K-State Volleyball Inks Pair to National Letters of Intent
Apr 25, 2002 | Volleyball
April 25, 2002
Manhattan, Kan. - Head women's volleyball coach Suzie Fritz announced Thursday the signing of Felicia Jones and Faaalo Taumanupepe (Pronounced fa-AH-AH-lo ta-MAHN-ah-pey-pey) to national letters of intent to play volleyball at Kansas State, beginning the 2002 season.
"We're excited about the athleticism that Faaalo (Taumanupepe) and Felicia (Jones) bring to this team," said Fritz. "They are tremendous additions to our team not only from an athletic and physical perspective, but from a character perspective as well. They are two, solid individuals. We feel really good about how these two players will fit with the two players we signed during the fall signing period. However, only time will tell what they can do as a group here at K-State."
A 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Concord, Ontario, Jones was a two-year starter and letterwinner in volleyball at Alexander MacKenzie High School in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She twice represented Team Ontario during the summer on the provincial team. Jones also lettered in basketball and soccer. She garnered team most valuable player honors in basketball as both a freshman and sophomore. She picked the Wildcats over Hofstra (N.Y.) and South Florida.
"Felicia possesses tremendous athleticism as well as strong focus," said Fritz. "She has the ability to jump high, hit it high and be a very terminal attacker. She will be strong addition to the outsides (hitter) we already have in the program."
A 5-foot-9 middle blocker/outside hitter from Long Beach, Calif., Taumanupepe was twice selected as team most valuable player at David Starr Jordan High School. She also earned all-league accolades as a junior and senior and was an honorable mention member of the Century Club. Taumanupepe is a member of the Amazon Club based out of Long Beach and is coached by two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Misty May. She also lettered in basketball. She picked the Wildcats over Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA and USC.
"Faaalo is a very experienced volleyball player, having grown up in California playing with her brothers," said Fritz. "She has experience at nearly every level of competitive volleyball, therefore, she knows the sport at a very high level. She will come in the fall and really give us some competition and depth at either the middle blocker or outside hitter spots."
Jones and Taumanupepe are the second and third prepsters to ink with Kansas State during the 2001-02 signing period following the signing of Jamie Perkins (Council Bluffs, Iowa) in December.
The three signees will join a Wildcat squad in 2002 that must replace three starters, including co-captains Lisa Mimick and Liz Wegner, who earned first team All-Big 12 honors this year. The Wildcats finished the 2001 season ranked 18th nationally in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll with a 20-8 overall record and 15-5 mark in the rugged Big 12 Conference.
