Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Signs Three in Early Period
11/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State volleyball head coach Lindy Vivas has announced the signing of three student-athletes to play volleyball for the Bulldogs next fall in Suzanne Ganem (Glendale, Ariz.), Jessica Peterson (Sonora, Calif.) and Alison Pitton (Elk Grove, Calif.).
Fresno State, which is 23-6 and awaiting to see if its season continues next week at the NCAA Tournament, will add an outside hitter and two middle blockers to a team that will lose three players to graduation in middle blocker Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.), outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) and defensive specialist Heather Farr (Cameron Park, Calif.).
Out of Deer Valley High School, Ganem is a 6-1 middle blocker who captured second team all-state honors as a senior. Selected to the Northwest All-Region team this past season, she also was an all-state selection as a junior while garnering all-region accolades as well.
With 184 career kills, Ganem's .410 kill percentage is a school record set her senior year. Tallying 107 total blocks, she also netted 33 block solos while becoming an efficient back row player her final year with 68 career digs.
A 6-1 middle blocker out of Sonora High School, Peterson lettered in four sports while being a three-year varsity starter in volleyball. The two-time Most Valuable Player of the Valley Oak League was selected first team all-district by the Modesto Bee and first team all-area by the Stockton Record in 2001.
The four-year honor roll student captured athlete of the week honors by both the Modesto Bee and Union Democrat newspapers. She also led her team in kills and set a new single-season school record in blocks as a sophomore. As the league's Most Valuable Player as a junior, Peterson was named the league's most valuable hitter as a senior.
Tallying 280 kills, 155 digs and hitting .266 as a junior, she also averaged 2.3 blocks per game after netting a total of 183 blocks as the team went 20-3. As a senior, she hit .279 with 181 kills and 137 blocks for a 2.30 block per game average.
Peterson has played club ball with Delta Valley for the last six years, which includes a fifth place finish at the 2001 nationals (16-unders).
Pitton, a 5-11 outside hitter out of St. Francis High School, is a three-time all-league selection. Garnering all-city accolades as a senior, she also played basketball as a prepster.
"This is a solid incoming group," Vivas said. "We're losing some talented players and we think this group will be able to step in and make nice contributions.
"As a staff we're looking forward to see how they develop once they arrive," Vivas added. "We think they all have the tools to excel at a high level."
