August 7, 2006 -
FLORENCE, S.C. – First-year Francis Marion University women’s volleyball coach Paul MacDonald has announced the signing of right-side hitter Ashley Lasher of Oakland, Calif., and setter Jess O’Leary of St. Louis, Mo., to national letters of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots.
Lasher, 5-10, is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College High School, where she played for coach Jon Segall. In 2005, she earned her squad’s Most Improved award, while helping lead her squad to the Northern California State Section championship and a second-place finish in the state (Division IV) tournament.
She also played for the Starlings-Oakland club team, where she has been the team captain for the past four years.
She was recently named Northern California’s 2006 Hispanic Heritage Youth Award Silver Medallion Winner for Sports.
O’Leary, a 5-8, played for coach Carol Reinitz at Lutheran High School South. This past season, she earned first-team All-Conference recognition, while helping the Lady Lancers to a 24-8-4 record. She served as team captain and was named her team’s most valuable player.
She also played with the Kirkwood Volleyball Club.
“Ashley has a natural knack for blocking,” said MacDonald. “Her high school practices placed her against some of the best attackers in the country (two former teammates have signed with Division I programs). This training will allow her to move quickly into an influential role on the team.
“Jess has an extremely clean ball delivery that will work well with the offense we want to deliver for our attackers. She has great chemistry with her middle attackers, which is crucial to a setter’s influence on a team. Her winning background will be a great asset to our program, as her high school volleyball team placed fifth in the state and her basketball team was third. She will help foster a competitive environment for our program on a daily basis”.
Francis Marion returns six players from last fall’s 29-11 squad that won the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
MacDonald previously announced the signings of outside hitter Allison Good of Richmond, Va., and outside hitter Krissy Mordini of Freeport, Ill.
