Published: December 21, 2006 11:53 pm         

Mountain State announces seven volleyball signees

Coach Tim Berry has signed his largest class of recruits for the Mountain State University volleyball team.

Joining the Cougars will be one junior college transfer and six prep players.

“I’ve watched them all play at one time or another,” Berry said. “All of them are real coachable. That’s one of the great things about them and that they all have in common.”

Jesica Green of DuQuoin, Ill., will join the Cougars from Rend Lake Community College in Ina, Ill.

“She was an all-conference player and second-team all-region at Rend Lake,” Berry said. “She’ll be transferring to MSU to follow a criminal justice degree.”

A 5-foot-10 middle hitter, Berry expects her to step right into the rotation.

“I think she’ll bring some maturity to the team,” he said. “We’re going to be a tad young.”

Shady Spring’s Samantha Daniels signed early with the Cougars this past summer. She was a Class AA first-team all-state selection in her senior season.

Berry believes Daniels can step into the lineup as a setter for MSU.

“She has a good set of hands for setting,” he said. “There will be four girls vying for the two setting positions next year.”

Her Shady Spring teammate Eden Rowe will also be among the signees. Rowe is a 5-foot-9 outside hitter. She was a special honorable mention selection in her senior season.

“Eden is a good hitter from the outside,” Berry said. “We’re going to be able to work with her and bring her up to where she needs to be. She’s real coachable.”

In addition, Berry added a pair of Independence players, Candi Crews and Justine Beckett, to the roster.

Crews is a 5-8 outside hitter. She was a second-team all-state selection.

“She’s a good, strong outside hitter,” Berry said. “She should have an impact her first year. She has a nice approach.”

Beckett is a setter.

“We’ll work with her on her hands and see how she fares with the girls that will be coming in as setters,” Berry said.

Woodrow Wilson’s Jennifer Davis completes the recruiting class. She is a defensive specialist.

“I think she’ll have an impact,” Berry said. “Maybe not so much the first year, but in her second year.”

Amber Lilly of Covington, Va., is the final Cougars’ signee. She was a defensive specialist at Alleghany High School.

— E-mail:

rjett@register-herald.com