Bruins Sign Three During Regular Signing Period

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UCLA head women's volleyball coach Michael Sealy has announced the addition of three players during the regular signing period, as libero Anne Crouch (Burlingame, Calif./Saint Ignatius HS/Encore Volleyball Club), setter Katie Jacobs (Stevenson Ranch, Calif./West Ranch HS/Legacy Volleyball Club) and middle blocker Sabrina Smith (Moraga, Calif./Campolindo HS/Encore Volleyball Club) will join the Bruins' roster for the fall season.

"Due to NCAA rules, we had to wait to announce our complete 2017 class of recruits," Sealy said. "Anne, Katie and Sabrina round out an amazing group for us."

The trio joins the quartet of Alexis Light, Mac May, Jenny Mosser and Emily Ryan, who were inked during the early signing period last November.

Crouch, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter and libero for four years on the varsity team at Saint Ignatius in San Francisco, was a West Catholic Athletic League First Team honoree as a senior. She was also named San Jose Mercury News Bay Area All-Star First Team and Cal-Hi Sports All-Star Second Team in 2016. Crouch, who was also Second Team WCAL as a junior, was a team captain for the Wildcats her last two seasons.

"Anne is a very fiery competitor, who will transition from a six-rotation outside hitter to a libero/defensive specialist here at UCLA," Sealy said. "She is a quick-twitch athlete who understands the game and will bring that athleticism to her backcourt play. She will be a spark in the gym for us."

Crouch, who will be the first player from Saint Ignatius to play volleyball in the Pac-12 Conference, helped her team to a second-place finish in the WCAL last season and a third-place showing in the first-ever state Open Championship. She is the first and only player in the school's history to make varsity as a freshman. Crouch played club with Vision Volleyball (14-17s) and Encore (18s).

"I want to be surrounded by people who will encourage and push me to succeed academically and athletically," Crouch said as to why she decided to attend UCLA. "The school offered both, and the sunshine is an added bonus."

Jacobs, a 5-foot-9 setter at West Ranch High School in Valencia, was a two-time All-Foothill League First Team selection, also earning All-Santa Clarita Valley First Team and Team Most Valuable Player accolades as a senior. A three-time Scholar Athlete, Jacobs helped the Wildcats to a league title during her senior season. A two-time team captain, she had over 1,000 assists as a senior, while averaging 4.2 digs per match.

"Katie is a very intellectual setter," Sealy said. "She is a leader on the court and understands the nuances of the game. Katie is going to run a great offense and will bring a work ethic and dedication to our group."

Jacobs played club with Legacy Volleyball and was a four-year captain and two-time AAU Academic All-American.

"I wanted to attend UCLA so I could receive a top-notch education in a rigorous learning environment, while also competing with a high-level sports team," said Jacobs, whose mother, father (football, 1988-1993) and uncle (baseball, 1987-1990) each attended UCLA.

Smith, a 6-foot-4 middle blocker for three years at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., was the East Bay and Cal-Hi Sports NCS Player of the Year, as well as Diablo-Foothill League MVP as a senior, when she had 233 kills and 135 blocks. She was a two-time league and East Bay First Team honoree and All-State First Team and FloVolleyball Third Team All-American in 2016, earning three Scholar Athlete awards and being named a team captain as a senior. The Cougars went undefeated in league play all four seasons, finishing fourth in the State playoffs in 2016.

"Sabrina is a well-rounded middle blocker who can hit in front and behind the setter," Sealy said. "She has very good blocking instincts and can hit with great range. Sabrina is long and quick and has a tremendous future in our program."

Smith has played club with Diablo, NorCal, Vision and Encore, competing numerous times in the Open Division at Nationals.

"UCLA has always been my dream school," Smith said. "I was looking for a university with excellent academics, as well as exceptional athletics, and UCLA is the perfect combination of both."

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Bruins Sign Three During Regular Signing Period

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Bruins Sign Three During Regular Signing Period

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