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Two of the top 25 nationally ranked high school players will be among the latest recruits to join Cal State Northridge.
Cal State Northridge announced Thursday that high school seniors Parker Maki, Schylar Lillethorup and Dimitar Kalchev have all signed national letters of intent and will play for the Matadors beginning in 2016.
“We’re really excited about this group as a whole,” Cal State Northridge coach Jeff Campbell said in a statement. “This is an extremely strong group of players and we’re really looking forward to getting these guys in the gym. All three are outstanding volleyball players with a great work ethic and they all have the right mindset to come in here and be the best.”
Both Maki and Lillethorup were selected to the 2014 Volleyball Magazine 25 Underclassmen to Watch list that was released during the summer.
Maki, a 6-foot-5 outside attacker from Newbury Park, California, earned all-county and first-team all-conference honors with his high school team last season as a junior. In addition, Maki earlier this year with his club team won a bronze medal and was named to the all-tournament team at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships.
Lillethorup, a 6-foot-4 setter from Apopka, Florida, has been an AAU All-American selection the last three years and won the AAU MVP award in 2012. He also is a three-year high school starter who has played both at setter and opposite.
Kalchev, a 6-foot-4 outside attacker from Bulgaria, has led his team to three consecutive league championship. Along with his indoor volleyball accolades, Kalchev won a national championship in beach volleyball earlier this year.
Cal State Northridge finished last season in 10th place in the MPSF and missed the eight-team conference tournament. The Matadors have not reached the postseason since 2012 but return a majority of starters for the upcoming season.S