MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama volleyball head coach Nicole Keshock announced Tuesday the addition of four more players   Valerie Podczasy (Hofstra University), Jessica Lewis (West Forsyth High School), Jenna Hassel (Niceville High School) and Chelsea Noles (Silverdale Baptist Academy) for the upcoming 2010 season.  The four newcomers will join Torlandria Jones from Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Ala., who signed with USA back in December.

“When we began recruiting this class, our staff set two main goals, which would give us the balanced volleyball players that we need,” Keshock said.  “We wanted to bring in players who were both athletic and had a strong knowledge of the game.  All five of the players that we are adding to our roster are athletic and quick and I feel we have accomplished what we set out to do.” 

Prior to her time at Hofstra, Podczasy (pronounced Pa chey zee)   a 5 10 outside hitter   was a four year letterwinner and a three year starter at Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pa.  As a senior, she was named to the Class AAA Pennsylvania Coaches Association all state team and selected to the all District 11 first team.  Following the conclusion of her final prep season, Podczasy was also named to the Lehigh Division all league, Lehigh Conference all valley and Morning Call all area first teams.  While at EHS, Podczasy set the single season school records for kills, aces and blocks.

“One area that I feel has been weak for us as a team has been our passing,” Keshock said.  “We just haven’t had enough good passers on the court at once. One way to correct that is to have your outside hitters pass the ball.  Val is an all around player who will be able to pass to attack and help our serve/receive.  One advantage for her is that she has played the game for a long time.  She has also been very well coached.  She has good technique and great knowledge of the game and will be able to step right in.”

Lewis comes to South Alabama after lettering the past three years at West Forsyth HS in Cummings, Ga., for head coach Jim Orr.  A two year starter for the Wolverines, Lewis was named first team all region as a senior after averaging 5.0 kills per set, 1.7 blocks per set and 1.5 aces per set as a senior.  She also helped WFHS finish the season with a 42 10 1 mark and advance to the Elite Eight of the Georgia High School Association AAA play offs.  As a junior, Lewis’ numbers were just as strong, as she had 3.5 kps and 1.5 bps.  She has also played at the club level, competing for the NFC Volleyball Club.  Along with Jones, the 5 10 incoming freshman will see time at the middle blocker position for USA.

“I feel that Jessica and Torlandria each possess the quickness necessary to be successful in our conference,” said Keshock of the two incoming middle blockers.  “They are quick and athletic enough to get in the air fast.” 

Along with the two freshmen signees   Jones and Lewis   and Podczsay, South Alabama will also look to add a pair of walk ons.

One of those two walk ons will already be familiar with one current Jag.  Jenna Hassell, a 5 7 libero from Niceville HS in Niceville, Fla., played the past four seasons under head coach Chris Hagberg, the mother of Jennica Hagberg   a junior setter at South Alabama.  Hassell has started each of the last three seasons for the Eagles and led them to three straight district championships.  As a senior, Hassell earned first team all district honors for the second year in a row and was named the District Player of the Year after recording 357 digs.  This past season, she also set the single match mark at NHS for digs with 23 and ended her prep career as the program’s all time leader in career digs with 931.

“Jenna also has a good knowledge of the game and has been well coached through out her career, which should help her coming in as a freshman,” Keshock said. “She will step right in and compete for the Libero position. Chelsea has also played a lot of volleyball for a lot of great clubs.  She has a very upbeat personality and is very team oriented.  She is also a good serve/receive passer and will help in both of those areas for our team.”

Noles played her sophomore and junior seasons at Silverdale Baptist Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., after transferring from Ooltewah HS (Ooltewah, Tenn.).  The 5-7 defensive specialist has played for four different club teams over the past six years – competing two years each for Dig To Win and Choo-Choo City and one year for Boom and for OCOEE.  Noles has been an all-district selection and a three-year team captain, while also ranking in the top 5 of her class academically.