Sports News Southwest

Yuma, Arizona – June 26, 2007 -- Arizona Western College announced today that Lady Matadors’ freshman volleyball player Lauren Manley has accepted a scholarship offer to attend Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fall, and play volleyball for the Lady Wolves this season.

Manley becomes the first freshman volleyball player under 2^nd-year AWC Head Volleyball Coach Jason Smith to receive a scholarship offer after just one year at AWC.

It didn’t take long for the 5’11” outside hitter from Ramona, California, to mesh into Smith’s balanced offensive system at AWC. Manley led the Lady Mats in kills in five different games, including one of her top games against 2^nd-ranked Chandler-Gilbert on October 6^th when she registered nine kills. On the season, Manley averaged just under 2 kills per game, and was also 3^rd on the team in assists with 18. Manley also added 41 blocks. While Smith saw Manley as an integral part of his plans for the 2007 Lady Matadors’ squad, he knew that once an offer like this was put in front of Manley, she had to take it. Off the court, Manley was one of the main contributors to the team’s high cumulative grade point average, which led to the AWC Volleyball team being named as an NJCAA Fall Academic Team of the Year.

Manley heads to an NAIA program that is hoping to make a move this coming season in the 10-team Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Last season, the Lady Wolves were 13-18 overall, with a 4-5 mark in CCAC play, which was good enough for 6^th place.

Meanwhile, the Lady Matadors’ 2007 volleyball squad is now just over a month away from getting back on the volleyball court to prepare for their 2007 season opener. The Lady Matadors’ first practice of the season is scheduled for Monday, August 6^th, and they’ll kick off their 2007 regular season hosting the team they defeated last November to win their 7^th straight Region I Championship, the Yavapai Lady Roughriders, at ‘The House’ on the AWC campus.

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