May 18, 2007

HOUSTON -- The Rice volleyball team signed Alabama's Caroline Gill to a national letter of intent for fall 2007, head coach Genny Volpe announced Friday.

Gill, a 6-0 middle blocker from Fairhope, Ala., helped her Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.) volleyball team to three consecutive state 2A titles. She was named the MVP of the state tournament as a senior after earning all-tournament honors the previous two years. As a senior, Gill was named the volleyball player of the year by both the Mobile Register and the Birmingham News as well as being tabbed the 2006-07 Gatorade Alabama Volleyball Player of the Year after recording 744 kills and 350 blocks. She was additionally honored by PrepVolleyball.com as a high school all-American, one of only 150 honored nationally.

"We are thrilled to bring Caroline to the Rice Owls volleyball program," said Volpe. "She is, above all things, a winner. She will bring experience and confidence to the middle position immediately."

Gill also helped her Club Bomba volleyball team to the national championship tournament in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

In addition to her volleyball success at Bayside Academy, Gill was also a standout member of the basketball and track teams. On the court, Gill was a four-year letterwinner for the Admirals and led her team to the state semifinals as a senior. Along the way, she was named to the area and regional all-tournament teams. Earlier this month, Gill won the high jump at the state meet along with a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters and a seventh-place finish in the triple jump.

"Caroline excels in just about everything that she does both in the classroom and on the court," noted Volpe. "She is very athletic, excelling in not only volleyball but basketball as well as track. She is a great fit for Rice University both athletically and academically."

Away from athletics, Gill was named to the Bayside Academy honor roll all four years and was a three-year member of the National Honor Society. As a junior she received a Marshall Award for having one of the top four GPAs in her class.

Gill will join follow newcomer Meredith Schamun of California and 10 returning Owls for workouts beginning in August. The 2007 Rice campaign begins Aug. 24-25 as the Owls host the Mizuno Invitational.