College Volleyball
Rider Adds Four

LAWRENCEVILLE--Head volleyball coach Christopher Feliciano has announced the addition of four players who will continue their athletic and academic careers at Rider University, beginning this fall.

Alexa Becker, Caitlin Hess, Brandie Hill and Aspen Weber are all joining the Broncs as members of the Class of 2016.

"I'm excited about the incoming class," said Feliciano, who is entering his second season at Rider.  "Each athlete brings different skill sets to the program and that will help us continue moving in the right direction as we increase our competitiveness in the tough Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference."

Becker, a 5-8 defensive specialist and outside hitter, is from El Dorado Hills, California, where she was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Oak Ridge High School while earning First Team All-League honors as a team captain.

"Alexa has the ability to be a very good libero," said Feliciano.  "She has very good range on defense and a soft touch on the serve receive."

A member of the National Honor Society and a three-year 'A' honor roll academic honoree, Becker will major in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Hess, a 6-0 right side middle hitter, is from Cool, California where she earned four varsity letters in volleyball at Golden Sierra High School.

"Caitlin is a very athletic player who will compete for playing time at one of our pins," Feliciano said.  "She is explosive off the floor and determined to improve every time she is on the court."

A four-time scholar athlete, Hess earned First Team Sierra Delta League honors twice and was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year honoree.

Hill, a 5-7 setter from Portland, Oregon, was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Lincoln High School where she was a three-time First Team All-League honoree while earning All-League Player of the Year honors her senior season.

"Brandie is very athletic and has a great volleyball IQ," Feliciano said.  "She has the ability to run down errant passes and uses her hands to give our hitters opportunities to score."

An OSAA Top 10 Student Athlete award winner, Hill also earned three varsity letters in tennis and will major in Business.

Weber, a 5-7 outside hitter and defensive specialist, comes to Lawrenceville from Edinboro, Pennsylvania, where she earned four varsity letters in both volleyball and track and field (javelin) at General McLane High School.

"Aspen is a fierce competitor who adds a lot of value both on the court and in the locker room," Feliciano said.  "She adds a unique weapon with her strong serving."

Weber was the District 10 Preseason Player of the Year in 2011 and First Team All-Region after earning Region Player of the Year honors in 2010.

A member of the academic honor roll all four years, Weber will major in Behavioral Neuroscience.

These four players join Nicole Moorman, a 6-1 middle hitter from Moon Township, Pennsylvania, who signed a National Letter of Intent earlier this spring.

Rider opens the 2012 season at St. Francis (NY) on August 24 with the home portion of the schedule beginning on August 29 at 6pm against Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Broncs return 13 letterwinners for the 2012 season.

-RU-