Dec. 13, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University volleyball coach Diane Flick announced today that Laurie Yearout, a senior setter at Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Vikings.

The 5-foot-9 Yearout helped the Tigers to three straight top-five finishes at the Class 4A state tournament, posting four-year per match career averages of 22.0 assists, 3.2 blocks, 9.4 digs and 2.1 service aces. Her career match highs were 34 assists and 20 digs.

Yearout was a first-team Greater Spokane League all-star as a junior and senior on L&C squads that placed second at state each year and had an overall record of 40-9. As a sophomore, she started on a team that finished fifth at state.

Yearout, who was a second-team state all-tournament pick as a junior, lettered four years in volleyball and has earned three letters in track and field as a pole vaulter.

Yearout's mother, Julie, who played volleyball at Whitworth College, is the girls volleyball coach at L&C; and her father, Tom, who played football at Washington State, is the head football coach at L&C.

Western placed second at the 2007 NCAA Division II National Tournament, finishing 26-5 and winning Pacific Regional and Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles.