Dec. 9, 2005

Moraga, CA - Saint Mary's head volleyball coach Rob Browning announced the signing of two players for the 2006 season on Friday morning. Browning announced the signing of setter Alison McCarty and middle blocker Megan Burton, who will both join the Gaels for next season.

"We think Meg and Ali are great people who will contribute positively to the entire experience our team will have over the next four years," Browning said.

McCarty is a senior at Napa High School, where she has lettered in volleyball all four years and one year in basketball. McCarty, a 5-foot 11-inch setter, has been All-League and All-County for three years and was named her team Most Valuable Player.

"Ali is the first student-athlete that my staff and I have signed here at Saint Mary's and we're excited to get her," Browning said. "She is a very good setter and plays the whole game well. We think Ali has the skills and work ethic to be one of the best setters in the West Coast Conference. We are looking forward to having her in our gym to compete and help us achieve our goal of winning the WCC Championship."

Burton is a senior at Iolani School in Honolulu, HI, where she has lettered in volleyball and basketball three years and track and field two years. Burton, a 6-foot 2-inch middle blocker, is a First Team All-League selection and the Most Valuable Player and team captain.

"Meg is a powerful athlete and we think she has to tools to become a great volleyball player for Saint Mary's," Browning said. "She is big and strong and she jumps and moves well which means she has the potential to be a dominant player at the net. We think Meg will give us new options both on offense and blocking and allow us some flexibility in our line-ups with the athletes we already have."