May 3, 2011
PITTSBURGH - Duquesne volleyball head coach Steve Opperman announced the signings of Patti Abshire (New Berlin, Wis./Catholic Memorial/Milwaukee Sting), Arielle Love (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights/AVC Volleyball) and Julia McCabe (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland/Renaissance) to national letters of intent.
The 5-6 Abshire will be inserted at the libero position. She led Catholic Memorial to back-to-back Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state championships in 2009 and 2010. The Crusaders were the state runner-ups in 2008. In addition to being named 2010 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American, she was a two-time first-team all-state player who was named the Classic 8 Conference Player of the Year.
Abshire, who has made the high honor roll each year at Catholic Memorial, will major in accounting.
"Patti is a hard-nosed competitor that will run our defense and serve receive," said Opperman. "She is a player that can get a team fired up with her tenacious defensive presence. She was the conference player of the year in high school, so it says a lot about the character and play of this athlete."
The 6-0 Love will play the middle hitter position. She led Maple Heights to its first-ever undefeated regular season en route to a 23-1 overall record. She was the 2010 and 2009 Lake Erie Player of the Year as well as a 2010 Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association Third-Team All-State. She was named to the all-tournament team at the 2010 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships and was a 2009 HM All-State selection. Love was also a finalist for the prestigious Wendy's High School Heisman Award which recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and community/school leadership.
She finished her career with 986 kills, 770 digs and 659 service points - all school records.
Love plans on majoring in sports marketing.
"Arielle, is a fast-moving, big jumping athlete that will add to the talent of our team," said Opperman. "She has the athletic ability to come in and compete right away for a starting position at middle hitter. She is a middle that can block and attack equally well. We are looking forward to Arielle's presence in the gym."
The 5-10 McCabe will play at the outside hitter position. She had 38 kills in the Rams' victory over Seneca Valley to win the 2010 WPIAL AAA Championship and led Pine-Richland to the quarterfinals of the PIAA Championship. The Rams were the WPIAL runner-ups in 2008. She was voted to the 2009 and 2010 first-team Class AAA All-WPIAL team and to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All-State team her sophomore, junior and senior years.
McCabe plans on majoring in education.
"Julia is a player that comes from a very athletic family," said Opperman. She has proven herself on the court as one of the best players in the state of Pennsylvania. She is a very solid player in every aspect of the game and we are looking forward to Julia pushing our returning outside hitters for playing time.
The Dukes, coming off a Division I era program record 23 wins, will begin its 2011season in late August.
