CCU

Volleyball Signs Palka to National Letter-of-Intent

       

Volleyball Signs Palka to National Letter-of-Intent

CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina University Volleyball Head Coach Kristen Bauer announced the signing of Samantha Palka (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Starpoint) to a National Letter-of-Intent today, Wednesday, Dec. 10.   "We are excited to get Samantha on board, knowing she will make an immediate impact on our program," Bauer said. "She has the offensive talent to challenge all of our hitters and raise the bar every time we step on the court. We are thrilled she will be joining our family and look forward to working with her.”   Palka, a 5-11 outside hitter, is a two-time Frontier All-Tournament Team and North Tonawanda All-Tournament Team selection. She is a three-time First Team All-ECIC selection and has been named Starpoint's Offensive Most Valuable Player twice. A two-time recipient of the Niagara Gazette Women's Volleyball Player of the Year Award, Palka picked up her most recent selection late November after posting 290 kills, 39 aces and 120 service points for the Lady Spartans. Palka has helped Starpoint to five league titles, three Section VI crowns and one Regional title.   The North Tonawanda native comes to Coastal Carolina from a successful club team, Volley FX Magic, where she has competed for the past two years.     Palka is the first signee for the 2009 class and joins a Coastal Carolina squad that is coming off a 27-9 season. The Chanticleers won a share of the Big South regular season title and then marched their way to the Championship match of the tournament, before falling to two-time champion Liberty 3-1, capping one of the best seasons in program history.