January 22, 2003

FURMAN VOLLEYBALL ADDS FOUR PREPSTERS IN SIGNING SEASON

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- The Furman volleyball team signed four prep athletes, three out of the state of Florida, to National Letters of Intent to play for the Lady Paladins, coach Michelle Young announced on Wednesday. Whitney Purser, Liz Hilliker, Allison Hock, and Kim Tonkin will comprise the Lady Paladin volleyball team¹s freshman class in the fall of 2003.

Purser, a 5-10 outside hitter from Lake Highland Prep School in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., was a 1999 All-State selection, two-time All Orange County choice, and a two-time All-Conference recipient, despite sitting out all but three weeks of her senior year with an ankle injury. In addition, she was a two-time selection to the Florida Athletic Coach¹s Association All Star Team, and is a member of the highly-regarded Orlando Volleyball Academy club team.

Purser will be joined at Furman by her Orlando Volleyball Academy teammate Hock. As a senior Hock, a 6-0 outside hitter from Winter Springs High School in Oviedo, Fla., was her high school team¹s Most Valuable Player, first-team All-Conference, Player of the Year for Seminole County, and earned the Scholar Award for the highest GPA on the team. Hock¹s distinguished career included MVP in 2001, three All-County selections, two All-Central Florida nods, three All-State awards, and her selection as the 5A Florida Player of the Year.

Hilliker, a 5-9 outside hitter from Canterbury School in Ft. Myers, Fla., played club ball for USA South and also brings outstanding prep credentials to the table. A three-time team Most Valuable Player and all-state selection, Hilliker earned MVP of the State Championship as a junior and was a two-time Class A Player of the Year. In addition, she won numerous academic awards, including the Princeton Book Award and High Honor Roll status.

Tonkin, a 5-8 setter/outside hitter from Marietta, Ga., rounds out the Furman class. In addition to earning Most Valuable Offensive Player at Marietta High School, Tonkin was a Georgia Senior All Star Team member and earned All-County Honorable Mention. Academically, she was a National Merit Semi-Finalist and recipient of the Duke Scholarship. Tonkin competed at the club level for the Atlanta Juniors.

³We are very excited about this class,² said Young. ³They are great student-athletes who we see making a contribution early.²