Nov. 22, 2005

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head volleyball coach Stephanie Dragan today announced the signing of Amanda Kerr (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge HS) and Brittny Johnson (Maple Hill, N.C./Heide Trask HS) to National Letters of Intent for the 2006-07 season.

"Amanda and Brittny will both immediately impact our program," said Dragan, who just completed her first season at the helm with the Catamounts. "They both play middle, but are two different types of players. Amanda offers us speed from pin to pin, while Brittany is simply a huge blocker."

Kerr is a 6-0 middle blocker who finished her high school career as both the seasonal and all-time career leader in kills, blocks, aces, and digs at Peachtree Ridge High. In two years on the varsity squad, she averaged nearly two and a quarter kills per game to amass a total of 355 over her junior and senior seasons while hitting close to .300. Defensively, the Suwanee, Ga., native recorded 249 digs, and 109 total blocks, including 76 last year alone. Kerr also served up a total of 164 service aces. In 2004, Kerr was named to the All-County team, backing it up with an All-Area team selection as a senior in `05. Additionally, she was tabbed the Area Co-Player of the Year during her final season, while also garnering her team's Most Valuable Player honor.

In addition to holding most of the career volleyball records, Kerr also holds the distinction of becoming the first female athlete at PRHS to receive an athletic scholarship.

Kerr additionally played club volleyball for the Vertical One 17's, helping them to finish second in the region and also advancing to the American Nationals in Salt Lake City. Most recently, she made the Atlanta Boom 18's Diamond club team, as well.

Johnson is a 6-1 middle hitter who was a three-time, all-conference selection for Trask HS in Rocky Point, N.C. Over her final two seasons, the Maple Hill, N.C., native recorded 622 kills including reaching double-figures in 35 matches and recording 20 kills or more on six separate occasions. At the net, she recorded a combined total of 311 total blocks, blocking in double-digits in 11 matches during her junior and senior campaigns. Her 381 kills and 163 blocks in her swan song season rank as school records in their respective categories.

After back-to-back seven-win seasons, Johnson helped lead the Titans to two-consecutive, 20-win campaigns and berths in the North Carolina High School volleyball post-season. During her junior year, Trask won the Coastal Plains Conference Championship before falling in the opening rounds of the tournament. Last year, she helped the Titans to the East Regional 1-A title and a state runner-up finish, falling to Hendersonville in the championship. Johnson did manage to capture a championship in club volleyball, though, winning the 2004-05 Junior Regional Tournament with her 17-and-under Silver squad.

"I am excited about our early-period signees. Together, they will bring us much needed speed and height," concluded Dragan.