Fresno State Athletics
Johnson and Uigaese to compliment 2016 roster
5/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team announced the addition of outside hitter Montez Uigaese and defensive specialist Courtney Johnson to its upcoming 2016 roster. The duo is set to debut as Bulldog freshmen during the 2016-17 academic year.
Uigaese, a 6-2 outside hitter out of Long Beach, Calif., comes to Fresno State as an intended criminal justice major and three-year varsity letterwinner at St. Anthony High School. She was named the 2015 El-Camino League MVP after averaging 16.2 kills per match and registering a career season-high 534 total kills in 2015.
"Montez is a sleeper, head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "She's relatively new to the game, but oozing with talent. When we find a way to wake the beast in her, watch out. She's strong, talented and just a special kid. Her potential is obvious and once she gets used to the speed and size of our game, she's going to be a special talent in this program."
Uigaese's additional notable accolades include a pair of first-team all-league honors, being named to the All-CIF Southern Region first-team for three-straight seasons, a Telegram Dream Team selection as a senior and serving as the team captain during her junior and senior campaigns. The 2015 team MVP and 2014 offensive leader earned Academic Honor Roll twice (2014-15) and was also recruited by Florida International, Hawai'i Pacific and Chattanooga.
"I chose to attend Fresno State because of the criminal justice and volleyball programs," Uigaese said. "I was searching for a school with the best of both worlds, on and off the court, and I am truly honored to be a part of the Bulldog family."
Also joining the squad next season is Johnson, a 5-5 defensive specialist from Bellevue, Wash. She served as a three-year dual-sport varsity letter at Interlake High School and was selected to the All-KingCo Conference first-team at the end of her junior and senior seasons.
"Courtney is known as a gym-rat," Netherby-Sewell said. "She showed a real eagerness to continue her playing career as a Bulldog. We have such size and strength; what Courtney will add is work-ethic, a desire to be good and strong ball-handling skills. She'll have a shot to make an impact during her first year if she can prove herself as a consistent passer."
Johnson was named the team's Most Inspirational in 2014 and the 2015 MVP. Club-wise, she has served as the team captain of the Sudden Impact VBC since 2012 and recently helped the squad to a national level bid to the 2016 Girls Junior National Championship. Her athletic resume also features competing with the Alki Volleyball Association (AVA) in the summer of 2015, where she took second in points scored, along with a runner-up finish at the Seaside Beach Tournament in the juniors 18U and Adult co-ed divisions.
"I chose to attend Fresno State to play the sport I love with genuine people at a school that fits everything I have been looking for," Johnson said.
The pair of rookies will be joined by redshirt sophomore Haile Watson, a transfer from Eastern Washington University, as three-of-four anticipated 2016-17 prospective student-athletes.
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