Photo by: Jeremy Enlow
Volleyball Announces Its First NCAA Division-I Signing Class
2/25/2013 6:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE – The Abilene Christian volleyball program today announced that its historic first NCAA Division-I signing class would be comprised of current high school standouts Erica Lambert, Lexi Mercier and Dorothy Swanson.
Lambert and Mercier both hail from Colorado, which is home to several notable former Wildcats including Kelsie Edwards and Shawna Hines, while Swanson is native to the northeast Texas hamlet of White Oak. This combination of outside hitters and middle blockers has an average height of 6-feet and will certainly help next year's balanced roster of four sophomores, three juniors and three seniors.
“I am so excited about our incoming 2013 class,” said seventh-year head coach Kellen Mock. “All three players have the potential to make an impact on the court this fall. This class is very well-rounded athletically, and the girls are such a great fit for our program."
Erica Lambert (Colorado Springs, Colo./Coronado HS)
Lambert is an outside and right side hitter who racked up 700 kills and over 200 blocks during her stellar four-year career at Coronado. She also collected more than 130 aces and 1,000 assists in leading the Cougars to 74 wins and a pair of top-three showings at the state tournament.
A three-time first team all-league selection, Lambert was part of a 2011 team that placed second at state behind an overall record of 27-4, and a 2012 squad that placed third with a 24-4 mark. At this past year's tournament, Lambert's team advanced to the semifinals after coming all the way back from deficits of 24-16 in the fourth game, and 9-3 in the fifth and final game.
“Erica is a long, lanky athlete that brings an incredible amount of ball control to our gym in addition to her skills on the front row.” Mock said. “With her experience as a setter in high school, Erica possesses a very high volleyball IQ and will be a big help to us on either the outside or right side.”
Lambert plans to study chemistry at ACU. She has earned several academic all-state awards as both a volleyball and track and field student-athlete.
Lexi Mercier (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe HS)
A winner of the Centennial League's Middle Hitter Award, Mercier is expected to immediately bolster an ACU block that ranked eighth out of 11 Lone Star Conference teams last fall with 1.68 blocks per set.
“Lexi is so quick and explosive that she has potential to really help us compete early in her career.” Said Mock. She reminds me a lot of Neely Borger when Neely came in – lots of energy and eager to get better and contribute. Our weakest skill this past year was our block, and I feel we are already a better blocking team with the addition of Lexi.”
During her three-year career at Arapahoe High School, Mercier blocked 194 shots, 40 of which were solo efforts. She finished her senior year with 97 blocks (13 solo), 153 kills and .358 hitting percentage to receive all-Colorado honorable mention from the Denver Post and first team honors from the Centennial League.
Mercier's final season efforts, which included 12 blocks vs. Grandview and 10 vs. Cherokee Trail, also earned her a selection to the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State Class 5A match.
With her club team, Mercier collected 213 kills and 137 blocks in 2012 to go along with a .360 attack percentage.
Mercier is a recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and plans to study vocational missions and nutrition at ACU.
Dorothy Swanson (White Oak, Texas/White Oak HS)
A three-sport athlete and member of White Oaks' 2010 Class 2A state championship team, Swanson comes to ACU with 1,346 kills, 615 digs and 353 blocks to go along with an impressive career win-loss record of 172-12 (.935).
Swanson finished her senior year of 2012 with District MVP totals of 575 kills, 257 digs, 118 blocks, 64 aces and 12 assists. These numbers earned the two-year team captain a spot on the Under Armour All-America Watch List as well as first team all-state honors from the Texas Sportswriters Association. Swanson also was honored with one of six places on the University Interscholastic League all-tournament team.
As a junior, Swanson made two all-state teams and was named the districts' co-Most Valuable Hitter, and as a sophomore, she was honored as the districts' Most Valuable Blocker.
“Dorothy is a multi-sport athlete and she is ultra-competitive,” said Mock. “She has so much drive both on the court and in her academics, I think she will add a special edge to our team and really help push us to the next level.”
A three-time academic all-district selection, Swanson plans to study nursing at ACU. In addition to playing volleyball at White Oak, Swanson also earned varsity letters for basketball and track and field.
Lambert and Mercier both hail from Colorado, which is home to several notable former Wildcats including Kelsie Edwards and Shawna Hines, while Swanson is native to the northeast Texas hamlet of White Oak. This combination of outside hitters and middle blockers has an average height of 6-feet and will certainly help next year's balanced roster of four sophomores, three juniors and three seniors.
“I am so excited about our incoming 2013 class,” said seventh-year head coach Kellen Mock. “All three players have the potential to make an impact on the court this fall. This class is very well-rounded athletically, and the girls are such a great fit for our program."
Erica Lambert (Colorado Springs, Colo./Coronado HS)
Lambert is an outside and right side hitter who racked up 700 kills and over 200 blocks during her stellar four-year career at Coronado. She also collected more than 130 aces and 1,000 assists in leading the Cougars to 74 wins and a pair of top-three showings at the state tournament.
A three-time first team all-league selection, Lambert was part of a 2011 team that placed second at state behind an overall record of 27-4, and a 2012 squad that placed third with a 24-4 mark. At this past year's tournament, Lambert's team advanced to the semifinals after coming all the way back from deficits of 24-16 in the fourth game, and 9-3 in the fifth and final game.
“Erica is a long, lanky athlete that brings an incredible amount of ball control to our gym in addition to her skills on the front row.” Mock said. “With her experience as a setter in high school, Erica possesses a very high volleyball IQ and will be a big help to us on either the outside or right side.”
Lambert plans to study chemistry at ACU. She has earned several academic all-state awards as both a volleyball and track and field student-athlete.
Lexi Mercier (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe HS)
A winner of the Centennial League's Middle Hitter Award, Mercier is expected to immediately bolster an ACU block that ranked eighth out of 11 Lone Star Conference teams last fall with 1.68 blocks per set.
“Lexi is so quick and explosive that she has potential to really help us compete early in her career.” Said Mock. She reminds me a lot of Neely Borger when Neely came in – lots of energy and eager to get better and contribute. Our weakest skill this past year was our block, and I feel we are already a better blocking team with the addition of Lexi.”
During her three-year career at Arapahoe High School, Mercier blocked 194 shots, 40 of which were solo efforts. She finished her senior year with 97 blocks (13 solo), 153 kills and .358 hitting percentage to receive all-Colorado honorable mention from the Denver Post and first team honors from the Centennial League.
Mercier's final season efforts, which included 12 blocks vs. Grandview and 10 vs. Cherokee Trail, also earned her a selection to the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State Class 5A match.
With her club team, Mercier collected 213 kills and 137 blocks in 2012 to go along with a .360 attack percentage.
Mercier is a recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and plans to study vocational missions and nutrition at ACU.
Dorothy Swanson (White Oak, Texas/White Oak HS)
A three-sport athlete and member of White Oaks' 2010 Class 2A state championship team, Swanson comes to ACU with 1,346 kills, 615 digs and 353 blocks to go along with an impressive career win-loss record of 172-12 (.935).
Swanson finished her senior year of 2012 with District MVP totals of 575 kills, 257 digs, 118 blocks, 64 aces and 12 assists. These numbers earned the two-year team captain a spot on the Under Armour All-America Watch List as well as first team all-state honors from the Texas Sportswriters Association. Swanson also was honored with one of six places on the University Interscholastic League all-tournament team.
As a junior, Swanson made two all-state teams and was named the districts' co-Most Valuable Hitter, and as a sophomore, she was honored as the districts' Most Valuable Blocker.
“Dorothy is a multi-sport athlete and she is ultra-competitive,” said Mock. “She has so much drive both on the court and in her academics, I think she will add a special edge to our team and really help push us to the next level.”
A three-time academic all-district selection, Swanson plans to study nursing at ACU. In addition to playing volleyball at White Oak, Swanson also earned varsity letters for basketball and track and field.
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