Kelley Queisser, a former Coronado High All-American, has been named women's lacrosse coach at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo.

The program, in its inaugural season, will likely compete at the club level next spring before playing an NCAA Division II schedule in 2010.

“It's going to be a very exciting journey with great opportunity for success,” Queisser said in a statement from the school. “When starting a new program it is important that your student-athletes see the future and how their hard work, dedication and determination will pay off for the team, the program and the institution.”

The 2000 Coronado grad went on to a successful lacrosse career at University of California Berkeley before becoming coach at San Diego State.

In 2005, Queisser guided the Aztecs to an undefeated season and a Western Women's Lacrosse League Division B championship. She was named SDSU Club Coach of the Year.

The Aztecs moved up to Division A and finished second in 2006. During the season they were ranked as high as eighth in the nation.

In her final two seasons at SDSU, Queisser guided the Aztecs to sixth-place finishes in the WWLL.

Paddle power

Nick Hanoian, a junior national team athlete and member of the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team, has been honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Hanoian, who paddles in flatwater sprint kayak events, competed in every final during last month's Lake Placid International Regatta. Hanoian won the triathlon competition.

USA Canoe/Kayak has recognized coach Chris Barlow of the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team for his guidance of China-bound Olympians in his sport.

Tournament title

The San Diego Shores Water Polo Club won four medals at the National Junior Olympics in Irvine last weekend.

The club's 10-and-under coed team won a gold medal in the platinum division. The team went undefeated, clinching the title with a 12-8 victory over Huntington Beach Water Polo Club.

Evan Elig, a fifth-grader at The Evans School in La Jolla, was named the division's most valuable player.

Shores teams won a silver medal in the 18-and-under boys division, led by recent high school graduates Jacob Smith (Coronado) and Peter Sefton (La Jolla), and bronze medals in the 12-and-under boys and girls.

The club was represented by 13 teams at the eight-day tournament, including the 10-and-under team, which competed for the first time.

Academic honors

The Otay Ranch High boys volleyball team was recognized for its academic achievement during the 2007-08 school year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Mustangs were one of two high school programs in California to be honored and among 13 in the country.

The award, in its 15th year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The next step

Torrey Pines High senior Kerra “Boo” Schroeder will continue her volleyball career at the University of Colorado.

Schroeder, a 6-foot outside hitter, led the Falcons to the San Diego Section Division I quarterfinals last fall, earning All-Palomar League and all-section Division I honors.

Schroeder, who also plays for Epic Volleyball Club, recently was named an All-American at the Junior Olympics in Dallas.

Other local high school athletes continuing their careers in college:

BASEBALL: Christian graduate Niko Kanakaris (Division II Cal State Monterey Bay); Rancho Bernardo graduate Wynton Bernard (Niagara).

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: La Jolla graduate Allison Marsh (Division III Rochester).

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