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April 8, 2009
IUP head coach Zach Shaver has announced the addition of two newcomers to the Crimson Hawk volleyball program, bringing next year's freshman class to a total of four players. Inking national letters of intent were outside hitter Laura McFadden from Allentown Central Catholic High School, the MVP of the PIAA state championship tournament, and record-setting middle hitter Morgan Cerveny from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Richfield, Ohio. McFadden and Cerveny join Kelsey Rodgers from Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, and Sara Leighty from Central High School in Duncansville, as next year's incoming class. McFadden averaged 12 kills, four aces and 10 serving points per game as a senior in 2008. She helped lead Allentown Central Catholic to back-to-back PIAA titles and a runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2006. Her team also captured four District XI championships and three Lehigh Valley Conference crowns. She also played for the Synergy Lehigh Valley Junior Olympic team. In addition to her state tournament MVP award, McFadden was selected to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association all-state team, chosen the Allentown Morning Call Player of the Year and the District XI Co-MVP and was nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year Award. "Laura is an extremely skilled outside hitter who learned under Coach Corcoran at Allentown Central Catholic," Shaver said. "She is the complete package and can raise her level of play in big games as evidenced by her MVP performance in the state tournament. We expect her to significantly add to our outside hitter position and immediately challenge for court time." McFadden has also been active in her high school theatre program, participating in plays, musicals and talent shows and did broadcasting work as well. She plans to use those interests as a communications and theatre major at IUP.
As a junior in 2007, Cerveny was an honorable mention all-conference selection. She also played club volleyball for Pinnacle, Renaissance and Cleveland Volleyball Company. She is planning on majoring in physical therapy and exercise science at IUP. "Morgan is exceptionally athletic and will add more quickness and jumping ability to our middle blocker position," Shaver said. "She will be an offensive threat early on and is very good at attacking quick sets in front of the setter. The more we watched her during the club season, the more impressed we were with her abilities. We are happy she chose to be a Crimson Hawk." |
