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The University of Utah Athletics
Four Commit To Utah Volleyball
11/11/2004 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 11, 2004
SALT LAKE CITY -- University of Utah volleyball head coach Beth Launiere has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent this afternoon.
Joining the Utes next fall will be Lori Baird (Murray/Murray HS), Shannon Krug (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty HS), Kathryn Lovell (North Salt Lake/Woods Cross HS) and Airial Salvo (Farmington/Viewmont HS).
Baird, a 6-2 middle blocker, was a second-team all-state and first-team all-region honoree as a junior. She lead her team to the 4A state tournament on three occasions, finishing third and garnering all-tournament laurels in 2004. She played club volleyball for the High Country 17-1 team, the same team that current Utah assistant coach Matt McShane mentors.
"We are very excited to have Lori as a middle blocker in our program," Launiere remarked. "Lori is a talented athlete who hasn't realized her total potential yet. She has good size, is quick and has a great arm swing."
A setter, Krug (pronounced Kroog) is listed among the top 50 recruits in the nation and ranks fourth in the country among setters, according to prepvolleyball.com. This year, her team is 24-2 and finished first in the Metro League. A four-year starter, Krug is a two-time first-team all-state and first-team all-conference honoree. Krug plays club volleyball for the Colorado Juniors.
"Shannon was a highly recruited setter," said Launiere. "She has great size and has been a 5-1 setter since she was 14 years old. She runs a smooth and fast offense for the Colorado Juniors and brings a lot of experience to Utah."
Lovell will join the Utes owning one of the top records in the state. The outside hitter holds the high school association's all-time career kill mark (formerly held by Highland product Logan Tom who went on to play for Stanford and the US National team). She has been named first-team all-state, first-team all-region and team MVP the last two seasons. This year, she earned all-tournament team honors at state. Lovell was also a teammate of Baird's on the same High Country 17-1 club team.
"Kathryn has a great arm swing and is a very dynamic hitter," Launiere said. "She possesses great power and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game."
An outside hitter, Salvo has led her Viewmont squad to back-to-back 5A state titles, earning tournament MVP both times, and three regional championships. She is a two-time 5A MVP, a three-time region MVP, and was named first-team all-state as a sophomore. Ranked among the top 10 recruits in the nation by prepvolleyball.com, Salvo plays for the High Country 18-1 team, one of the top club teams in the nation. Salvo comes from a long line of Utah volleyball players. Her mother, Lori, who is also her high school volleyball and basketball coach, played from 1978-81 while her cousins Brenda Barton-Whicker and Brooke Van Alfen were also volleyball standouts at the U. from 1994-2000.
"Airial is a great all-around athlete, having been a volleyball and basketball standout at Viewmont," noted Launiere. "She is extremely gifted and comes to this program as one of the most decorated high school volleyball players in the state's history."
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