University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Volleyball Adds Three Student-Athletes
April 21, 2010 | Volleyball
Alisha Laing, Stacey Smith and Allison Summers join Brittany Northcutt to give the Bulldogs four players in the 2010 class.
"We are really pleased to bring these three into our program family for the fall season," McCartney said. "Stacey, Allison and Alisha are all great student-athletes on the court, but more importantly in the classroom. Add Brittany into the mix with this group and we have a great class coming in 2010."
Laing, a 5-6 defensive specialist and native of Schoolcraft, Mich., is a two-time All-State First Team selection from Schoolcraft High School. Serving as the team captain as a senior in 2009, Laing also earned academic All-State honors for the third-straight season. As a junior in 2008, Laing was named the Kalamazoo Gazette Player of the Year helping her team to a state championship and earned a National Women in Sports Day Leadership Award. In 2007, Laing earned All-State Honorable Mention. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Laing played club ball for the Michigan Volleyball Academy.
"I am excited about Alisha joining the Bulldog family and I believe she will be a tremendous asset in helping us maintain our ball control from the defensive specialist position," McCartney said. "She will also aid our depth in the setting role and allow us to have more options with our offensive systems. "
Smith, a 6-4 middle hitter and native of Eden, N.Y., joins the Bulldogs from Eden High School, where she helped her team earn state championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Smith was named the New York State Championship Most Valuable Player in 2009, a year in which she also garnered All-State First Team honors and was named a Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist for New York for the second-consecutive season. She was also tabbed ESPN RISE Fab50 selection as a senior, and in 2008 as a junior, she also helped lead her team to the Empire State Game Tournament title. Smith played club ball for Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club.
"I feel very fortunate to have Stacey joining us this fall," McCartney said. "She brings great size to our middle position and has so much potential to develop into a real dominant force in this league. Her block reach and the ability to run a one foot take-off behind the setter will be great tools for her to fit well into the system we run."
Summers, a 5-8 outside hitter/defensive specialist and native of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., joins the Bulldogs from West Ranch High School, where she was a four-year letterwinner, a two-time California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) All-League First Team selection and a three-time CIF Athletic Scholar. Summers served as team captain in 2009 and co-captain in 2008. She played club ball for the Santa Monica Beach Club.
"I am very excited to get Allison in our gym this fall and allow her to compete for a role in our program," McCartney said. "Originally we committed her with the idea of improving our athleticism defensively, but she has really become an aggressive player at the net and she will have every opportunity to compete for us wherever she can earn a spot on the floor."
Northcutt signed with the Bulldogs last November. More information on Northcutt can be found here.
