Aug. 28, 2008

PLU Announces Women’s Basketball Recruiting Class

Pacific Lutheran women’s basketball head coach Kelly Warnke will welcome two transfers and five freshmen among her first recruiting class.

The transfers are Jennifer Sorensen, a 5-3 junior from Tacoma Community College, and Jordan Westering, a 6-0 sophomore post from George Fox University. Sorensen, who played her prep basketball at White River High School, can play either point guard or shooting guard. Westering, the daughter of PLU football head coach Scott Westering, averaged 2.1 points in 16 games last year for the Bruins.

The incoming freshmen include the following: DaVeonna Munson, a 5-4 point guard from Seattle Prep; Leah Tate, a 5-3 point guard from Lake Stevens High School; Sara Backstrom, a 5-7 guard from Ridgefield High School; Melissa Pixler, a 5-10 guard from Eastlake High School; and Lisa Gallinat, a 6-1 post from Valley Catholic High School in Oregon.

“This incoming class will complement our returnees very well,” Warnke said. “They are an athletic group that has experienced a lot of success at the high school level. I am excited about both of those characteristics. Obviously as a coach I want to recruit athletes, but there is always something special about players who have experienced success. Once they have that taste at any level, they won’t settle for less. This is the mentality we want in a PLU uniform.

“My upperclassmen are excited to show the new athletes what it takes to be a Lute,” Warnke continued. “They will do a great job teaching the newcomers the strength and commitment that is required to compete in the Northwest Conference.”

Warnke led the Lutes to a 14-11 overall record last year in her first season as PLU head coach. The Lutes compiled a 7-9 record and finished sixth in the Northwest Conference standings.

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