The Stanford Cardinal women’s volleyball team has five incoming freshmen in 2010, three outside attackers, a defensive specialist and a central blocker who make up a young group of players with a lot of playing experience. Prep Volleyball.com named Stanford’s volleyball team third in the country in its annual ranking of the 30 best recruiting classes.

Outside player and 2009 California Gatorade Player of the Year Rachel Williams will bring an impressive list of accomplishments when she enters the USC campus next year. Rachel is the 2008 and 2009 California Interscholastic Federation state champion and was named a member of AVCA High School’s first All-American team. Both Volleyball Magazine and Max Preps named her National High School Player of the Year.

Another cardinal outside attacker, Lydia Bai, is the daughter of the 1984 Chinese Olympic gold medalist as a player and the 2008 American Olympic silver medalist as a coach, Jenny Lang Ping. With that impressive pedigree, Lydia is expected to be one of the most versatile players to wear a Cardinal jersey next year. She attended Arnold Beckman High School for four years, where she was the captain of her team, was named to the All-Pacific League first team as a freshman, and was the most valuable player in the Pacific League in 2009.

Lydia’s international experience includes being a member of the United States National Youth Team.

Carly Wopat is a 6’2 “center blocker who will assist Stanford with her 6’1” twin sister, forward Sam Wopat. The sisters are 2009 CIF Southern Section Champions who helped lead their Dos Pueblos High School team to two Channel League titles. Carly’s achievements include:

-be named the most valuable player in Channel League

-a finalist for the California Gatorade of the Year award

-was a 2009 PrepVolleyball All-American

-in 2009 in Volleyball Magazine All-American

– # 4 on the PrepVolleyball Senior Aces list

Sam Wopat’s achievements are similar to his sister’s. The four-year-old varsity volleyball player was twice elected to the All Channel League first team, as well as a member of the CIF Southern Section first team. Volleyball Magazine chose her to be part of their second All-American team and she was also named an All-American from PrepVolleyball High School.

Considered a top high school advocacy specialist, Mary Luck is a district champion and regional finalist who attended Stratford High School in Houston, Texas.

The Texas All-Star earned All-State honors last year and was named District 18-5A MVP. Mary’s club team is the Texas Elite Volleyball club, where she competed for three years.