Quote:Walton Announces Volleyball Signees For 2005
Cougars ink three top players for the 2005 campaign.


May. 2, 2005

HOUSTON - Head coach Bill Walton of the University of Houston volleyball team announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent and the signing of another to a Statement of Financial Aid on Monday.

Signing letters of intent are Justine Farmer out of Horizon City, Texas, and Akilah Grant-Sullivan of Evanston, Ill.

Farmer, who signed during the early signing period, prepped at Americas High School and was named the El Paso Times Most Valuable Player at the end of the 2004 season. She also received three consecutive All-District First Team citations as well as three All-City nods.

The outside hitter who was named the 2002 All-City Most Outstanding Hitter, has been well recognized for her athletic ability, receiving invitations to participate on the SURVA Elite National Team in 2002 and again this summer, as well as attend the USAV High Performance Camp and National Volleyball Training Camp.

"She is a highly committed athlete who should have an excellent chance at starting next year," said Walton. "She had several scholarship offers from schools in the mid-west but didn't fall in love with any of them, but she did when she came here and signed with us one day after getting home."

Sullivan also signed a National Letter of Intent and comes to Houston from Evanston Township High School in Illinois where she established herself as one of the hardest workers the on team. As both a freshman and a junior the six-foot middle blocker earned the team's Most Improved Player award.

In her senior year, Sullivan led her team to a second-place finish in the conference standings while garnering All-Conference honors and the Booster Club Award for Excellence. She too participated in the USAV High Performance Camp earlier this year.

"Akilah has above average athletic ability in terms of her vertical jump and quickness, and has trained with the Youth National Team," said Walton. "We have sent players like her on to the Olympic Festival and some of them have even played professionally and she is in that same athletic mold and potential."

Also joining the Cougars for the 2005 campaign will be Kelli Adams out of Boise, Idaho, who signed a Statement of Financial Aid. Adams played for Centennial High School where she helped lead her team to the 2001 5A Idaho State Champinship.

Adams also earned First Team 5A All-State honors in 2001, 2002 and 2003, was a First Team All-District SID selection from 2000-2003, was named the 2002 SIC Player of the Year and was the team's MVP from 2001 to 2003.

"We are fortunate enough to get an elite level setter that had the opportunity to set for some of the top ranking teams in the country," said Walton. "She gives us an elite-level setter who has played with elite-level hitters and we expect that she we will be able to play for and earn playing time as a freshman. We foresee her being one of the best setters in the conference for the next four years."

The new group of signees has Walton and his staff excited about not just next season but the seasons to fallow as well. "All three will be a joy to coach because they are extremely dedicated and hard working," said Walton. "They are they type of people that cherish extra work rather than extra free time, which you need if you are going to be good at the college level."

Justine Farmer
Outside Hitter
Horizon City, TX • Americas HS
Honored as the 2004 El Paso Times Most Valuable Player ... receive All-District First Team honors in 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Second-Team All-District in 2001 ... All-City First Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... All-City Most Outstanding Hitter in 2002 ... 2004 Honorable Mention All-State... participated on 2002 and 2005 SURVA Elite National Teams ... participated in USAV High Performance Camps and National Volleyball Training Camp ... two-time AAA Award winner (Athletics, Academics, Arts) at Americas HS ... an All-District performer in track in the 100 hurdles and the 4X400 relay team

Akilah Grant-Sulivan
6'0" • Middle Blocker
Evanston, Ill. • Evanston Township HS
Named the team's Most Improved Player as a freshman and again as a junior at Evanston Township High School ... an All-Conference performer ... received the Booster Club Award for Excellence ... also played center for the school's basketball team as well as participating on the school's track and field team ... also recruited by Indiana State, Northern Illinois and Kentucky

Kelli Adams
5'10" • Setter
Boise, ID • Centennial HS
A three-time First-Team All-State performer in 2001-2003 ... four-time First-Team All-District SIC 2000-2003 ... named the SIC district MVP in 2002 ... Centennial's MVP 2001-2003 ... holds school record in single season assists (852), career assists (3,112), single match assists (59), single season aces (115) and single match aces (9) ... played on the 2000 and 2002 club champion team, the 2001 5A state champion team ... participated in the 2002 Junior Olympics and was a member of the 2000 USA Junior National High Performance Team ... in 2003 Who's Who Among American Students ... received a gold, silver and bronze Congressional Medal of Honor ... also recruited by Washington, Washington State, Columbia, Bowling Green, Morgan State