AZUSA, Calif. -- Seven true freshmen will account for more than half of Azusa Pacific’s 2008 volleyball roster, joining 6 key returnees to round out the Cougars’ 13-player roster released today by head coach Chris Keife.

“This is the most athletic and skilled recruiting class that has come to Azusa Pacific in my five seasons here,” said Keife. “I am excited to see the talent level make our gym (practice) atmosphere more competitive, and I am excited for the results that will hopefully come along with that.”

Three middle blockers highlight the seven-player recruiting class, helping to provide depth behind Cougar senior Kelsey Knudsen. Leading the way is Ariel Beetstra, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker who was a 2-time All-Freeway League selection at Fullerton Union High School. Joining Beetstra in the middle is 5-foot-10 Amy Alkazin, a two-time All-CIF San Diego Section second team pick who helped lead Santa Fe Christian High of Solana Beach to CIF San Diego Section and State championships twice in the past three seasons.

In addition, Whitney Van Den Berg joins the Cougars out of Visalia’s Central Valley Christian High School, where she led her team to the CIF Division V State Championship match. Van Den Berg earned All-Sequoia League first team honors and was named the 2007 Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register Tulare County Volleyball Player of the Year. Van Den Berg is a relative newcomer to the sport, playing just two varsity volleyball seasons and three overall in addition to her standout prep soccer career.

Meanwhile, 5-foot-4 setter Raechel Jones is a strong all-around player who enters the Azusa Pacific program out of Vista Murrieta High School. Jones was a four-time all-league selection and was named the 2007 Southwestern League MVP after leading the Broncos to their third straight league title and the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinals.

Marguerite Hanna is an explosive 5-foot-8 outside hitter from Aldie, Va., and she will be the only non-California native on the Cougar roster. Hanna was an all-state first team selection after leading Loudoun County High School to the 2007 state championship and the Washington Post’s No. 1 ranking in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.

Also contributing to Azusa Pacific’s depth at outside hitter is Robin Portela, another explosive 5-foot-8 hitter who was a two-time All-Sierra Valley League selection at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills. Portela led the Trojans to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division II Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals, and she is a solid defender and passer who could also find collegiate playing time at the libero position.

Morgan Moore also joins the Cougars as a versatile 5-foot-7 defensive specialist who helped lead Rincon Valley Christian High in Santa Rosa, Calif., to a four-year North Central South League record of 53-1. Moore, who earned back-to-back all-league honors her final two seasons, led the Eagles to the CIF Division V State quarterfinals in 2007.

Azusa Pacific kicks off the 2008 campaign on Friday, Aug. 22, when the two-day, eight-team Cougar Classic begins at the Felix Event Center.