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

Vella Earns Malta Gold in Europe Championship

Hey Bengal Fans! It seems that the ISU athletic website will be unable to update for awhile. The services that house the website are moving to a new building. In the mean time this is what you have missed...

Vella Earns Malta Gold in Europe Championship

Yerevan, Aremenia – Forward Ashleigh Vella notched 13 points and eight rebounds in Malta’s 74-65 victory over Armenia to capture the Division C Europe Championship. Vella, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Malta, helped her country defeat Scotland, Wales, Moldova and Armenia on the way to the gold medal.

“We are excited about Ash’s opportunity to play international basketball. The experience she is gaining is very valuable and will help her to continue to develop as a good forward,” said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. “It doesn’t surprise me the Ashleigh’s team won the championship. Everything she sets her mind to do she accomplishes it.”

The Bengal scored 13 points in the championship game, hitting 57.1 percent from the field as well as knocking down a trey. Against Scotland, Malta’s first contest of the tournament, she scored seven points and made 12 rebounds during the 64-35 victory.

Malta then defeated Wales 81-43, where Vella posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. It was also her most accurate game hitting 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field. Her 12 points and 8 assists effort against Moldova helped Malta clinch its appearance in the finals against Armenia, defeating Moldova 85-57. She also chipped in four rebounds.

During the course of the competitions she averaged 12.3 points, 9 rebounds and 4.3 assists, the fifth best mark in the tournament. Vella also was the second best leader in minutes for the tournament average 37.3 per game. Earning Malta a gold medal isn’t a first for Vella as she helped her team capture the championship in the Games of the Small States of Europe held in Cyprus in June of 2009.

-Katie Zigars, Assistant SID