent (NLI), becoming the third and fourth members of the Lady Buffs' 2005 recruiting class.

Contreras, a 5-6 defensive specialist, from Amarillo, Texas, comes to WTAMU from Amarillo High School, where she helped lead the Lady Sandies to a 44-4 mark, ending the season in the Texas Class 5A Region I semifinals.

"Sara was one of the premier defensive players in West Texas last year, and will provide immediate help with our serve receive and defense. She has the talent to really push our returning players and I expect her to eventually become one of the top defensive specialists in our region."

Contreras joins Alyssa Bromwell from Pampa High School and Bailey Brown from Lubbock Coranado High School both as part of the local 2005 Lady Buff recruiting class and on the back row. Both Bromwell and Brown are also defensive specialists, while Brown will split time at outside hitter.

Culley is a 6-0 middle blocker from Scottsdale, Ariz., where she attended Horizon High School. She was a second-team All-State honoree, as well as the Player of the Year for the Northeast Valley and the Desert Valley Region, leading the Huskies in kills, digs and blocking, as well as firing 54 service aces.

"Kelly should be one of the top freshmen in Division II volleyball next season. She moves really well and puts up a great block, and offensively she will quickly develop into a player that can carry the team. Kelly was All-State in Arizona last fall, and is clearly one of the best incoming freshmen WT has signed in the past several years."

WTAMU finished the season with a 19-16 ledger overall, and 3-7 in the LSC South. It was the first time since 1994 that the Lady Buffs did not reach the 20-win plateau. It was also the first time ever in school history that WTAMU did not qualify for the LSC Tournament and the first time since 1993 that the Lady Buffs will not be competing in the NCAA-II Tournament. WTAMU lost two seniors from last season, but will return six starters from this year's line-up.

2005 Lady Buff Volleyball Recruiting Class
Bailey Brown OH/DS 5-8 Lubbock, Texas/Coronado High School
Alyssa Bromwell DS 5-6 Pampa, Texas/Pampa High School
Sara Contreras DS 5-6 Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo High School
Kelly Culley MB 6-0 Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon High School

-WT-