Men’s Volleyball Signs Outstanding Recruiting Class
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The UCLA men’s volleyball program has signed an outstanding recruiting class, which includes three prospects from Orange County, Head Coach John Speraw announced this week. All three players are expected to enroll in the Fall of 2014 and join the Bruins for the 2015 season.
Signing National Letters of Intent during the Fall signing period were Jake Arnitz (Yorba Linda, CA / Esperanza HS), Christian Hessenauer (Laguna Niguel, CA / Dana Hills HS) and Eric Matheis (Laguna Niguel / Dana Hills HS).
“Our program has filled its needs for the next four years by signing this group of prospects,” said Speraw. “These players will represent our program well on and off the court, and we’re thrilled that they chose UCLA. I believe each one is the top player in the nation at his respective position. My lead assistant Brad Keller deserves much of the credit for recruiting them.”
The Bruins signed an outside hitter (Arnitz), an opposite (Hessenauer) and a setter (Matheis). Two of the three players, Arnitz and Hessenauer, were named to Volleyball Magazine’s Top 25 Players to Watch list in July.
The 6-7 Arnitz is a two-time, first-team all-league selection, who earned All-America and conference MVP honors last season, as the Aztecs advanced to the CIF playoffs in 2012 and 2013. As a member of the Balboa Bay Club, he helped his team win a silver medal at the 2012 Junior Olympics, while earning all-tournament honors the last two seasons.
Hessenauer and Mathies are teammates at Dana Hills HS, where they helped the Dolphins win a pair of South Coast League titles. Mathies was a 2013 First-Team All-South Coast League selection and a Third-Team All-Orange County choice. A teammate of Arnitz’s with Balboa Bay, Matheis also won a silver medal at the 2012 Junior Olympics. Hessenuaer, an All-CIF selection last season, has been a three-time all-conference selection, and earned the South Coast League’s MVP in each of the last two seasons.