Jan. 4, 2002

Volleyball All-American Kristee Porter has decided to leave UCLA to pursue professional and U.S. national team opportunities.

Porter was an AVCA first-team All-American and the Volleyball Magazine Player of the Year in 2000. This season, she broke the UCLA and Pac-10 career kills record, ending with 2,225, 14th-best in NCAA history. In her career, she had 18 30-kill matches, tripling the previous UCLA and Pac-10 record. In 2000, she set the UCLA and Pac-10 single-season kills mark with 741.

While at UCLA, Porter also participated in basketball and track and field for three seasons. In basketball this year, she played five games, averaging 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. In 2001, she ranked second in the Pac-10 in rebounding (8.1) and 11th in scoring (13.0). A triple jumper in track and field, she placed third at the 2001 Pac-10 Championships to help the Bruins capture their third consecutive conference team title.

Porter has plans to play in the United States Professional Volleyball League, which begins its inaugural season in February, as well as with the U.S. National Team.

"Kristee has distinguished herself as one of the finest volleyball players in UCLA history," said UCLA associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson. "Although volleyball was her primary sport while at UCLA, her contributions to basketball and track and field were significant. We wish her the best as she pursues her opportunities at the next level."