January 06, 2009

Eagles add IU transfer

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team announced that 6'0" middle blocker Danielle LaGrange (Santa Claus, Indiana) is transferring from Indiana University to play for Head Coach Leah Mercer's Screaming Eagles in 2009.

LaGrange, who will have three years of eligibility at USI, played in 11 matches as a freshman for the Hoosiers this past fall. She recorded a season-best five kills against the University of Louisville.

A high school teammate of current USI setter Melanie Pund (Ferdinand, Indiana), LaGrange was a three-time Indiana All-State and All-Pocket Athletic Conference performer at Heritage Hills High School.

During her prep career at HHHS, LaGrange broke seven school records including career marks for service aces (111), kills (1,259), blocks (314), and digs (493). She also set single-season records for kills (557) and attacking percentage (.367), and the single match record for kills (32).

LaGrange also was a standout performer on the basketball court where she earned All-PAC honors twice and was recognized on the Hoosier Basketball Magazine top-60 seniors list.

"Danielle will make an immediate impact in the middle," Mercer said. "It's great to bring a local kid back to Evansville and I'm excited to see Danielle get the chance to play alongside her high school setter.

"I feel very fortunate to have her on campus this spring, going through the off-season workout programs with our players, and getting the chance to jell with her new teammates," Mercer added.

LaGrange, who will attend USI during the spring semester, joins an incoming class that includes 5'8" setter Ashley King (Columbus, Indiana) and 5'7" outside hitter/defensive specialist Abbi Williams (Louisville, Kentucky). Both King and Williams signed national letters of intent during the early signing period.

Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information