UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Nov. 26, 2003 - The Penn State women¡¯s volleyball team has signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, head coach Russ Rose announced. Natalie Mullikin, Katie Price and Melissa Walbridge will be eligible to compete for the Nittany Lions beginning in the 2004 season.

¡°This is a group of players that will meet our needs in order to stay competitive,¡± said Rose of the signings. ¡°They will need to come in and be ready to go right away and I feel they will be able to do that. They all have a lot of club experience that will help our team.¡±

Mullikin, a 6-1 middle hitter from Indianapolis, led her Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Ind.) to the 2003 Indiana State Championship and had a combined prep record of 121-24 in her four years. As a team captain in 2002 and 2003, Mullikin was named the Most Valuable Player of the Brebeuf Invitational and picked up Brebeaf¡¯s highest award, the Chief¡¯s Award in Volleyball. She was named an All-Marion County Coaches First Team selection in 2002 and 2003 and earned the All-Marion County Volleyball Player of the Year in 2003. The Indianapolis Star named her to its All-Marion County/City Super First team in 2003 and she was tabbed as an Indiana All-State selection in 2002 and 2003. A member of the Circle City club volleyball program, Mullikin led her squad to a 10th place finish in the 18-1 at the junior nationals. Mullikin is the daughter of Wayne and Carol Mullikin.

¡°Natalie is a player who is similar to [current Nittany Lion] Cara Smith,¡± said Rose. ¡°She is quick off the floor and she hits well both in front of and behind the setter. She is a player who will bring us an offensive weapon.¡±

Price led her Fraser (Mich.) High School team to the 2003 Michigan State Championship and is a two-time first team All-State selection. The 6-3 outside hitter has participated in the USA National High Performance camp for two years and she was a member of the 2003 National Youth team. Price is a member of the Fraser club volleyball program and is the daughter of Carol and Steve Price.

¡°We¡¯re hoping Katie can come in and hit the ball at a highly competitive level,¡± stated Rose. ¡°She has experience playing with the USA National Youth team and she plays for the top high school and club programs in Michigan. She has attended our camps for a number of years and we like the type of player she is.¡±

Walbridge is a 6-2 middle hitter from Yardley, Pa., who was selected to the Youth National A2 Training team in 2003. A four-year varsity team member and 2003 team captain, she led her Pennsbury (Pa.) High School team to a second place finish in the 2003 AAA State Championship. Walbridge was tabbed a first team Suburban One League selection in 2002 and was named the Player of the Year by the Courier Times in 2002. The Philadelphia Inquirer named her a second-team selection in 2002 and she was also named a first team All-State selection in 2002. As a member of the Synergy club program, Walbridge participated in the Junior Olympic national championship and is now a member of the Philadelphia Volleyball Academy. Walbridge is the daughter of Kathleen and Ben Walbridge.

¡°Melissa is a player who will help us most in blocking,¡± said Rose. ¡°She can play either middle or right side and is very physical.¡±

Please visit www.GoPSUsports.com for updated information and statistics on the Penn State women¡¯s volleyball program.