Trio to join Spartans for 2010 volleyball season

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNC Greensboro volleyball team have added Samantha Deutchman, Kellie Orewiler and Lara Keyes for the 2010 season, coach Patrick Nicholas announced on Wednesday.

"I am very pleased to be bringing in a group of girls that I feel can help us reach the next level," said Nicholas. "These three girls, along with the nine returners that we have, have the potential to be one of the best teams in the Southern Conference and should compete for conference championships in the coming years."

Deutchman, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., was a three year letterwinner at Brentwood School for coach Jeff Porter. As a senior, she was named first-team All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and first-team all-league. She was also the MVP of her team as well as being named MVP of the Brentwood Invitational. She earned all-tournament honors at the Saugus Tournament as well.

As a junior, Deutchman helped lead her team to the semifinals of the state championship, also known as the SoCal Finals. That season she was named second-team all-CIF and second-team all-league. She was the captain of her team the past two seasons as well as being named Most Inspirational her freshman season. She plays her club volleyball for the Sports Shack Volleyball Club and the Southern California Volleyball Club.

"Samantha is an outside hitter who can play on the left and right side very effectively," said Nicholas. "We are really excited to have Samantha join our team and are excited to get her here. She is the type of student-athlete and citizen that will continue the winning tradition that is now the standard for the Spartan volleyball program."

A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Orewiler will come to UNCG after a great career at Madison Comprehensive High School where she played for coach Jennifer Lauber. While playing for the Lady Rams, she helped lead her team to three consecutive league and district championships. She finished her career with the Lady Rams by earned Ohio Cardinal Conference (OCC) Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also named District 6 Player of the Year honors and was named to the District 6 first-team and All-Ohio second team.

During her junior year, Orewiler earned her first OCC Defensive Player of the Year award and also garnered second-team District 6 honors. She was named honorable mention All-Ohio as well. This season she will play for the highly-touted Match Point Volleyball Club for coach Steve Colpus. She is also a three-year letterwinner in softball where she earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior.

"Kellie is a libero/defensive specialist who will fill an immediate need due to the loss of both of our defensive specialists from 2009 due to graduation," said Nicholas. "Although she has some big shoes to fill, I look forward to seeing her fulfill that libero role. She is someone that refuses to lose at anything and her intensity and determination will complement our team nicely."

Keyes comes to UNCG from Riverside High School in Durham, N.C. where she played for coach Michael Hodge, father of reigning National Player of the Year Megan Hodge. At Riverside, she was named to the Pac 6 all-conference team as a senior and junior. She was also named the MVP of her club team, the Jammers Volleyball Club, the past three seasons.

"Lara is another defensive specialist that will come in and provide an upgrade to our much-needed defense and ball control," said Nicholas. "She is from just down the road in Durham and comes from a great family. We think she can really help us and we can't wait to work with her in the fall"

- UNCG -