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Maes Announces Two Additions for 2012
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-Virginia volleyball head coach Lee Maes has announced the addition of Natalie Bausback and Vivian Burcescu for the 2012 season. The two have signed National Letters-of-Intent and will have four years of eligibility.
“We’re excited to welcome Vivian Burcescu and Natalie Bausback to the Virginia family,” Maes said. “Both are two of the premier players in the country. They bring wonderful talent, athleticism, size and skill. They will strengthen our roster immediately by providing depth and versatility. Vivian and Natalie also excel academically and we expect them to join our lineage of outstanding scholar-athletes who excel on the court and in the classroom at Virginia. We also look forward to announcing more additions to this class in the spring!”
Natalie Bausback is a 6-foot-2 versatile player out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif. She can play all three front-row positions and has led LCC to three straight San Diego Section Championships. Bausback was the only non-senior selected to the 2010 All-San Diego Section First Team and was named to the San Diego Tribune’s 2010 All-Academic squad. She was recognized on the Prep Volleyball Senior Ace List, a member of the National Honor society and is a seven-year member of the National Charity League and has contributed over 120 hours of community service.
“Versatile and skilled, those are the two words that often describe Natalie,” Maes said. “She is a rare talent who has demonstrated the ability to be a ‘jack of all trades.’ Natalie is currently a starting middle-blocker for one of the top high school teams in the nation. In her club program, she is a primary pin-hitter, either playing the outside or right side positions. At 6-2, we certainly value her abilities in the front row, but it is her back row skills that made her highly regarded. There are only a few players in the country who have the combination of size and back row skill set to play six rotations. She will have an opportunity to contribute immediately as a first-year.”
Vivian Burcescu is a 6-foot-4 middle blocker from Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., who earned 2011 Under Armour Girls’ High School All-America Second Team honors and was recognized on the 2011-12 Under Armour Girls’ High School All-America Watch List. She led Walter Panas High School to the state semifinal a year ago and holds the school record with 1,051 career kills. Burcescu was named to the 2009 and 2010 All-Section teams and was honored with the US Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award. This year, Burcescu was named Panas’ Most Valuable Player and set the single-season record for kills with 485.
“Vivian is one of the nation’s top prospects at her position. At 6-4, Vivian brings imposing size as a middle-blocker and will be a big force at the net. She hits a heavy ball and has the ability to attack different tempos. Blessed with natural, physical ability, Vivian takes pride in her work ethic and knows that it will take relentless effort and dedication to reach her full potential. Her intelligence and desire to improve make her an easy fit in our culture and we look forward to her contribution next fall.”