June 1, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State volleyball team has signed Lindsay McLeod of Cedarville, Mich., and Abby Shereda of Freesoil, Mich., to a National Letter of Intent, and will bring in junior college transfer Ashley Purvis of Lapeer, Mich.

Purvis, a 5-9 setter, was a team captain at Mott Community College, where she totaled 1,311 assists in 150 games during the 2006 season. Purvis received All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association honorable mention after totaling a .930 serve percentage with 19 aces, 93 kills, 307 digs, 18 solo blocks and 47 block assists along with her setting assists.

"Ashley comes from a really good volleyball background," LSSU coach Mark Engle said. "Her father is the coach at Lapeer East High School. She was pretty well-recruited coming out of high school and went to Western Iowa Community College for one year. That is team is a national power, but she transferred after one semester due to playing behind a setter from the Brazilian National Team. Ashley is technically sound and has been well-trained. She's a smart kid - a good student and smart court-wise. Now we will have two good setters (Purvis and junior Erin McLean), and I'm intending to use them both. I think both of them will benefit from that. Their styles are a little bit different, but together they're a good combination."

Shereda, a 5-11 outside hitter, was a four-year varsity letter winner for the 2007 Class B state runner-up Mason County Central Spartans. Central finished 52-9-3 this season as Shereda totaled 98 service aces, 400 kills, a .230 attack percentage, 66 blocks and 294 digs. She earned Class B all-state honorable mention and All-West Michigan Conference First Team honors in 2006, and received all-area and All-WMC honorable mention in 2007. She is also a four-year letter winner in basketball and softball, and a WAC All-Academic Team honoree in three sports.

"Abby is an athletic kid, who did well in three sports," Engle said. "She's got natural ability and good strong arm. As she develops and adds some strength, she'll be a good, solid all-around player at this level. She has pretty good jumping ability and is a good blocker."

McLeod, a 5-11 middle hitter, totaled 141 kills, 97 aces and 42 block kills in 2006-07 for Cedarville High School. She is a two-time All-Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference First Team player, and she was named to the St. Ignace News All-Area Dream Team. She also earned Class D all-region honors this season. McLeod was named most-valuable player in track and volleyball, and she also lettered in golf.

"What impressed me about Lindsey is that she really improved from junior year to senior year," Engle said. "She has good length, can hit pretty well and has a good, high block touch.

"I was looking for athletes who were coachable, and those three kids appear to be as coachable as anyone I've recruited. They came to me highly-recommended for that reason."