June 14, 2004

TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- The first recruiting class for Arizona State's second-year head volleyball coach Brad Saindon has drawn rave reviews from PrepVolleyball.com. The six-member recruiting class ranked 12th nationally and fourth in the Pac-10.

The stellar class which is scheduled to arrive on campus in August features setter Rachel Mittelstaedt (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep), libero Sydney Donahue (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa), middle blocker Staci Smith (Gresham, Ore./Gresham), middle blocker Kristin Trayser (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South), outside hitter Danielle Fernandes (Santa Monica, Calif./Taft) and middle blocker Colette Meek (Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada/Salisbury Composite). Saindon has also added sophomore transfer Nina Reeves (OH, Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS) from UTEP and is expecting a walk-on libero from Maryland.

The 2004 recruiting class was listed below Pac-10 foes USC (No. 3), Washington (No. 5) and California (No. 11). The Sun Devils were ranked ahead of rival Arizona (No. 14) and national power Stanford (No. 15).

"We are extremely excited about the signing of this class and this ranking proves how good they are," said Saindon. "I can't wait to get them on the court in August and see them compete in the Maroon and Gold. We will be a young team this year, but this is the start of what I hope are consistent, strong recruiting classes for ASU."

PrepVolleyball.com Top 30 Recruiting Classes:

1.	Nebraska
2.	Florida
3.	USC
4.	Ohio State
5.	Washington
6.	Michigan
7.	Wisconsin
8.	Hawaii
9.	Santa Clara
10.	Kansas
11.	California
12.	Arizona State
13.	Texas
14.	Arizona
15.	Stanford
16.	Long Beach State
17.	Kansas State
18.	Duke
19.	BYU
20.	Northwestern
21.	Penn State
22.	Minnesota
23.	Illinois
24.	Pepperdine
25.	San Diego
26.	UC Santa Barbara
27.	Purdue
28.	Utah
29.	Michigan State
30.	Notre Dame

--Sun Devil Volleyball--