Redhawks sign Incarnate Word's Keaton

Claire Keaton of St. Louis signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Southeast Missouri State beginning in 2007.

Keaton recently completed her volleyball career at Incarnate Word Academy, where she was a three-year starter and played for state championship teams in 2004 and 2005.

"Clair is a very versatile athlete, well-rounded and is a threat in the front row," Southeast coach Renata Nowacki said in a news release. "She has good ball control and defensive skills. She comes from a winning tradition and that will help us out next season."

Keaton led the state with an average of six kills per match and served as the team's captain. She also was named to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's all-metro first team on Thursday.

Keaton also was selected as the "Best Attacker" at the 2006 Mizuno Cup Tournament in Chicago and was named MVP of the Belleville East Metro Classic. She captured all-state and all-region accolades this season.

In the classroom, Keaton is a member of the school's National Honor Society and has been on the honor roll throughout her high school career.

Keaton's club volleyball career includes all-tournament team honors at the Junior Olympics 15-and-under tournament in 2004. She was the captain of Team St. Louis for five years.