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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebel Volleyball Announce New Signees
6/21/1999 | Volleyball
May 19, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - Julie McCue, Erin Newsom and Erica Tricco have signed scholarships to play volleyball at Ole Miss beginning in the 1999-2000 academic year, Lady Rebel head coach John Blair announced on Wednesday. McCue, Newsom and Tricco join Sarah Lansden in the Lady Rebel volleyball 1999 recruiting class.
McCue comes to Ole Miss after playing the 1998 campaign at Fullerton College. Fullerton had a 12-8 overall record in 1998. A 5-foot-10 outside hitter, McCue played in 18 matches at Fullerton last season, recording 100 kills, 102 assists and 104 digs. McCue's 102 assists were second on the team. The Fullerton, Calif., native also was named to the Dean's List at Fullerton. Prior to her time at Fullerton, McCue played volleyball at Sunny Hills High School. She also played for the Magnum Volleyball Club team for two years and Club Long Beach for one year.
"Julie is a more mature player than the rest of our newcomers because she has already played one season of collegiate volleyball at Fullerton," said Blair. "Julie is an exceptional athlete, who has outstanding ball-control skills."
A native of Argyle, Texas, Newsom was a three-sport athlete at Northwest High School. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker earned All-District 8-4A first team honors in 1996, 1997 and 1998. She was also named to the Fort Worth Telegram NE Area second team as a sophomore and senior and received Academic All-District 8-4A accolades in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Newsom also played basketball and ran track at Northwest. In club volleyball action, Newsome is currently a member of the North Dallas Juniors 18 Red squad.
"Of all the signees in our class, Erin is the one with the most potential," Blair said. "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."
A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Tricco 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. Tricco served as team captain, and was selected to the Central Region first team and the Arizona Republic East Valley "Super Dozen" team. Named Mountain Pointe's volleyball MVP in 1998, Tricco also played club ball for the Arizona Juniors. A three-year letterwinner in volleyball and track and field at Mountain Pointe, Tricco won the city meet triple jump title as a sophomore and junior. She was named an Arizona scholar-athlete all four years at Mountain Pointe.
"Erica is our last signee, and we're excited to have her," said Blair. "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 Lady Rebels will open their 1999 campaign at home versus Tennessee-Martin on Sept. 1.
