Dec. 1, 2010

STANFORD, Calif. -

The defending NCAA champion Stanford men's volleyball team has announced that middle blockers Matt Aiello of San Jose, Calif., and Spencer Haly of Newport Beach, Calif., have signed letters of intent.

Matt Aiello is a senior at Bellarmine College Prep and plays for Bay to Bay Volleyball Club. Aiello was the 2010 Central Coast Section Junior of the Year and a first-team All-CCS player while leading the Bells to the West Catholic Athletic League and CCS Division I titles. Aiello has had club success too, helping Bay to Bay to national top-10 finishes the past two years, including fifth in 2010.

Spencer Haly (6-6) is a senior three-sport athlete at Corona del Mar High, having played football and basketball in addition to volleyball for the Sea Kings, the same program that produced current junior middle blocker Gus Ellis.

Haly has helped the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club to two junior national championships, in 2008 and 2009, and was a 2009 Junior Olympic all-tournament selection.

At CdM, Haly was an All-Pacific League first-team choice in 2010, after earning second-team honors as a sophomore.

Stanford coach John Kosty feels the addition of Aiello and Haly fill an important need.

"The middle-blocking position is well-manned with our current group of athletes but that is a position in which we always need more quality depth," Kosty said. "Matt and Spencer are the true embodiment of the Stanford volleyball player: Talented players with great athleticism that are exceptional scholars. Along with those characteristics, you will find that they are outstanding people who will fit in very comfortably with our family."

The players will be available for the 2012 season. Meanwhile, the Cardinal opens the 2011 season on Jan. 5 against visiting UC Santa Cruz, at 7 p.m.