Nov. 11, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's water polo head coach John Tanner announced the signing of four exemplary student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday. The quartet of signees that will become members of the Stanford Class of 2014 consists of Kaley Dodson (Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos HS), Kaitlyn Lo (San Anselmo, Calif./Sir Francis Drake HS), Lexie Ross (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS) and Kelsey Suggs (Ladera Ranch, CA/Tesoro HS).

The foursome will make its Stanford women's water polo debut in the 2011 season.

"These four give us a diverse, tough to guard group of athletes who are ready to play at the highest level of college water polo," Tanner said. "I am extremely excited about the skills, talent and drive they can bring to our program. Like all our current players, they are also fantastic students with a wide range of interests."

Dodson, a 5-11 driver, is a two-time Division I All-CIF Southern Section selection (2008-09) heading into her senior season in 2010. On the international level, Dodson, a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, traveled with the squad to competitions in the Netherlands and Russia where she faced some of the top junior competition in the world.

"Kaley has all the attributes to succeed at this level," Tanner said. "She is extremely fast and effective scoring in a variety of situations. She also has the length and leg support to be a valuable defender."

A second driver in the Cardinal recruiting class, Lo, a 5-8 scorer out of Sir Francis Drake High School, brings a decorated resume on the prep, club and international levels to The Farm. Lo has been selected twice to the All-CIF North Coast Section Team (2007-08) and also starred for Marin Water Polo Club. On the international level, she is a member of the U.S. Junior National Team training squad. During the swimming season, she also earned prep All-America honors in the 100-yard backstroke. At Stanford, Lo will join her sister Alyssa on the Cardinal squad in 2011.

Ross starred as a 5-9 two-meter player and a left-handed driver for Laguna Beach High School and SET Water Polo Club. Ross, a Division II All-CIF Southern Section pick as a junior in 2009, helped lead LBHS to the Division II title at the prep level and on the club level was a 2009 Junior Olympic champion with SET.

"Lexie has great hands and a wide range of post moves," Tanner said. "She can play with her back to or facing the goal, and, being left handed, she creates matchup problems. Lexie has impressed me with her persistence."

A 5-11 defender and all-around renaissance woman, Suggs combines a strong water polo resume with an admirable musical acumen. Along with being a member of the U.S. Junior National Team training roster, Suggs was a 2009 Junior Olympic champion with Ross as members of SET Water Polo Club, being named a first-team Junior Olympic All-American. Out of the tank, Suggs is also a talent at the French horn, having played at Carnegie Hall with the high school wind ensemble.

"Kelsey is a fantastic shooter and tough defender who excels in power play situations," Tanner noted. "She is a great scorer and shot blocker, a real presence at both ends of the pool. Kelsey is extremely determined and resilient."

Stanford finished 26-4 overall in 2009, claiming a third-place national finish at the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship last May.