The Drury volleyball Panthers, coming off their best season in the program's NCAA-II history, have added key recruits for 2010-11 with the signing of Elly Citron and Amanda Watson to NCAA letters-of-intent.
Citron, a 5-11 middle-blocker, is a standout from Mountain Grove High School and the younger sister of current Panther Riley Citron. Elly was named the South Central Association Most Valuable Player this past season, when she posted 273 kills and 105 kill blocks for the Panthers. She was an Honorable Mention All-State selection and earned First Team All-District and All-SCA as well as Second Team All-District honors her senior campaign. Citron also competes for the Midwest Xplosion club program.
"Elly comes to Drury with a very high ceiling athletically," Shear said. "She also plays with a lot of confidence and determination, and that competitive attitude, along with her skill and ability, will positively contribute to our team. Elly will no doubt play a large role in our continued improvement as a program."
Watson is a 6-1 middle-blocker from League City, Texas, where she helped her Clear Creek High School team into the Class 6A state championship match in 2008. Watson is a two-time All-District honoree and plays for Club AVA of Texas, one of the top club programs in the country.
"Amanda is a very smart player with great court sense and a nice arm and, at 6-1, she will definitely bring some height to our team," Shear said of Watson. "Like Elly, I think Amanda has a high ceiling and will only improve once on campus. She comes from very successful high school and club programs, and I'm sure she'll bring that winning mentality to Springfield."
Drury is coming off a 16-14 campaign, its first winning season since moving to the D-II level in 1994-95. The Panthers will return standouts in Second Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference juniors Kyrie Hopkins at middle-hitter and Austin Warren at setter, among others.
Shear believes Citron and Watson will help the Panthers continue their climb.
"We are really excited to have two people of Amanda and Elly's character join our program," Shear says. "Both are very solid athletes who work hard in all of their pursuits, whether they be academic or athletic, and both come from great families. I'm confident that Drury University and our volleyball program will both be better with them on campus."