Former Mustangs excel on college courts
Recognition is nothing new for former Mira Costa volleyball standout Alix Klineman. As a Mustang, the 6-foot-4 outside hitter was a two-time CIF Division 1-AA Player of the Year and was selected as Gatorade’s National Player of the Year.
Now in her senior year at Stanford, the Manhattan Beach native continues to gather accolades.
Klineman was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year after leading the conference with 5.49 kills and 6.18 points per game. Both categories rank second in the nation.
A three-time AVCA All-American and All-Pac-10 selection, Klineman has played a vital role in Stanford’s four straight Pac-10 titles and its two NCAA championship appearances. During the 2010 campaign, Klineman became only the eighth player in Stanford history to record 1,000 career kills and digs. Her 1,919 career kills is third on the Cardinal’s all-time list and eighth-best in Pac-10 history.
Even more impressive was Klineman’s selection as the 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year. Recognized as the top player in the nation for her efforts both on the court and in the classroom, Klineman is an art major with a 3.53 GPA.
With a game-high 18 kills, Klineman led the third-seeded Stanford women’s volleyball team to a sweep of No. 17 Colorado, propelling the team to its fifth consecutive regional where the Cardinal will face Ohio State Friday in Dayton, Ohio.
If Stanford wins, it could provide a match up between former Mira Costa teammates. Junior setter Kendall Bateman and freshman Falyn Fonoimoana played alongside Klineman during their prep careers.
Bateman, an All-Pac 10 honorable mention selection, recorded 55 assists and five digs in USC’s 3-1 win over San Diego. The sixth-seeded Trojans take on Indiana Friday with the winner advancing to face the Stanford-Ohio State winner on Saturday.
Fonoimoana recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 12 digs in addition to four blocks in the Trojan’s victory. Fonoimoana, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter, was selected as the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
Junior All-America outside hitter Alex Jupiter, of Hermosa Beach, posted a match-high 23 kills for USC after being named to the All- Pac-10 first team.
If Stanford or USC survive the competition this weekend, another Mira Costa alum could be waiting in the wings. Named to the All-SEC first team, senior middle-back Lauren Bledsoe posted 13 kills with a team-high .391 attacking percentage to help No. 1 Florida in its come-from-behind 3-2 victory over rival Florida State in the second round of the NCAA championships.
The Gators advanced to the Sweet 16 and will face Purdue in Austin, TX on Friday.