Head Coach Stephanie Dragan inks first recruits

RINDGE, N.H. (December 1, 2009) – Franklin Pierce University head volleyball coach Stephanie Dragan has announced the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent. Right side hitter Ashley Bruce (Hampton Falls, N.H.), middle hitter Katie Jackson (Cherry Creek, Colo.) and outside hitter and libero Lauren Miller (Alexandria, Ind.) will all join the Ravens for the 2010 campaign.

“I am incredibly excited to bring my first class of recruits to Franklin Pierce University,” Dragan said. “All three of these players have the talent to contribute to our team immediately. We have the utmost confidence they will grow the program’s talent level and allow us to compete at the highest level in the Northeast-10 Conference.”

Bruce, a 6-foot right side hitter, recently wrapped up her third year as a starter at Winnacunnet High School. As a senior this fall, she closed out her high school career with selections to New Hampshire’s Division I All-Star and All-State teams. It marks Bruce’s second All-State honor, as she garnered Second-Team accolades as a junior in 2008. She is a four-year letterwinner for Winnacunnet, as she saw time with the varsity program as a freshman before breaking into the starting lineup beginning with her sophomore season. As a junior, Bruce was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.

Bruce has also seen success at the club level, as a member of the Great Bay Volleyball Club. She helped the Great Bay 16’s squad to a top-four finish in New England early in her career before later leading the Great Bay 18’s team to a top-eight finish. In addition to her time on the volleyball court, Bruce was also a four-year starter for Winnacunnet’s softball team and served as team captain during her junior and senior seasons.

“Ashley is a long, lean, explosive athlete with a huge block who I can’t wait to see playing at the right pin next fall,” said Dragan. “I’m so excited we were able to grab an in-state girl. She comes from an athletic background with a father who is a football coach; she is a tireless worker and understands how to be an athlete.”

Miller, a 5-foot-7 player who can play both the outside hitter and libero positions, recently concluded an accolade-filled senior season at Alexandria-Monroe High School. She led the team in kills, blocks and aces on her way to All-Area Player of the Year, county Most Valuable Player and team Most Valuable Player honors. In addition, Miller was selected All-State First Team, All-County and All-Conference, and was invited to participate in Indiana’s North/South All-Star match.

In all, Miller is a two-time All-State selection and three-time All-County and All-Conference selection who led Alexandria-Monroe in both kills and aces in each of her four years on the team. She broke into the starting lineup immediately and garnered All-County and All-Conference Honorable Mentions as a freshman in 2006. Furthermore, she is a two-time team Most Valuable Player, two-time county Most Valuable Player and a two-time All-Area Player of the Year, as she collected all three awards in both her junior and senior seasons. Miller is a product of Asics Munciana as a six-year member of the program which is annually a contender at the national level of club volleyball.

“Lauren is the smallest of our three signees, but she brings us outstanding ball control and the most well-rounded volleyball training of the three, thanks to her background in Indiana,” said Dragan. “Munciana is known for producing small, skilled, scrappy players with a ton of heart, and that’s exactly what Lauren will bring to our team.”

Jackson, a 5-foot-11 middle hitter, finished up her career at Cherry Creek High School this fall. She collected All-Centennial League Second Team honors as she helped lead Cherry Creek to a fifth-place finish in the Colorado 5A State Tournament. At the club level, Jackson has played for the Colorado Performance Volleyball Club. Recently, the squad has placed 13th at the Junior Olympics and won the Northern Lights Junior National Qualifier.

“Katie is a workhorse; she’s not flashy, but she gets the job done and does it well, especially in transition,” said Dragan. “Her experience playing as a middle for Colorado Performance will make it that much easier for her to slide right in and contribute immediately as a middle in the Northeast-10.”

All three signees will graduate from their respective high schools in the spring of 2010 and join the Ravens on campus in the fall.