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Since winning its last Greater Miami Conference title in 2008 and graduating seven seniors, members of the Lakota East varsity girls’ volleyball squad and others in the conference have considered the Thunderhawks to be underdogs because of their youth.

However, that youthful group, which finished with a combined 36-14 record the past two seasons, is all grown up.

This year’s squad returns 11 student athletes, who were on the 2010 team, which advanced all the way to the final 16 in the state tournament last November.

“We have always been the underdog because we have always been told that we are too young,” senior setter Hannah Berling said. “We have a huge junior and senior class, but when we were freshmen and sophomores we were the babies, but now we won’t have that excuse anymore.”

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST’S FIRST SUMMER PRACTICE<<<

Berling, who led the Thunderhawks and was sixth in the GMC in assists in 2010 with 519, is among six seniors who will be featured on the 2011 varsity roster, according to second-year head coach Casie Garland. Other seniors, who were also on last year’s roster include Hannah Sigala, who is committed to play at Morehead State University, Lauren Beitel, Morgan Weinheimer and Emily Bostian.

Meanwhile, the junior class is led by Ali Lake (photo – click to enlarge), who is committed to Ohio University, and Ashley Evans, who is committed to Purdue University. (more…)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Lake, Ashley Evans, Casie Garland, Emily Bostian, Hannah Berling, Hannah Sigala, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lauren Beitel, Morehead State, Morehead State University, Morehead State volleyball, Morgan Weinheimer, Ohio, Ohio University, Ohio University volleyball, Ohio volleyball, photo gallery, photos, Purdue, Purdue University, Purdue volleyball, volleyball, West Chester photos

Lakota East sophomore Ali Lake has announced that she has made a verbal commitment to play volleyball at Ohio University. She is the third volleyball player from Lakota East to make a commitment to a Division I program in April. Earlier this month, junior Hannah Sigala committed to Morehead State University and sophomore Ashley Evans committed to Purdue University.

This past fall, Lakota East finished in a two-way tie with Sycamore for second place in the Greater Miami Conference standings. The Thunderhawks finished the year with an 18-7 overall record and a 7-2 mark within the GMC.

Lake (photo), who is a 6-foot-1 middle hitter for the Thunderhawks, had 123 kills last season, according to the GMC website.

Sigala was named to the All-GMC Second Team after registering 97 kills in the fall.

Evans, who is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter at Lakota East, will be used as a setter at Purdue. This past fall, Evans was named to the All-GMC First Team and led her team with 228 kills.

“She is one of the most athletic and versatile player that we have on our team or even in the city,” Lakota East head coach Cassie Garland said of Evans. “She could probably play anywhere on the court.”

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Lake, Ashley Evans, Casie Garland, Hannah Sigala, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Morehead State, Morehead State University, Ohio, Ohio University, Purdue, Purdue University, volleyball