DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson University Head Volleyball Coach Cheryl Carlson is proud to announce her third incoming freshman from the Sunshine State for the 2008 season. Samantha (Sam) Freeman, a third-team All-State middle hitter this past fall for Pensacola Catholic High School, joins a class that already includes setter Jennica Hagberg (Niceville, Fla.) and outside hitter Kaylee Ream (Venice, Fla.).
Freeman, who stands 5'11”, hails from Gulf Breeze, Fla. outside Pensacola. She led PCHS to a District 1-3A championship and regional finals appearance in 2007 with strong statistics in a variety of categories. Freeman recorded 270 kills, 218 digs, 43 blocks and 59 service aces as a senior. In addition to her third team selection to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A squad, Freeman won the 2007 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Award and was a two-time Academic Excellence award winner from her school as a junior and senior. In ninth and 10th grades she earned Academic Merit honors.
The Pensacola News Journal named Freeman to its All-Area First Team as a senior, Second Team as a junior and Honorable Mention as a sophomore. Freeman was named to the 2007 Northwest Florida All-Star Team as was her future Hatter teammate Hagberg.
“I am very excited that Sam is coming here to Stetson,” Carlson said. “She brings a huge upside with her and I expect she will compete for playing time in the middle right away.”
A three-year varsity letterwinner in basketball at Pensacola Catholic in addition to her standout volleyball career, the daughter of Daniel and Grace Freeman is undecided on her major at Stetson this fall.
The Hatters finished the 2008 season 11-15 and 4-7 in the Atlantic Sun conference, recording their highest overall win total since 2002. Six letterwinners return from that team when the season begins at the Florida State Invitational on August 29.
