Recruits from across the country set to join Ravens in fall

RINDGE, N.H. (June 10, 2010) – Franklin Pierce University head volleyball coach Stephanie Dragan has announced the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent. Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Stephanie Svorinic (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Jocelyn Smith (Groton, Conn.), Margaret Darcy (Foster, R.I.) and Sarah Rodriguez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) will all join the Ravens for the 2011 campaign.

The quintet will join Catie Swiderski (Rocky, Point, N.Y.), who signed her NLI back in December, to complete the program's six-player recruiting class.

"I am thrilled with the talent level, commitment to academics and community service this class brings to us," said Dragan. "They each have a different personality that will complement our eclectic team. Their impact on our program will be felt immediately."

Ray, a 5-foot-10 right-side hitter, comes to Rindge after spending her freshman season at Yavapai College, where she earned All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference honors for the Roughriders. Prior to that, she was a three-year letterwinner at Cheyenne Mountain High School after one year at Coronado High School, both in Colorado. At Cheyenne Mountain, she capped her career with All-State Honorable Mention honors in her junior and senior seasons from both the Denver Post and the Colorado Springs Gazette. Ray was an All-Conference First Team selection during her senior campaign and led the team to back-to-back state championships as a junior and a senior after finishing as the runner-up in her sophomore season. Cheyenne Mountain captured regional championships in each of her three years with the program.

Ray has seen success in the classroom as well, as a two-time All-State All-Academic First Team honoree. She graduated cum laude at Cheyenne Mountain in 2010. Ray has played at the club level for Colorado Juniors.

"Natasha is a strong, energetic athlete who will bring a much-needed voice to our court," said Dragan. "She has a great block that will frustrate our opponents. As a junior college transfer, she will bring much-needed experience to the floor."

Svorinic, a 5-foot-5 setter, is also a junior college transfer, joining the Ravens after a year at Scottsdale Community College, also in Arizona. Prior to that, she was a four-year letterwinner and 2010 graduate of Notre Dame Preparatory in Arizona. At Notre Dame, Svorinic was an All-State Honorable Mention selection as both a sophomore and a junior, while earning All-Region Second Team selections in her junior and senior campaigns. At the end of her sophomore season, she was named to the All-Championship Team during the state tournament.

At the club level, Svorinic played seven years: three for Arizona Sky, one for Arizona Volleyball Academy and three for Club Red. As a club player, she made three appearances at the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics.

"Stephanie was a member of a team that finished fourth in the junior college rankings. She has been training at the highest level and brings experience to our setter position," said Dragan. "She connected very well with our hitters during her tryout, which gives me optimism regarding the chemistry of our offense this fall."

Smith, a 6-foot middle hitter, is wrapping up her high-school career after four years as a volleyball letterwinner and two with the track and field team at Robert E. Fitch High School in Connecticut. She capped her career by earning All-State First Team honors and an All-Conference First Team selection as a senior, as well as All-Area honors from the New London Day. Smith earned her conference's Sportsmanship Award as a junior.

An honors student throughout her career, Smith was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior. She played at the club level for CT Velocity, helping her team to a New England Region title in 2010.

"Jocelyn is a raw athlete and I am very excited to work with her," said Dragan. "She will add depth in the middle for us and will eventually push both Katie [Jackson] and Ashley [Bruce]."

Darcy, a 5-foot-11 middle hitter, was a two-time captain and three-year letterwinner at Ponaganset High School in Rhode Island. She earned All-Division accolades as a sophomore in her first varsity season after earning the junior varsity's MVP award as a freshman. Darcy was inducted to the National Honor Society as a junior and is also a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society.

"Margaret is a hard-working athlete," said Dragan. "Combined with her bubbly personality, she brings two characteristics that any coach would find appealing."

Rodriguez, a 5-foot-5 defensive specialist, graduated cum laude from Rancho Cucamonga High School in California after two years with the varsity program. A four-year honor student, she helped lead the team to a league championship in her junior season. Rodriguez played at the club level for Arsenal Volleyball Academy.

"Sarah brings defense to our court and will help fill the void left by Chelsie Kohout," said Dragan. "Plus, she brings the most to this class off the court. Her involvement with juvenile diabetes is impressive on all levels."

The Ravens are scheduled to open the 2011 campaign on Sept. 2-3 with four matches against Midwest schools at Saint Joseph's (Ind.).

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).