May 16, 2008

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State volleyball team picked up four players during the spring signing period and expanded its 2008 recruiting class to six.

Middle hitter Jeanna Radzinski (5-10) of Sterling Heights, Mich., outside hitter Janelle Balkwill (5-11) of Woodslee, Ont., and defensive specialist Brittany Newberry (5-6) of Iron Mountain, Mich., have signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at LSSU, and sophomore setter/libero Brandiss Ward (5-8) will transfer from Lansing Community College.

The four recruits join Alpena setter Marie Stender and Marshall outside hitter Laura Misiak, who committed to LSSU during the fall signing period.

Radzinski totaled 729 kills, 96 blocks and 125 digs as an outside hitter for Henry Ford II High School last fall. She had an attack percentage of .178. She earned All-Macomb Area Conference honors as a junior and Class A All-Macomb County First Team honors as a senior. She was named Outstanding Blocker at the Wisconsin Dells Classic while playing club volleyball for the Michigan Elite based in Warren, Mich.

"Jeanna gives us help in the middle, but she is diversified in that she can play the middle or outside," LSSU coach Mark Engle said. "She comes in with quite a bit of club experience, and we're looking for her to contribute right away."

Balkwill, a left-hander, was named most-valuable player of the Essex District High School and the South County Bandits 18-under club teams. She also represented her high school on an all-star team that competed in the Fanshawe College Tournament and made two appearances with the Ontario Regional Team.

"Her best position is right side hitter," Engle said. "She has a lot of length, good reach and pretty good hands. Her all-around skills will help us. She has played a lot of club volleyball in the U.S. and Canada."

Newberry played outside hitter and back-row setter for Iron Mountain High School and compiled 1,064 kills, 1,177 digs, 400 aces and 90 blocks throughout four varsity seasons. She is a four-time Mid-Peninsula Conference and Class C all-region pick, and received Class C all-state honorable mention during the past two seasons. She was named MPC Most-Valuable Player during her junior and senior seasons. Iron Mountain was 113-16-7 overall and 56-0 in the MPC during the past four years.

"Newberry is a very strong, athletic person," Engle said. "She has an explosive arm and good jump serve. We are looking for her to help us defensively."

All three incoming freshmen also earned academic honors.

Ward is a Corunna High School product who averaged 1.36 assists per game and 2.43 digs per game for Lansing Community College (18-20) last season.

"She split time between setting and defensive specialist at Lansing Community College," Engle said. "She is very steady, very quick and she makes good decisions. She reminds me of Mindy Rayner (1998-01). She knows how to go all-out and stay in control."