Jacket Volleyball Adds DI Transfer (5/10/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings volleyball coach Sara Schaub announced Thursday that Devon Croutteau will join the Yellowjackets for the 2007 season.  The Casper, Wyo., native is transferring from NCAA Division I Northern Colorado where she played one season.

Croutteau is a 6-foot-0 outside hitter who lettered four years at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper.  She was a two-time Wyoming 4A Player of the Year and the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.  Croutteau was only the third player to be named Gatorade Player of the Year twice in Wyoming. 

During Croutteau’s four years at Kelly Walsh, she led the Trojans to four state championship matches and two state titles.  In each of her last three seasons, she led the Trojans in kills, digs, and aces.  Croutteau was a three-sport star at Kelly Walsh, lettering four times in soccer and three times in basketball, helping the Trojans win state titles in soccer.  Croutteau was recruited by Division I schools in volleyball, basketball, and soccer.

“Devon will definitely add offense to our program,” said Schaub, who is in her first year at MSUB.  “She has experience playing at the highest levels of competition coming from Kelly Walsh High School and has already played a season at the college level.  She also has the skills to make an impact in the backcourt with her great ball control and court sense.  I am excited for her to join the team and help us become a threat in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.”

At UNC, Croutteau averaged 2.97 kills and 1.14 digs per game.  She was second on the team for kills per game average and was one of two Bears to amass 300 kills for the season.  Croutteau had 14 matches in which she posted double digit kills, including a season-high 24 in a 3-1 win at Montana State on October 28.  In her final seven matches of the season, Croutteau averaged 3.69 kills per game.  She led the Bears in kills in both of their matches at the Big Sky Conference Tournament, including 14 kills in a 3-2 win against Montana.

Croutteau will join former teammate Jennifer Boe on the Yellowjackets' roster next season.  Boe, a senior at Kelly Walsh, signed a national letter of intent earlier this spring to play at MSUB.