June 18, 2004
Niemeier/Kieffer commit to USI volleyball
The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team announced that freshman outside hitter Andrea Niemeier (Evansville, Indiana) and freshman defensive specialist Eva Kieffer (Mt. Carmel, Illinois) have committed to play for the Screaming Eagles and Head Coach Craig Bere for the 2004 season.
Niemeier was a two-time All-City, All-Metro, and All-SIAC performer at Mater Dei High School. The 5’10” performer helped lead MDHS to a sectional championship and the regional finals in 2002.
In 2003, Niemeier led the city in attacking percentage and was MDHS’s co-captain and MVP. She also named the 2003 Kiwanis Award winner.
Niemeier helped lead her club volleyball team to the Northeast Qualifier championship in 2003 and a second-place finish at the Mid-east Qualifier in 2004.
“Andrea is an outstanding young lady that is improving daily and will do great things for our volleyball team,” Bere said. “We are ecstatic to have her joining our family here at USI.”
Kieffer, a 5’3” performer from Mt. Carmel High School, was a two-time All-Conference performer and was MCHS’s MVP in 2003 after leading the team in digs. She was named MCHS’s best defensive player as a senior and helped lead MCHS to conference titles in 2001 and 2002.
“This young lady has yet to reach the elite level that will set her aside from most defensive players,” Bere explained. “Eva has the tangibles as well as the intangibles that we look for in a defense oriented player. She can and will make a quick impact in our program.”
Niemeier and Kieffer are the fourth and fifth players to join USI’s volleyball team this spring. Other players that have signed with the Eagles include freshmen setters Cara Keever (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) and Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana) as well as freshman middle/outside hitter Molly Rahman (Ferdinand, Indiana).
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
