Harris, Smith increase Gold Nuggets' signee total to five

PATRICE SMITH

DARIAN  HARRIS

NEW ORLEANS — Defensive specialist Darian Harris of Gretna, La., and Louise S. McGehee School and right-side hitter Patrice Smith of Glenn Heights, Texas, and DeSoto High School signed women's volleyball scholarships Wednesday with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Xavier has signed five high school seniors for the 2012 season.

Harris recorded 757 digs, 107 aces and 70 kills the past three seasons at McGehee. She helped the Hawks finish second in the Division IV state
playoffs in 2009 and reach the semifinals in 2010. They won district championships both seasons.

Smith started as a junior and senior on DeSoto teams which were 27-8 overall and 9-1 in district in 2010 and 27-14 and 10-0 in 2011. Both teams were district champions and won in the first round of the state playoffs. Smith produced 193 kills, 150 blocks and 124 digs as a senior and was first-team all-district. She was selected her district's top newcomer in 2010.

Harris and Smith will be biology / pre-medical majors at Xavier.

Previously signed with the Gold Nuggets were middle blocker Jodi Hill of Prairieville, La., outside hitter CeCe Williams of Houma, La., and middle blocker Claudia Haywood of Memphis, Tenn.

Xavier was 23-7 in 2011, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets will begin the 2012 season in late August.



Facebook photos of their signings: Darian Harris and Patrice Smith

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA