April 28, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

(Portales, N.M.) --- The Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Department has announced the signing of nine additional student-athletes for the 1998-99 season.

Zia Volleyball - Head Coach Mike Maguire

Iman Josey is a 5-6 outside hitter from Anchorage, Alaska. Josey was named the Anchorage Daily News/Coaches Player of the Year after being a four-year starter at Anchorage East High School. She was a unanimous first-team all-state selection this past fall. She averaged 17.8 kills, 2.0 blocks and 16 digs per game as a senior. As a junior, East High School was the Alaska state champion in volleyball. The daughter of Leo and Wanda Josey also competes for the Alaska Midnight Sun Girls Junior Volleyball Team in the 18 and under division.

Josey will be joined at ENMU by first-team all-state teammate Gina Jones. Jones is a 5-11 outside hitter from Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. She was the team Most Valuable Player as a senior and has been a two-time all-state and all-region selection. Dimond finished tops in Region IV in Alaska. Jones plans to study business and theatre at ENMU.

Heather Desmarais and Lindsey Davison will be transferring to ENMU from Columbia Basin Community College in Washington. Columbia Basin produced Zia record setting setter Stacey Estlund. Desmarais is a 6-3 right side hitter from Yakima, Washington. She led CBCC in hitting this season at .389, averaging 3.28 kills per game. She also had 114 total blocks. Davison is a 5-7 setter from Kelso, Washington. She averaged 10.24 assists per game and had 42 service aces and 65 total blocks.

Zia Tennis - Head Coach Christine Blaeser

Sarah Pennington is a 5-6 four-year varsity letterwinner in tennis from Sweetwater High School in Texas. Pennington is currently ranked #4 in Texas USTA Championship girls 18 and under singles. The daughter of John and Jeanette Pennington is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was selected as a D.A.R.E. "Role Model Student" for 1998. She will graduate with honors this spring.

Zia Softball - Head Coach Hollie Chadwick

Tracy Hooker is a 5-6 pitcher for L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. She has been a three-time first-team all-district selection. As a senior she has 230 strikeouts through 30 games. She had 66 strikeouts in seven games to lead her team to the championship of the Gold Bracket of the Tina Minke Memorial Softball Tournament. The daughter of Maurice Hooker and Jackie Heath led her team to a regional semifinal as a junior in 1997.

Zia Cross Country - Head Coach Jeff Arthur

Michele Rice has signed a National Letter of Intent to run cross country for the Zias in 1998-99. The daughter of Sherri Parrott will graduate from Carlsbad High School in New Mexico this spring.

Greyhound Baseball - Head Coach Phil Clabaugh

Jay Rush and Andy Hostetler have signed on the play baseball for the Greyhounds in 1998-99. Rush is a 6-1, 205 lb. pitcher from Dodge City Community College in Kansas. He is a graduate of Hope Christian High School in Albuquerque where he was a two-time all-state selection. The son of Barbara Rush plans to study veterinary medicine.

Hostetler is a 6-2, 180 lb. left-handed pitcher out of Valley Academy in Albuquerque. He was the most improved player as a freshman and junior. He led Valley in hitting as a junior at .465. The son of Mike and Pam Hostetler plans to study math and science.