ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop first-year volleyball coach Bruce Atkinson is bringing an international flavor to the program as he has announced the addition of five student-athletes, including three who have national team level playing experience, for the 2013 season.

Three of the five newcomers have signed National Letters of Intent while two are transfers. The three signees include Maria Volstad, a 5-6 libero from Stavenger, Norway; Michelle Steagall, a 5-10 setter from Phoenix, AZ; and Nora Lavik, a 6-2 middle blocker from Tonsberg, Norway.  The transfers include former 6-0 Oregon State outside hitter Alina Sopizhuk from Donetsk, Ukraine, and 6-0 outside hitter and middle blocker Irene Ojukwu, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil who played at Lee University.

Volstad played high school volleyball for St. Svithun videregående skole and is a member of the UiS Volley club team.  She comes from a renowned Norwegian volleyball family.  Her father and his four siblings played for top club or college teams in Norway, Germany, France and the United States. Her uncle was a member of two national championship teams at UCLA and is a member of the Bruins' Hall of Fame.  At the age of 14, Volstad played for the 2008 Silver Medal team in the U-16 National Youth Championship.  In 2011, she was the All-Star team libero of the U-17 National Youth Championship, and in 2012 she was the starting libero for UiS Volley and was voted the third best libero in the National Championship League.

“Maria comes from a family of strong volleyball players,” says Atkinson.  “She is a very intelligent player with an excellent knowledge of the game.  We look for her to provide stability to our defense and serve receive.”

Steagall played high school volleyball for Desert Vista and is a member of the Aspire Volleyball Club.  She was named to the 2012 Arizona Interscholastic Association's Division 5A First Team and helped lead her team to fifth place in the 5A Division.  She set her club team to two Junior National appearances. This past year, Steagall broke the Desert Vista H.S. match records for most double-doubles (sets and digs) and triple-doubles (sets, digs and kills). She also holds her high school record for assists per game with 60 which she set in 2010.

“We are very excited to have Michelle in our program,” said Atkinson.  “She is a dynamic setter with good quickness and consistent set location.  We look for her to assist our team in running the up-tempo offense we want to run.”

Lavik played high school volleyball at ToppVolley Norge in Norway and is a member of the Stod Volley Elite Club.  She is a member of the Norwegian National Team and also played for the Norwegian Junior National Team.  Lavik helped lead her team to the Nordic League title, and also helped it advance to the Europe Cup's elite 8.

“Nora brings a high level of international experience to our team,” says Atkinson.  “She is a dynamic hitter with the ability to terminate the ball all around the court.”

Sopizhuk, who will have two years of eligibility remaining at Winthrop, also comes from an athletic family in the Ukraine.  Her mother played volleyball for the Soviet Union and Russia between 1980 and 1991 and her father was a pole vaulter from 1977-90. Prior to arriving in the U.S., Sopizhuk was a member of the Ukrainian National Team and also played for the Ukrainian Junior National Team.

“Alina brings a high level of international experience to Winthrop.  She is a six rotation, ball control player who will contribute to both our team's offense and defense,” said Atkinson.

Ojukwu will have one year of eligibility remaining after playing at Lee University the past three seasons and helping lead that school to the 2010 and 2011 NAIA National Championship Final Four.  While at Lee, she compiled an impressive list of honors, including NAIA All-American selection in 2011 and 2012, and NAIA All-Region in 2011.  Ojukwu was voted the 2012 Player of the Year in the Southern State Athletic Conference and was a SSAC First Team selection in 2011 and 2012.  In 2010, she was named to the All-Freshman Team. 

“Irene is a dynamic athlete with good jumping ability and a powerful attack.  We look for her to be a go-to hitter for us with the ability to terminate the ball,” said Atkinson.