ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  Sonoma State volleyball head coach Bear Grassl has announced the signing of four student-athletes to national letters of intent (NLI) as part of his 2010 recruiting class.  Kaitlyn Dunaway and Hayley Ross of Petaluma High School, Ashley Robinson of Ripon High School, and Lindsay Lytle from Analy High School and the University of Rhode Island will join the Seawolves for the 2010 season.

Kaitlyn Dunaway arrives on campus from Petaluma High School, where she helped lead her team to a CIF Championship and a fifth place finish in the state as a senior.  While guiding her squad to a 27-5 record and a Sonoma County League (SCL) Championship, Dunaway earned the third All-League and All-Empire accolades of her career.  She was also a five-year member of the Empire Volleyball Club.

"Kaitlyn brings tremendous passion to the game," said Coach Grassl, "She will compete for one of our defensive specialist jobs.  She brings a lot of intensity into our practice gym on a day to day basis."

Hayley Ross, another Petaluma High School product, comes to Sonoma State after a standout career as a setter for the Trojans.  The 2009 Sonoma County League (SCL) Most Valuable Player, Ross also earned All-Empire honors and was a three-time All-SCL selection.  Like Dunaway, Ross also excelled while playing for Empire Volleyball Club.

"Hayley is a calm, cool competitor with a very mature setting delivery," commented Grassl.  "With the graduation of Lindsay Brown, Hayley will step in to some, if not all, of our setting job, right away."

Ashley Robinson joins the Seawolves from Ripon High School in Central California.  A bronze medalist at the 2008 U.S. Junior Olympics, Robinson enjoyed a four-year varsity career at Ripon.  She led her squad to Trans Valley League (TVL) championships all four years and was a three-time All-TVL selection.  A member of numerous All-Tournament teams, Robinson also guided her squad to the CIF NorCal Finals in 2008.

Said Grassl, "We have two senior middles that are graduating, so I am expecting Ashley to compete for one of the two middle jobs.  We have great expectations that she will be able to fulfill one of them."

A graduate of Analy High School in Sebastopol, Lindsay Lytle spent the first two years of her collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island.  While at URI, Lytle led her team in assist (960) and service aces (30) as a sophomore and ranked among her team's leaders in several other categories as a freshman as well.  Her career at Analy High School, where she was a teammate of Sonoma State's Keala Peterson, featured First Team All-League and All-Empire honors, an NCS Championship, and a trip to the State Finals.  Lytle also played for Empire Volleyball Club.

"Lindsay is a multi-faceted player with every skill," remarked Grassl.  "She has been a primary pass to attack player at the college level and also a setter at the college level.  She gives us the ability to be extremely flexible with our system and our style of play.  She has size, hits a heavy ball, and has ball handling skills.  We are very excited to add her to our 2010 squad."

The Seawolves are coming off their second straight appearance in the NCAA West Regional Tournament in 2009 and have enjoyed a record of 46-15 over the last two seasons.  Head coach Bear Grassl will enter his ninth season as head coach of the Seawolves in 2010 with a career record of 124-99.