Blair Fuentez Signs to Play Volleyball for `Canes
Jan. 13, 2011
Coral Gables, Fla. – University of Miami head volleyball coach Nicole Lantagne Welch announced the signing of Barbara Blair Fuentez to the Hurricanes volleyball signing class of 2011, released Thursday, Jan. 13, in Coral Gables, Fla.
Fuentez, who prefers to go by Blair, comes to the University of Miami by way of Ridgewood (N.J.) High School after playing four years for the Maroons program. Playing for head coach Ron Knott in 2010, she helped her team to the finals of the NJSIAA Group 4 North finals, falling to top-ranked Livingston in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2.
“We are thrilled to have Blair [Fuentez] join our volleyball program,” said Lantagne Welch. “She is a setter and a hitter – and just the type of player that can impact the game with any skill. Blair has great ball control from playing volleyball a long time; nice hands and understanding of the game for setting; and has the size and athleticism to become a great blocker and terminator. She also brings a contagious joy to play the game and a great work ethic. She is a great fit for Miami, and we look forward to her positively impacting our team.”
During her career at Ridgewood, Fuentez set the RHS kills record with 903. She ended the 2009 and 2010 campaigns, respectively, as a First Team All-Bergan County Selection after leading the Maroons in kills both seasons from her outside hitter position (also seeing some time as a setter) on the court. She helped Ridgewood High to a spot in the quarterfinals of the Bergan County Tournament, en route to her earning a spot in the New Jersey Senior State Volleyball All-Star Game.
Over the summer of 2009, Fuentez participated on the USA High Performance Continental Team, in addition to joining Ramapo High’s Nicole Kincade to win the AVP Beach Volleyball Tournament in the AA Division.
Fuentez would go on to be tabbed Ridgewood High’s volleyball MVP, as well as being the high school’s fall sports MVP for both the boys and girls varsity athletics. She was named the MVP Fall Student-Athlete for the Maroons. Currently, she is listed as a senior aces top 150 player nationally.
As a sophomore, Fuentez grabbed Second Team All-Bergan County Team honors, while also being a First Team Group 4 member.
She played club volleyball for DIGS (Do It Garden State) for four years, and has been playing club volleyball since the age of 12. In 2008, Fuentez helped DIGS to qualify for the Junior Olympics. Fuentez is a native of Houston, Texas, growing up in the Lone Star State, before eventually moving to Ridgewood, N.J.
Fuentez is no stranger to family playing Division I volleyball, as her older sister, Bridget, played four seasons at the University of Alabama from 2004-07. While with the Crimson Tide, Bridget Fuentez was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, and led the team in kills (457), kills per game (3.72) and attempts (1,185) as a sophomore.
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