Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Valparaiso University head coach Keith Freeman has announced the signing of three players that will join the Crusader program for the 2005-2006 season. Aimee Litka, along with twin sisters Launa and Leah Hochstetler signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to join the Valpo program.

Litka, a 5'10" guard from South Bend, Ind., is the all-time leading scorer at South Bend Saint Joseph's High School, having scored 1,302 points in her first three seasons with the Indians. As a junior last season, Litka averaged 15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. She was selected to the North Indiana Junior All-Star Team and has helped lead Saint Joseph's to two consecutive trips to the state semifinals, including a trip to the championship game as a sophomore.

?Aimee is a tremendous competitor and basketball player," Freeman said. ?She has been a part of a successful program and will be a good slashing-type player in our offense."

The Hochstetler twins from Millersburg, Ohio, helped to lead Berlin Hiland High School to the state semifinals last season. The Lady Hawks went 25-2 on the season during their junior year and have posted a 66-8 mark over the past three years.

Launa is a 5'6" guard who was a First Team Associated Press All-Ohio selection as a junior. She set Berlin Hiland's single season assist record with 169 last year (6.3 per game). As a junior, she averaged 11.8 points per game for the Lady Hawks.

?Launa is a very solid point guard who has been well-coached and is an integral part of one of the most successful programs in Ohio," Freeman said. ?She has the ability to score off the catch at both the rim and the intermediate range."

Leah also is a 5'6" guard who earned Honorable Mention Associated Press All-Ohio honors as a junior. She set a school record with 62 three-point field goals last season while connecting on 38.3% of her attempts on the year. She averaged 12.4 points per game for the Lady Hawks.

?Leah is a very good shooter," Freeman said. ?She is a scrappy, hard-noised player who has been well coached. She is an excellent fit for Valpo."

?This class includes three outstanding young ladies," Freeman concluded. ?I look forward to having them as a part of the Valpo program."