LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego head women's volleyball coach Ricci Luyties has announced the signing of two student-athletes that will join the Triton family in the Fall of 2011. An outside hitter and a setter, both will be incoming freshmen.

Rachel Gam
Outside Hitter/6'-2" 
Oak Park, Calif./Oak Park High School

• Four-year varsity starter at Oak Park High School 
• Los Angeles Daily News All-Area (2010) 
• Oak Park's Most Valuable Player (2010) 
• First Team All-Tri Valley League (2010, 2009) 
• Team Captain (2010, 2009) 
• Second Team All-CIF Southern Section (2009) 
• First Team All-Ventura County (2009) 
• Three-time Oak Park Offensive Player of the Year (2009, 2008, 2007) 
• Second Team All-Tri Valley League (2008, 2007) 
• Honored as one of the top six seniors out of 800 athletes competing in the 2010 Nike Tournament of Champions

Amber Hawthorne
Setter/5'10"
Granada Hills, Calif./Granada Hills High School

• CIF Division I L.A. City Section Co-Player of the Year (2010) 
• West Valley League Player of the Year (2010) 
• Los Angeles Daily News All-Area First Team (2010) 
• Named to all-tournament teams at the Royal Classic Invitational and MLK Speak Easy (2010) 
• L.A. City Section and West Valley League All-Academic Teams (2010) 
• California Scholarship Federation (2010) 
• Three-time Captain at Granada Hills (2010, 2009, 2008) 
• A three-year member of the High Honor Roll at Granada Hills (2010, 2009, 2008) 
• CIF Division I L.A. City Section Player of the Year (2009) 
• West Valley League Player of the Year (2009) 
• Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Second Team (2009) 
• Named to Royal Classic Invitational All-Tournament Team (2009) 
• All-L.A. City Section First Team (2008) 
• All-West Valley League First Team (2008) 
• Named to all-tournament teams at Van Nuys and Venice Invitationals (2008) 
• West Valley League Junior Varsity Player of the Year (2007)

UCSD posted a strong 2010 season, Luyties' first at the helm of the program. The Tritons finished 19-9 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional. It was UC San Diego's fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.