Volleyball welcomes two new recruits

July 13, 2011--Uniontown, Pa.

Two more area volleyball players have committed to the three-time defending PSUAC Champion Lady Roaring Lions volleyball team. Emily Konter (Brownsville) and Samantha Helmantoler (Ringgold) increase head coach Nancy Wheeler's 2011 recruiting class to seven, joining several returning players from last year's PSUAC Tournament Champions.

Konter, an education major, was the salutatorian at Brownsville High School, earning the school's Fayette County Scholastic Achievement Award, Scholar-Athlete Award, the Superintendent's Award for Academics and the Challenge Program's Highest GPA Award.

Konter, a setter, also earned selection on the All-County Volleyball Team in each of her four seasons at Brownsville, and made the All-Section team her final two seasons. She served as her team's captain in 2010 and was named her team's MVP in both 2009 and 2010. Konter was also selected as a Mid-Mon Valley Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete.

Helmantoler, an outside hitter and Physical Therapy Assistant major, joins the Lady Roaring Lions after several successful seasons at Ringgold High School. A three-year letterman, she earned All-Section honors twice and was named to the All-WPIAL Third Team her senior season.

Helmantoler was also named a Mid-Mon Valley Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete, and is an active community volunteer for the Toys for Tots program. Graduating with honors, she is also a published poet.

Wheeler welcomes her seven recruits to a squad returning five starters and two reserves. The Lady Roaring Lions open their season at the Penn State Beaver Volleyball Classic on Friday, Aug. 26, at 6:00 p.m. against Rochester College.