June 11, 2003

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - The University of Memphis volleyball team continued to prepare for the opening of the 2003 season when Emily Steckel signed a National Letter of Intent, Wednesday. Steckel, a graduate of Hart High School in Newhall, California, will join Memphis in the fall at the libero position.

A two-year letterwinner and starter at Hart High, Steckel helped her team to the state play-offs as a senior. She also played club volleyball with the Santa Monica Beach Club that ranked in the top 10 in the SCVA and finished in the top 20 at the Las Vegas Invitational. She also played club ball at outside hitter and libero for the Synergy Volleyball Club (renamed from Santa Clarita Athletic Club). Her Magic Volleyball Club also won the SCVA Championships at the 14s level.

"Emily is a tremendous, fiery competitor and she plays for one of the best club teams in the west," Tiger Head Coach Carrie Yerty said. "She is a highly-skilled defensive player and passer, and it will be a duel between her and Christen Clayton for the starting libero position for this fall."

Steckel was voted the best defensive player at the Nike High Potential Camp at Ohio State last summer and also attended the Dave Rubio volleyball camp at the University of Arizona.

A member of the California Scholastic Federation and a member of the Honor Society, Steckel is considering majoring in either journalism, psychology or pre-law at Memphis.

"We're so excited to have Emily join us," Yerty said. "She is a competitive player who lays it on the line and she is just a highly-skilled player who will bring so much to our team both on and off the court."

Steckel is Memphis' first recruit from California since former Tiger April Harriman completed her degree in 2000. Harriman, who was just the third Memphis student-athlete in school history to be named an Academic All-America honoree, went on to earn her master's degree and spent two years on the coaching staff at Ohio University.

Steckel will be the fourth newcomer for the Tigers in 2003. She joins setter Hristina Stancheva, who enrolled in school in January, Christen Clayton from Houston, Texas, and Melissa Nance from Frankfort, Indiana.

The Tiger volleyball team expects to add two more players before the season begins August 29th at the Arkansas State University tournament. Memphis will open its 2003 home schedule, Sept. 12-13 when they host their own University of Memphis Tournament. This year's tournament features Holy Cross, Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette over the two-day tournament. Memphis will also participate in tournaments at Birmingham Southern and Davidson College before the Conference USA schedule begins in October.