HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY

Head volleyball coach Jason Oliver has announced the addition of Brittany Durham to the High Point University volleyball team. Durham is an outside hitter from Noblesville, Ind. who joined the team in January and has been practicing with the team during the spring season.

“I am very excited to have Brittany here,” Oliver said. “Her club coach Michelle Coleman did a great job preparing her at the club level and she is a perfect fit for our system. Her energy and passion for the sport will help this team get to a Big South Championship. I am excited that we were able to work with Brittany throughout the spring season and her hard work will make her that much better in the fall.”

Durham graduated in December 2009 from Noblesville High School where she was a three-year varsity starter and an All-Conference honorable mention honoree in her final season. She also played club volleyball for Team Indiana’s 17-1 team.

“I graduated and came to High Point early because I was ready to get ahead both academically and athletically,” Durham said. “I have been working hard at practice and in the weight room so I can get ahead. It has been great to be in an environment where everyone is working hard and pushing toward a conference championship. The coaches and my teammates have helped with the transition to college and the extra semester will put me ahead in the fall season.”

Durham started classes at High Point in January and has been participating in the team’s spring tournaments. On April 3 the team competed at Duke’s spring tournament and HPU will be at Wake Forest this Saturday.

“We will be very deep and very talented at the outside hitter position,” Oliver said. “Durham will compete with Audie Gonzalez, Megan Smith and Molly Barlow for playing time. There is a lot of talent there.”

Durham will be joined by Michelle Chakirelis as freshmen on the 2010 HPU roster. Chakirelis, a middle hitter from Bay Village, Ohio, signed a letter of intent last fall to come to High Point. Chakirelis was a three-year varsity starter and two-year captain for Magnificat high school and helped the team to two final four appearances at the state tournament.

HPU finished the 2009 season with a 17-17 record, ending the season with a 2-3 loss in the quarterfinals of the Big South tournament to eventual champion Coastal Carolina. The Panthers return 12 players from last season including All-Conference libero Julie Hershkowitz and All-Freshman Team honoree Courtney Johnk. The Panthers also return Audie Gonzalez who was an All-Big South second team selection in 2007 and 2008 before missing last season with an injury.