Hulsey third Sutter grad to sign with West Virginia

The two have been close friends and teammates since grade school, but when former Sutter High standouts Torrey Hulsey and Kari Post lace it up and take the floor together next fall, it's safe to say it will be far different than the days spent in the friendly confines of the Huskies' gymnasium.

As a matter of fact, the next game they play together will be about 3,000 miles away from home and the opposition will be some of the best the nation has to offer.

For the third year in a row, the University of West Virginia has found a Sutter volleyball player to its liking and for Hulsey, Morgantown is the perfect fit.

Fresh off a sensational sophomore season at the College of Southern Idaho, Hulsey recently earned a scholarship to play for the Mountaineers next fall. There she will join Post and 2009 Sutter grad Whitney Lee as former Huskies to make the leap from the Butte View League to the Big East.

"It's amazing — Kari has been my best friend since the sixth grade," said the 6-foot-1 Hulsey, who as a two-year starter at middle blocker for CSI and helped the school to it's ninth National Junior College Athletic Association Division I championship last month. "I'm super excited."

Hulsey was key to the Golden Eagles' championship run this season by notching a team-high 124 blocks to go with 295 kills, which was third on the team. Her play in the middle helped CSI to an impressive 27-6 record and the Scenic West Athletic Conference crown.

In the national title match against Missouri State University — West Plains, the 2008 Sutter grad put on a show by smashing 15 kills out of her 24 attempts including five blocks and no errors in a 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 victory.

But Hulsey is just the latest local player to earn a Division I scholarship.

In fact she is the fourth player from the 2008 North Valley Juniors club team to reach the Division I collegiate level, joining Post, Lee and 2008 Yuba City High alum Erin Kirby, who is currently at Sacramento State.

With four Division I caliber players on the roster that year, it's no surprise the club team finished 11th in the National Division in 2008.

"We went to the Junior Olympics three times with that core group of girls, and to have four players off the same team receive Division I scholarships is pretty exciting," said longtime Yuba College coach Thea Post, who guided the four during the 2008 club season.

"And it's just phenomenal to have three local girls at the same school."

The Mountaineers went 17-13 overall and 6-8 in the Big East Conference this season with no senior on the roster.

Post, who started at setter as a true freshman, was tied for the most games played with 110 while tallying a team-high 1,034 assists. And although Lee played sparingly as a freshman and appeared in only 12 games, she should see more time with a year under her belt.

Hulsey should also see time near the net as the Mountaineers look to sure things up in the middle.

"She hits with power and has been an excellent blocker everywhere she's been," Thea Post said of Hulsey. "They don't always have the need for the positions, so it's cool how it worked out."