Oakland's Ashley Asberry and JUCO Player of the Year Mattox Ink with Volleyball

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Head Volleyball Coach Matt Peck announced Thursday the signing of two players to scholarship agreements for the 2005 upcoming season.

Murfreesboro local Ashley Asberry and Allison Mattox, the 2004 NJCAA-II National Player of the Year, are the newest additions to the Blue Raider volleyball squad. They are joined by Ashley Adams who signed in November, and Peck expects three additional transfers for the upcoming season.

Asberry, a 5-9 middle blocker from Oakland High School, was named to the All-Area Second Team in spite of missing the last two thirds of the season due to an injury. She was also an accomplished basketball player for the Patriots, being named All District, All Region, All Area First Team, All State and All State Tournament in 2005.

"Ashley is by far the most athletic volleyball player I have seen this past year," Peck said. "She has an outstanding arm swing and is an incredible blocker. In 21 years of coaching, I have never had an athlete of this caliber literally in my own back yard."

Mattox is a 6-0 outside hitter who hails from St. Clair Community College and is from Marysville, Michigan. As mentioned before, she is the 2004 NFCAA-II National Player of the Year, and also was named MVP of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, All Region, All State and First Team NJCAA-II All American in 2003 and 2004.

"Allison comes to us from a tremendous high school and juco programs and is a very polished player," Peck said. "She has outstanding ball-control, and can really put some heat on the ball."

Peck said will announce his 2005 schedule in the next few weeks and expects it to be challenging and competitive.

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