Leah Lathrop | Senior | Setter | 5-9
	Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.  High School: Desert Vista High  Birth date: 10/24/1986  Experience: 3L  Lathrop Links:   Ross Report Video | Bio

Christina Ross was a three-year letterwinner for the Aztec softball team from 2006-08. Last month, Ross became the second All-American in program history when she was named to the Easton Second Team. Over her career, Ross twice earned MWC Pitcher of the Year honors and was a three-time all-league selection. Ross is the career SDSU record holder in solo shutouts (23), shutouts (tied - 28) and strikeouts (612), despite playing just three seasons for the Aztecs. Ross is currently interning in the Aztec media relations office.

SAN DIEGO -- Armed with a recruiting class that has been ranked among the top 30 in the nation, San Diego State volleyball is ready to get its 2008 campaign underway at the end of the month. That group of recruits will combine with several returning veterans to make this potentially one of the better Aztec sides in recent history.

Leading that team is setter Leah Lathrop, one of two seniors on the squad and the only current four-year member of the SDSU program. She is a former all-state player from Arizona (Phoenix) who will be a team leader as she quarterbacks the Aztec attack this fall.

Lathrop has been a starter at San Diego State each of the past two years and ranks seventh on the Aztec career assist list entering the season. A year ago she finished fifth in the Mountain West Conference in service aces and was ninth in the league in assists.

Lathrop recently spoke with Christina Ross about the upcoming season for The Ross Report.

Ross Report: Leah Lathrop

Click here to watch video

On how her summer has been going:
It's been really well. I've been busy. I stayed here, took summer school, trained a lot, so it's been good though. A summer in California, I can't complain.

On the start of training camp and the impact of the new freshman class:
About a week and a half, we're about in so. It's going really well. I'm excited. I think all of our freshmen have come in prepared. They all came in from really solid programs. So they came in with the right mindset and mentality to work hard. It's been going smooth, real well.

On what fans can expect from the girls volleyball team this year:
I think they can have high expectations. I know I do, our whole team does. I think it's going to be interesting cause we don't have that conference tournament at the end of the season to kinda wish your way in or somehow magically win a wildcard. But, I think that high expectations for everybody, it's a pretty even keel this year. A lot of teams lost some good players, they've got some good ones coming in. It's cool to see all the team fluctuate. I think it will be pretty competitive.

Her thoughts on not having a conference tournament at the end of the season and what it means to the team:
Yea, always, I think for everybody though. It's the same for everyone. There is a lot of pressure on us, but also on every other team too. Just because they don't have; there is no room for error. You have to play a lot cleaner volleyball. They also changed the point system. We only go to 25 instead of 30. That is going to make people play a lot smoother. There is no room for misers or silly things you can control.

On her thoughts about last years 8th place finish and this years 7th place ranking and whether it has an effect on the team:
I don't think so. I think if people look at us like an underdog that's fine. It doesn't put a whole lot of pressure on us as far as competing with other people. But I think when we go into someone else's gym, we're going to have the mentality that we are going to beat them no matter what. You can't ever look at statistics or where people rank you because like I said before, every team is fluctuating this year. It's hard to see what to expect.

On her thoughts of the new recruiting class that includes eight new players and a 27th national ranking and whether or not they will have a strong impact:
Absolutely, it's going to make a huge difference as far as we have a lot of depth, a lot of good experienced players coming back and a really big junior class that will be coming in. Michelle and I are the only seniors, but I think that the players that came in and the ones that have already been here are on the same page. The chemistry is there, and that is all any team can ask for, or look for anyways; court player relationships with each other. We have a couple of outsides (outside hitters) Kyley Sexton and Paije Pearson.  They are both awesome players; real big on the outside. They are going to make a big impact for us. It's going to be nice to have the depth out there too, in case, God forbid anybody go down. But to have a backup behind Stephanie, who has been killing it this preseason so far. I think that Lauren Van Orden is another one of our setters coming in and for me it's fun because, being an older setter and having someone come in so competitive like she is. She has played in a bunch of different positions, she is a great hitter, so it makes her a threat in all different aspects, but she is also a great leader and very very passionate about the game. So she is going to be fun to play with cause I feel like we are similar in that aspect. I think the chemistry and the consistency on the court when we are playing will be very level versus in years past. In years past we've always had great players. This year I think everybody is very much on the same page. So I think it is going to be really good. I'm excited.

On her thoughts about the approach of the season:
We have our Alumni scrimmage which is this coming Saturday that is always fun. You always have the players that left us last year and players from past teams that come back. They can talk and there is a lot of chirping back and fourth, but it is going to be a lot of fun. I think our team this year is ready to play against them. It's just always a fun thing to do. The weekend after that we have our first home opener.