April 16, 2008

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University Associate Head Coach Mika Robinson has announced that two high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the ISU volleyball program for the 2008 season. Emily Beardmore of Missouri City, Texas and Karissa Legaux of Cota de Caza, California will both join the program in August.

Beardmore is a 5-8 outside hitter from Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas who helped lead her team to a 36-8 record and a trip to the Region Semi-Finals in class 5A. She started as an outside hitter, helping the team to a perfect 18-0 league mark, and she not only was a co-captain, but she was named Honorable Mention "Outstanding Hitter" by LoneStarVolleyball.com. She also was named District 23-5A MVP, and Dulles High MVP as a senior. She was a second team All-District pick as a junior as Dulles went 35-5 and made it to the 5A region finals.

Along with her high school credentials, Emily played club volleyball for Team Texas Elite, and she has earned numerous other accolades, including being named All-Tournament at both the Katy ISD Tournament and the Spring Branch ISD Tournament. She also was an outside hitter for the Texas Tornados 17 Black, helping her team to a fourth place finish in the Tour of Texas.

Said Associate head coach Mika Robinson of Beardmore, "Emily is a very dynamic player who will be a crowd favorite at Idaho State. Her high level club experience coupled with her athleticism and aggressive style of play will give her the ability to make a great impact early in her career."

Legaux (le GO) is a 5-10 setter from Tesoro High School in Coto de Caza, California where she earned Second Team All-South Coast League in 2007 and First Team All-South Coast League honors in 2006. As a junior she helped Tesoro to the second round of the CIF regional tournament, and she was named the Tesoro Titan of the Year in 2007. The psychology major also is a member of the Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club, the same club as former Bengal and current ISU assistant coach Lisa Bushman.

Said Robinson of Legaux, "Karissa's experience at the club and high school level has been against some of the best volleyball players in the country. She is a naturally gifted setter but is very unassuming and level headed. I expect her to do great things in the Big Sky."

Idaho State volleyball opens their season on Friday, August 29 at the University of New Mexico Tournament.