Jan. 8, 2009

After a very successful inaugural 2008 season, the Racer Volleyball team and Head Coach Kevin Kitchen have announced the commitments of three new athletes for the 2009 season. The Racers will welcome Katie Luebke, Joanie Werling, and Danielle Rist.

Katie Luebke, a 6-2 outside hitter from Bellefontaine, Ohio has verbally committed to play for the Racers in 2009. Luebke is a recent transfer from NCAA Division II Tusculum College in Tennessee, and will begin at UNOH in January. She is a two time All-South Athletic Conference selection. In 2007, she was named to the All-SAC Second team and All-SAC Freshman team. In 2008, she was selected as an All-SAC preseason choice, and finished the season garnering First team honors. Prior to her stint at Tusculum, she played at Bellefontaine High School where she earned All-Ohio honors and District 9 Player of the Year in 2006. Luebke has two years of eligibility remaining.

Joanie Werling, a 5-11 setter from Purcellville, Virginia has verbally committed to play for the Racers in 2009. Werling is a recent transfer from NCAA Division II Mount Olive College in North Carolina, and will begin at UNOH in January. In 2008, she was selected to the All-Conference Carolinas team as an Honorable Mention Selection. She was also selected on the 2008 AVCA Division II All-Southeast Region Women's Volleyball Team. Prior to her stint at Mount Olive, she played at Loudon Valley HS. Her team went undefeated and won Virginia 2A State championship in her junior year. She led Loudon Valley to a combined 55-1 record in junior and senior seasons and was selected to play in 2006 Virginia High School All-Star Game. Werling has one year of eligibility remaining.

Danielle Rist, a 6-2 middle blocker from Oregon, Ohio has verbally committed to play for the Racers in 2009. Rist is currently a senior at Clay High School. She will sign an NAIA letter of intent in the near future.