Volleyball Signs Right-side Transfer From Orange Coast College

Volleyball Signs Right-side Transfer From Orange Coast College

FAIRBANKS, AK – Alaska Nanooks head women's volleyball coach Phil Shoemaker is please to announce the signing of Karlee Skalla, a right-side hitter from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Skalla, a 5-foot-11 transfer from Orange Coast College's 2009 state champion women's volleyball team, was a key component to the Pirates' magical run through the state playoffs last fall, when the posted a near perfect record at 26-2 overall. In 2009, she finished fourth on the team in kills (211) and second in total blocks (58), earning second-team, All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team honors along the way.

“Karlee fills one of our major recruiting needs (Opposite) for the upcoming season,” said Shoemaker. “Filling the void left when a four-year starter graduates (Jessica Hill) is a really big deal, and we think Karlee is a near perfect fit for us at this moment in time.”

Her best work came in the postseason at OCC. In the loser's bracket finals against Sierra, she led the Pirates with 15 kills (on just 24 attempts) and four blocks.

In the state title match, Skalla again led the way with 14 kills and four blocks to lead OCC past Cypress and claim their sixth state championship in team history and third in the past four seasons. Skalla's strong play down the stretch (61 kills in the tourney) earned her a spot on the 2009 State All-Tournament Team.

“It's always nice to add athletes that have championship experience and have been "battle" tested in intense competition.” Shoemaker said. “Karlee played critical roles in competition and team chemistry during Orange Coast's championship run this past season, and we are excited to have her bring those valuable experiences to our gym.”

For her two-year career at OCC, Skalla finished with 379 kills and 107 blocks in 57 matches, missing just seven out of a possible 206 games played. With Skalla on the team, OCC went 48-9 over the past two seasons.

“Karlee brings a lot of good college experience with her, and has a nice set of physical and technical talents,” Shoemaker added. “She's enthusiastic, a good student and she tells me that she's really excited and motivated to work even harder as she takes this next step in her career. I think we are equally excited.”

Skalla prepped at Green Valley (NV) High School where she played opposite and was a four-year letterwinner. As a senior she captained the Gators squad, was named Most Valuable Player and garnered First Team All-Sunrise conference honors. She also played middle for her club volleyball team, the Nevada Juniors, throughout her high school career.

Alaska's first recruit of the late signing period, Skalla will enter the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the fall with two years of NCAA eligibility remaining and plans to pursue a communication major and business minor.

She is the second recruit to sign for Shoemaker for the 2010 season, joining libero Jessica Eicher (Chugiak, AK/Chugiak HS), who signed an NLI to play for the Nanooks in mid-November.
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