The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Sign Filar For 2004 Season
4/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 20, 2004
Birmingham, Ala. - Spring has sprung in the UAB Volleyball program. Head coach Melinda Claiborne announced the signing of another outstanding player for the Fall 2004 squad.
UAB's young team gains some valuable experience in a seasoned transfer from the University of Georgia. Kaitlyn Filar is a 5'8 setter, who originally hails from Davidson, N.C., but spent last season playing in the Southeastern Conference with the Bulldogs.
Filar graduated from North Mecklenburg High School in 2002 as a four-year letter winner, four-time all-conference selection and two-time conference MVP. She led her team to two state titles in 2000 and 2002 and was named co-captain and team MVP during her senior season. She played club volleyball for Charlotte Elite under Charlotte assistant coach Kevin Campbell.
Filar red shirted her freshmen year at Georgia before competing in four matches this past season. She will arrive in Birmingham with two years of valuable training and playing experience and have three years of eligibility remaining.
"I am very excited about Kaitlyn's decision to join the Blazer family," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. "She will make an immediate impact on the competition in our setting position and is a perfect fit for our team in many respects. Our program will benefit greatly from the opportunity to bring in a mature player with college experience. I am really looking forward to getting this team together. Our returnees have worked very hard this spring to lay a solid foundation to build on this fall. The addition of these new players will continue to elevate the program."
Filar is equally balanced in the classroom. She carried a 3.78 grade point average while majoring in mathematics at Georgia. She was been named to the Dean's List three times and was a Presidential Scholar as a freshman. Filar will continue to pursue a degree in mathematics at UAB and would eventually like to teach high school math and coach.
Coaching and education runs in the family. Her father, John, has coached women's basketball at Davidson College and the University of Nebraska and is currently a high school athletic director and dean of students. Her oldest brother, Travis, is a high school coach in Lexington, Ky. and the volunteer assistant for the University of Kentucky volleyball program. Filar has another brother, Jesse, who will graduate from Elon College in December and her mother, Kay, is the art department assistant at Davidson College.
Filar is currently involved in coaching the Georgia Juniors Volleyball Club in Athens, Ga. and is an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action.
Filar joins Charli Lindley, a 5'10 outside hitter from Hailey, Idaho, who signed with the Blazers last week.
