Nov. 17, 2006
LAS VEGAS - Two future Rebels signed national letters of intent to enroll and play softball at UNLV beginning in the fall of 2007. Head coach Lonni Alameda signed Traci Odegard and Ashli Holland to hit the Eller Media Stadium dirt as freshmen for the 2007-08 season.
Odegard is a senior at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash. In the spring, she will compete with her teammates on the Juanita Rebels softball team, as a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder, prior to joining the UNLV Rebels in the fall. Her Rebels squads have finished second and fourth in district playoffs the past two seasons, respectively. In 2006, she was named to the All-KingCo second team and improved to the first team in 2006. She will be the team captain for the 2006-07 season. She has been named twice as a King County Journal Player of the Week, once in 2005 and another time in 2006. She was the state athlete of the week in 2006. On the club level, she has played for the Absolute Blast Gold team this year and the 16U team in 2005.
"Traci is a crafty lefty that will help us tremendously in the circle," said Alameda. "She has a huge upside to her game and the combination of her athleticism and her persistent drive to be the best is what this coaching staff is excited to see blossom in Las Vegas."
Holland is a senior at Pomona High School in Arvada, Colo. In each of her final three years at Pomona she was named a first team member in Class 5A, All-Jefferson County Conference and All-State. This past season she was named the Class 5A Player of the Year. In 2005, she was chosen as the All-Colorado MVP as an outstanding hitter. In her four seasons as a Panther, she led the team to four straight district championships. This past season, her team finished third in the state, while coming in as the runner-up finalist in 2005.
"Ashli is going to add depth to the young Rebel lineup defensively and offensively. She is an all-around ball player. More importantly, she is a born leader that will make an impact the first time she steps foot on the field as a Rebel."
"Although this recruiting class is not big in numbers, it is big in heart and drive. We believe we have laid the foundation of a championship team with Traci and Ashli joining the mix of current Rebels. We feel we have found the final pieces of the puzzle that fit the continuing desire for this program to not only push us to the next level, but more importantly stay at the championship level."
