April 23, 2012

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook head volleyball coach Deb DesLauriers announced today that swing hitters Melissa Rigo (East Northport, N.Y./Elwood-John Glenn HS) and Shelby Tietjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West HS) along with middle blocker Stephanie McFadden (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./San Clemente HS) and setter Nicole Vogel (Costa Mesa, Calif./Edison HS) have signed national letters of intent to play for the Seawolves beginning in the fall 2012.

"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Melissa, Shelby, Stephanie and Nicole to the Stony Brook family," DesLauriers said. "They each are talented and skilled players who will be great additions to our program. But more importantly they are exactly the type of student-athletes that we want on our team."

Named the 2011 Gatorade New York Player of the Year, Rigo led Elwood-John Glenn to a 23-2 record and was named MVP of the state tournament as she led Eldwood-John Glenn to the Class B state title this past season.

An All-Long Island player, Tietjen played with Rigo on the Academy 18-Elite club team. Vogel and McFadden led their club team, SVVC, to the Southern Cal National Division Qualifier for Nationals.

Vogel was a second team all-conference pick at Edison High School as a senior, while McFadden was a 2011 first team All-South Coast league selection.

The 2012 Seawolves return nine letterwinners from last year's squad that advanced to the America East title game.