DENTON (5/26/05) -- North Texas volleyball head coach Cassie Headrick has announced that Katie Ruiz, a 5-10 outside hitter and defensive specialist from Plano, Texas, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Mean Green next season.
Ruiz is a four-year starter on the varsity volleyball team at Plano High School and has been a club athlete the past six years. Ruiz was named First Team All-District 9-5A both her junior and senior campaigns, but was also honored as the district’s Defender of the Year in 2004. As a senior, she was also named All-State Honorable Mention.
"Katie is really going to help provide ball control for us this upcoming season," said North Texas head coach Cassie Headrick. "Between Katie and Jessica Hulsebosch, we feel we will have one of the strongest back-court rotations in the conference. She is a good athlete that has a work ethic that will help her develop into a great player and is ready for the challenge of Division I athletics."
The three-time all-district selection was also named the Birdville Invitational MVP her senior campaign and a Dallas Morning News Player of the Week in 2003 and 2004. Ruiz was named All-Collin County in 2002 and was named to the Advantage Sports Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament Team in 2003.
A member of Skyline Juniors 18 ROSHAMBO, Ruiz was recently named the club team’s Defensive Player of the Year and was also selected as the team’s Most Improved Player each of the last two seasons. Skyline Juniors 18 ROSHAMBO was the only team from the state of Texas to qualify in the open division for the upcoming 2005 Junior National Championships in Salt Lake City in July.
"I’ve watched Katie play against some of the top club teams in the country the past year and she simply displays no fear," said Headrick. "She can read the attacker very well from every position on the court and we feel she can contribute to this team immediately."
