Nov. 26, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State volleyball team signed Alpena High School setter Marie Stender and Marshall High School outside hitter Laura Misiak during the fall signing period.

Stender hails from the same prep program as LSSU standout setter Erin McLain, who will graduate this spring after finishing second on the Lakers' all-time assist list. Stender is ranked among the top 10 on the Wildcats' all-time list with 99 aces, and she averaged 2.9 assists per game. She suffered a broken finger midway through the 2007 season, but went on to earn the Alpena High School Coach's Award and Class A all-region honors for the second straight year.

"I saw her play as a sophomore and junior, and had her in camp during the summer of her junior year," LSSU coach Mark Engle said. "I got to see a lot of repetitions, and she did a lot of things well. She has good court sense and her setting accuracy is really good. We'll be in a good situation next year. We'll have a senior setter and now a freshman who is capable. I like her demeanor on the court. She has that aura of being able to take charge."

Misiak is also a two-time Class B all-region player who also earned Enquirer All-Area, Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference All-Division Team and Marshall High School most-valuable player honors as a junior and senior. She totaled 243 kills this season with a .184 attack percentage. She also totaled 505 digs, 22 solo blocks and 70 service aces.

"She liked LSSU from the beginning when she came here (in 2006)," Engle said of Misiak. "I was trying to decide on the type of player who is a good student, shows potential and is a real nice kid. She has really picked up her game since I first saw her. This girl is a good player. She's a 6-foot outside hitter, and she'll surprise people. She has good ball-handling skills and the ability to cover the court. We have two relatively unknown recruits who are two skilled players."

LSSU graduates two seniors from its 2007 team, which finished 8-22 overall and 3-15 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.