Volleyball Inks UMass Transfer Nitia Small
Apr 25, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
April 25, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University volleyball team added a new face for the 2002 season as the Green Wave signed former UMass standout Nitia Small to a Grant-In-Aid agreement, head coach Betsy Becker announced Thursday.
Small, a native of Los Angeles who earned All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors as a sophomore last year, joins the Green Wave after two years with the Minutewomen and will be eligible to play right away as UMass cut its volleyball program due to budgetary constraints. Small signed with Tulane after an intense recruiting process that included 2001 NCAA runner-up Long Beach State and in-state rival LSU.
"Obviously, signing Nitia will pay great dividends for our program," Becker said. "We are so happy to welcome her to the Tulane family. With Nitia, we're not only getting an outstanding athlete, but we're also getting a gifted scholar. Education was really the distinguishing factor in her choice."
Last season, Small led the Minutewomen with 3.23 kills per game, was second on the team with 54 blocks and ranked fourth on the squad with 1.74 digs per outing. She also tallied 20 service aces as UMass went 15-11 overall and 8-8 in a tough A-10 Conference. As a freshman, Small averaged 1.26 digs and 1.16 kills per game.
While standing out on the court, Small also excelled in the classroom where she twice earned UMass Athletic Director's Honor Roll recognition.
Small originally singed with UMass after a stellar prep career at Campbell Hall High where she earned second-team all-league honors as a senior. She also played for Gene's Team/Santa Monica Beach Club, a competitive club team in Los Angeles.
Small joins incoming freshman Kelli Dickson as a member of the 2002 recruiting class and will add to an already experienced club that features five returning starters, including 2001 All-Conference USA honorees Britney Hurst and Anastasia Kenon.
