Xavier Nuggets sign 2 setters to complete their recruiting class

Jodi Chatters

Franziska Pirkl

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has completed its 2012-13 women's volleyball recruiting class with the signing of Jodi Chatters of Lake Charles, La., and Franziska Pirkl of Munich, Germany, to scholarships. Both will be freshmen at XU.

Chatters, a 5-foot-6 setter, was all-state in volleyball and twice in soccer for St. Louis Catholic High School and was the 2011-12 female winner of the Lake Charles American Press Outstanding Athlete of the Year award. In June she was inducted into the Southwest Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Chatters helped St. Louis win state championships in soccer in 2009 (Division III) and 2010 (Division II) and finish second in the 2011 Division III state volleyball tournament. Chatters scored in both soccer title victories. She also competed in track and field, winning the long jump at the District 4-4A outdoor meet and placing seventh at the state meet this year.

Chatters' mother, aunt and uncle are XU alumni, and her sister, Cydney, is an XU junior.

Pirkl, a 5-9 setter, will transfer to Xavier from the University of Alaska Anchorage, an NCAA Division II member where she redshirted during the 2011 season. Pirkl played club volleyball in Germany. She helped SV Lohhof of Bayernliga to a runner-up finish in 2010 at the German under-18 championships. In 2009 she helped her team win the Bavarian under-18 title and place ninth at the German under-18s. In 2008 she helped her team place second at the Bavarian under-16 championships and third at the German under-16s.

"My coach at Alaska Anchorage, Chris Green, and Coach (Christabell) Hamilton at Xavier are very good friends," Pirkl said. "He helped me transfer to Xavier. He told me a lot of good things about Coach Hamilton. When I talked to her, she emphasized the importance of combining school with sports and that she supports her athletes in every way. I think I can learn a lot at Xavier."

Chatters will be a biology/pre-medical major at Xavier. Pirkl will major in mass communications.

The Gold Nuggets will have eight newcomers this season. Previously signed with were defensive specialists Alexis Clay of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Darian Harris of Gretna, La., middle blockers Claudia Haywood of Memphis, Tenn., and Jodi Hill of Prairieville, La., right-side hitter Patrice Smith of Glenn Heights, Texas, and outside hitter CeCe Williams of Houma, La.

Xavier was 23-7 in 2011, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship.

2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana Women's Volleyball Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
Jodi Chatters S 5-6 Fr. Lake Charles, La. St. Louis Catholic
Alexis Clay DS 5-1 Fr. Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Palos Verdes Peninsula
Darian Harris DS 5-3½ Fr. Gretna, La. McGehee
Claudia Haywood MB 5-11 Fr. Memphis, Tenn. Cordova
Jodi Hill MB 5-9 Fr. Prairieville, La. Dutchtown
Franziska Pirkl S 5-9 Fr. Munich, Germany Theodolinden Gymnasium (Alaska Anchorage)
Patrice Smith RS 5-9 Fr. Glenn Heights, Texas DeSoto
CeCe Williams OH 5-6 Fr. Houma, La. Vandebilt Catholic
* classification at Xavier in fall of 2012

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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