FGCU: Volleyball inks 3 from Fort Myers

FGCU is still 10 months away from playing its first game, but Flood has already secured three of the top players in the state for the team's inaugural season in 2004.

Canterbury School's Brooke Youngquist, Fort Myers' Lauren Stockman-Puder and Bishop Verot's Whitney Hendry signed with the Eagles on Thursday.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Flood said.

When she was named FGCU volleyball coach last spring, Flood, a longtime coach with USA Volleyball, put together a list of local players she'd want to bring to the NCAA Division II school with her. At the top of the list? Youngquist, Stockman- Puder and Hendry.

"All three of them," Flood said.

"Those are the three kids I wanted."

All three have played for Flood's USA Volleyball teams, and Flood said that had a big impact on their decision.

"I think we've worked together for quite a few years and we have immense respect for each other," Flood said.

Whitney will play Libero, a defensive position that has been a staple of junior volleyball but is just being introduced at the college level. Liberos can only pass and play defense. No spiking.

"She can change the course of a game," Flood said. "And Whitney is just a little thing, 5-foot-1 or 5-foot-2, but I'm telling you she can win games for us."

Stockman-Puder has been a staple in the middle for Fort Myers for the last four years, helping the Green Wave to the Class 5A state final this season.

She was named the Class 5A Player-of-the-Year this season for Fort Myers.

"She's smart in the middle," Flood said. "She uses all of her abilities to play that position and she's intense."

Youngquist, an outside hitter, has starred at Estero and Canterbury School during her high school career. She was named to the Class 2A first team in 2002 and Class 2A Player of the Year.

"Brooke is going to play the left side and going to be a primary passer," Flood said. "She's probably one of the best all-around players in the state. I just think she's awfully talented. As she matures physically she's going to be very dominating."

Landing three players that could have gone to more established programs but instead chose a team that hasn't served its first ball yet will help tremendously on the recruiting trail.

"It certainly catches their attention," Flood said. "I'm going to start locally and go after the best kids and go on from there."