11/20/2009 - VOLLEYBALL Beavers ink two during early signing period

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BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University volleyball team announced today the signing of Taylor Adams (Anchorage, Alaska) and Ashley Feldman (Baudette, Minn.) to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period for 2010-11. Adams and Feldman are both 2009 all-state members.

All signees are contingent upon admission to BSU and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

“I’m very excited for the both of them to come to BSU because they will bring height,” said head coach Laurie Bitter. “Our biggest struggles this season were at the net and both Ashley and Taylor will provide more power at the net that will help a lot for next year.”

Taylor Adams • Middle Hitter • 6-1 • Anchorage, Alaska • Diamond High School

Adams led Diamond High School to its second consecutive 4A state championship, recording 18 kills and 12 blocks in the championship match. She was named to the all-state tournament team for her efforts. Adams started the varsity squad all through high school, earning All-Cook Inlet Conference accolades her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Adams was named to the West High School Spiketacular All-Tournament team her last three seasons and was an all-tournament team member in the Diamond-Service tournament, which included being named the event’s most valuable player in 2009. She has also earned a letter in basketball. Adams’ off-court accomplishments are as impressive as her on-court accolades, as she has an academic letter with four gold stars, two English Department awards, is a National Honor Society member, is a athletic council volleyball representative and is the Z Club secretary.

Personal: The daughter of Peter and Shaunna Adams...Born May 2, 1992 in Rochester, Minn...Beating Chugiak in the fifth set of the state championship in 2008 and the 2009 state championship run are the greatest moments in her athletic career...She enjoys spending time with family, playing sports with her brothers, going to the cabin, snow machining and water skiing...Her father played basketball for four years at the University of Alaska Anchorage and went on to play a year of professional basketball in Germany.

“I am very excited to be attending Bemidji State University next year,” Adams said. “It has always been my dream to play volleyball in college and I know that BSU will be a great place to do that.”

“Taylor can jump, set, hit, and pass, she can really do it all on the court,” Bitter said. “She is going to be a very fun hitter to watch on the outside for us next season. I am really excited to bring her in.”

Ashley Feldman • Middle Hitter • 6-2 • Baudette, Minn. • Lake of the Woods High School

Feldman was named to the 2009 Class A Minnesota State Girls Volleyball All-Tournament Team, leading Lake of the Woods High School to the semi-finals of the state tournament. She was named to the all-state squad, was the North Border Senior Player of the Year and was named team most valuable player in 2009. Feldman is a four-time member of the all-conference team, guiding the Bears to three section championships and three state tournament appearances in 2006, 2008 and 2009. She was a key member of the basketball team last season that won the section championship and participated in the state tournament. Off the court, Feldman is a National Honor Society member and a part of the A-honor roll.

Personal: The daughter of Neal and Sharon Feldman...Born Sept. 4, 1991 in Fergus Falls, Minn...She lists participating in the volleyball state tournament for four years and basketball for one year as the greatest thrills of her athletics career...She enjoys sports, animals and kids...Her father played baseball at Moorhead State University...Bitter coached Feldman previous to her duties at Bemidji State at Lake of the Woods High School...Feldman has played with current BSU junior Nicole Olson and sophomore Courtney Bitter.

“I am very excited to become a Beaver volleyball player and I’m looking forward to playing at the next level,” Feldman said. “I am thrilled to play with Courtney and Nicole again, and to meet the rest of the team.”

“I coached Ashley from the time she was a little girl all the way to the 10th grade,” Bitter said. “She’s not only a phenomenal player, but a phenomenal person. She is a very hardworking and coachable player with great power. If you ask her to run a mile, she’ll run three.”

The signees are the sixth and seventh early commitments in Bitter’s three years at BSU. In her first season, she singed C. Bitter, Kimberly Hacker (Hutchinson, Minn.), Laura Slinger (Faribault, Minn.), Melissa McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.), and former Beaver Erikka Korpi.

The Beavers (11-20, 8-12 NSIC) finished with 11 wins, which is the most by a BSU squad since the 2003 team went 15-17. The Beavers finished 8-12 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, which is the most conference wins since the 2002 campaign when they finished 8-10. They were ninth in the final NSIC standings after being placed 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll. BSU went 6-4 at home, which is its first winning home record since 2003 when that squad posted a 7-4 mark in the BSU Gymnasium.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--