1999 Lady Rebel Volleyball Signees

May 25, 1999

Sarah Lansden
5-11
Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter
Kingwood, Texas
Kingwood High School

* Named team MVP her senior season
* Earned District 22-5A Most Valuable Player accolades in 1998.
* Received the Kingwood team awards for most kills (376) and most blocks (292) in 1998
* Served as the captain of the Kingwood varsity team in 1998
* Captured MVP honors at the Kingwood Tournament in 1998
* Also named to the All-Tournament team at the Pearland Tournament in 1998
* Earned Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston first team honors in 1998
* Named the Texas All-State Academic Team in 1998
* Received All-District 22-5A first team accolades in 1997 and second team honors in 1996
* Was a member of the district champion in 1997 and 1998
* Kingwood advanced to the regional quarterfinals in 1998 and regional semifinals in 1997
* Helped lead Kingwood to a runner-up finish in the state championships in 1996
* Also competed in club volleyball with the Junior Olympics Open from 1995 to 1998
* Helped her club team to a 10th-place finish in the 16 Open in 1997
* Named to the All-Tournament Power League in 1995
* Also played varsity basketball at Kingwood in 1996 and 1997
* A member of the National Honor Society and the First Presbyterian youth group

Coach Blair's comments on Lansden: "Sarah brings a good understanding of the game of volleyball with her to Ole Miss. She also brings a consistent game with her. Sarah has the ability to play several different positions, which will be valuable to our program. We're glad she's coming here, and she is very excited about joining our program."

Julie McCue
5-10
Outside Hitter
Fullerton, Calif.
Sunny Hills High School
Fullerton College

* Comes to Ole Miss after playing the 1998 campaign at Fullerton College
* Helped lead her Fullerton team to a 12-8 overall record in 1998
* Played in 18 matches at Fullerton last season, recording 100 kills, 102 assists and 104 digs
* Her 102 assists were second on the team
* Named to the Dean's List at Fullerton
* Was a member of the Sunny Hills High School volleyball team prior to her time at Fullerton
* Played three seasons of varsity volleyball at Sunny Hills
* Received the team's Most Inspirational award her junior and senior years at Sunny Hills
* Ran track at Sunny Hills, competing in the hurdles and high jump
* Also played volleyball for the Magnum Volleyball Club team for two years and Club Long
Beach for one year
* Her brother, Mike, plays baseball at Fullerton College

Coach Blair's comments on McCue: "Julie is a more mature player than the rest of our newcomers because she has already played one season of collegiate volleyball at Fullerton. Julie is an exceptional athlete, who has outstanding ball-control skills."

Erin Newsom
6-2
Middle Blocker
Argyle, Texas
Northwest High School

* Named All-District 8-4A first team in 1996, 1997 and 1998
* Selected District 8-4A Outstanding Middle Blocker in 1997 and 1998
* Earned Fort Worth Telegram NE Area second team accolades in 1996 and 1998
* Named Academic All-District in volleyball as sophomore, junior and senior
* Selected as an alternate for the Texas Coaches Association All-Star Game in 1998
* Named team MVP as a sophomore in 1996
* Also lettered in basketball and track and field
* Voted the District 8-4A Basketball Defensive Player of the Year in 1998-99
* Named Wise County's Defensive MVP in basketball in 1998-99
* Earned Academic All-District honors in basketball for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons
* Selected to the All-District 8-4A second team for basketball in 1997-98
* Helped lead the Northwest basketball team to the district championship in 1997-98
* The 1997-98 Northwest basketball team also advanced to the area finals
* Was sixth in the high jump in the district meet in 1998
* Named to Who's Who Among American High School Students from 1995-98
* Received the Texas Scholar Award in 1999
* Named to the Honor Roll all four years at Northwest
* Ranked among the top 10 percent in her graduating class
* Also played club volleyball for the North Dallas Juniors in 1998 and 1999

Coach Blair's comments on Newsom: "Of all the signees in our class, Erin is the one with the most potential. But, she is also the player who has farther to go in reaching that potential because she was a three-sport athlete in high school until this past year when she focused on volleyball. She's now playing for a top-level club team, North Dallas. Erin is receiving some excellent coaching, and is playing at the highest level of junior volleyball right now. If she can learn our system and get comfortable with what we want her to do, Erin has the chance to play a major role for us as a freshman."

Erica Tricco
5-11
Outside Hitter
Phoenix, Ariz.
Mountain Pointe High School

* Helped lead her Mountain Pointe High School team to a runner-up finish in the regional
tournament and a spot in the Arizona state tournament this past season
* Served as team captain in 1998
* Selected to the Central Region first team and the Arizona Republic East Valley "Super Dozen"
team
* Named Mountain Pointe's volleyball MVP in 1998
* Receive Athlete of the Month honors from both the Ahwatukee News and her high school
newspaper this past year
* A three-year letterwinner in both volleyball and track and field
* Won the Phoenix city meet triple jump championship as a sophomore and junior
* Also plays club volleyball for the Arizona Juniors
* Named an Arizona scholar-athlete all four years at Mountain Pointe
* A member of the National Honor Society, Champs, Renaissance Club and Lettermen Club

Coach Blair's comments on Tricco: "Erica is our last signee, and we're excited to have her. She's a great athlete, and her best volleyball is ahead of her. Erica comes to us out of a top junior program, the Arizona Juniors, where she is receiving good coaching, so she is only going to get better this summer before she comes to preseason. Depending upon how things come together for her, she may compete for playing time as a freshman this season."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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