Teichert Signs Danielle Downs and JUCO Transfer Vanessa Muir

PHOTO: Danielle Downs signing her NLI papers to play for Idaho State.

Pocatello, ID – Head Coach Chad Teichert has inked two more players, junior college transfer Vanessa Muir and freshman Danielle Downs, to the Idaho State volleyball team bringing Teichert’s total signee count up to four athletes. The six-foot duo will join the Bengal squad for the 2010 season.

Muir, a 6-0 middle blocker transferring from Casper College, was named North Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and All-Region Middle Blocker last season. She helped her team to two regional championships in her career at Casper College.

"Vanessa has a lot of collegiate level experience having played junior college ball,” said Head Coach Chad Teichert. “She's an athletic kid and I’d like to think she can contribute right away but we put the best people on the floor so we will see.”

At Star Valley High School Muir was named All-State in volleyball and helped her team to back-to-back State championships in 2004 and 2005, as well as a second place finish in 2006. She is a well rounded athlete competing in both basketball and track at Star Valley. She captured the State Championship in the High Jump and was named All-State in track as well as being named All-Conference in basketball.


PHOTO: Danielle Downs hitting a jump serve.

The Bengals continue to grow as they gain a 6-0 outside hitter Downs. As a team captain she led Davis High School to three State play-off appearances, including a fifth place finish in 2009. Downs was named All-Region and All-Area First Team in 2009 by the Standard Examiner. The Salt Lake Tribune named Downs Second Team while the Deseret News gave her Honorable Mention in 2009.

Downs excelled in club volleyball as she made back-to-back national appearances with Club V 17’s in 2008 and Club Xtreme 18 in 2009. With Club Xtreme she helped her team win the Far Western Tournament and placed in the top half at nationals in Florida. The outside hitter also excels in the classroom graduating with high honors and a 3.99 GPA. She earned All-Region, All-State and an AP Scholar Award in 2009.

"She will bring ball control and a good arm,” said Teichert. “She's a pretty good all around volleyball player with good athleticism. She can hit the ball pretty well."

Muir, a middle blocker, and Downs, an outside hitter, will join signees Lori Mendenhall and Kylee Searle for the 2010 season for Teichert’s third year leading the Bengals.

-Katie Zigars, Assistant SID