Nov. 14, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina volleyball coach Nancy Somera announced the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday. Joining the Gamecocks for next season are Dani Bedore (OH/RS/S, 5-10, Goodland, Kan./Brewster H.S.), Jordan Bradosky (S/RS, 5-9, Centerville, Ohio/Centerville H.S.), Megan Laughlin (MB, 6-1, Cornell, Ill./Flanagan H.S.), Hannah Lawing (OH/DS, 5-9, Marietta, Ga./Lassiter H.S.) and Anne Thomas (MB/OH, 5-11, Harvard, Ill./Harvard H.S.).
“It’s a versatile group,” Somera said. “We’ve got somebody at every position with five. They’re skilled and competitive. We’re graduating five seniors, so they’ll make up almost half the team next year. They will need to learn things like all freshmen, but they will be able to contribute and play some type of role for us next year. Competing at a high level is not something new for this group, as they all played open-division club volleyball.”
Dani Bedore (OH/RS/S, 5-10, Goodland, Kan./Brewster H.S.)
Was a member of the all-state volleyball team in 2003 and 2004 while playing for Goodland High School … Helped Goodland win the state championship in 2003 … Named first-team all-area and all-conference in 2003 and 2004 … Played club volleyball for Colorado Juniors … Took first place at the Omaha President’s Day Tournament in the 15 Open Division … Finished second at the Lone Star Qualifier and third at the Northeast Qualifier in the 16 Open Division … An all-conference and all-state basketball performer in 2004 and 2005 … Earned all-area second team recognition in basketball the same years … A long jump and triple jump state qualifier in 2004 … Her older brother, Jordan, is a sophomore offensive lineman for Kansas State.
Coach Somera on Bedore: “Dani is a really smooth athlete with great jumping ability. She’s a lefty who can hit and also set, and we’ll explore that with her a little bit. She’s an all-around skilled player who can serve, pass, dig, set and hit.”
Jordan Bradosky (S/RS, 5-9, Centerville, Ohio/Centerville H.S.)
Three-year starter for Centerville High School under coach Brian Marshall … Played club volleyball for the Cincy Classics and Dayton Junior … A first-team all-conference member for two years … First-team all-district for two years as well … Conference player of the year in 2004 … District player of the year as a junior … An all-state honorable mention selection in 2004 … Earned a place on the all-state second team in 2005 … Two-time scholar athlete award winner … Rated as one of the top 100 players in the country by PrepVolleyball.com as a freshman and sophomore.
Coach Somera on Bradosky: “Jordan is very intense and competitive. She’s a great leader, which you want in a setter. She’s quick, athletic and maybe not the biggest setter, but she puts up an easy ball to hit and plays great defense.”
Megan Laughlin (MB, 6-1, Cornell, Ill./Flanagan H.S.)
Played with a 16s club team as a freshman with Illinois Juniors … Club team placed first in the Silver Division in Orlando, Fla. … Was an all-area selection in volleyball, basketball and track at Flanagan High School … Earned all-conference accolades in those three sports as well … Picked up team MIP and MVP honors her sophomore year at Flanagan for volleyball, basketball and track … Played club volleyball for Illini Elite 16-1 as a sophomore … Earned fifth place at the state track meet in 2005 in the triple jump … Joined Sports Performance Volleyball Club’s 16-1 team in 2005 to play in the USVA Junior Olympics … Saw significant playing time on the team that finished third in the Open Division.
Coach Somera on Laughlin: “Megan is a pretty rangy player. She has good height and leaping ability and is really versatile because for her club team she’s played middle, left and right. She may start off as a utility player for us until she finds a true home. Megan may do a little of everything. She has lots of potential for growth when she gets stronger.”
Hannah Lawing (OH/DS, 5-9, Marietta, Ga./Lassiter H.S.)
An all-state selection playing for Lassiter High School … Tabbed area player of the year in 2004 … Led the state of Georgia in kills as a sophomore with 568 … Was a first-team all-county, all-area and all-region honoree … Owns the school records for kills, aces and digs in a season … Her club team is A5 Volleyball … Posted a 7-2 record at 2005 nationals in the Gold Bracket and finished fifth … Won the Peachtree Classic tournament in the 17 Open Division in 2005 … OVA Invitational tournament champions the same year … Her club also finished runner-up at the 2005 Southern Draw and Big South Qualifier.
Coach Somera on Lawing: “Hannah has rock-solid ball control. She is fiercely competitive. She reminds me of me as a player: a small outside hitter who hates to lose. Hannah finds a way to win regardless of people who say she’s too small. She will upgrade our ball control immediately.”
Anne Thomas (MB/OH, 5-11, Harvard, Ill./Harvard H.S.)
Played club volleyball for Club Fusion 17 Black, coached by Wayne King … Team finished in second place at the 2005 Junior Olympics in the Open Division … Took third place in 2004 … A 2004 and 2005 Junior Olympics All-American … Club tournaments she has played include President’s Day, Indianapolis Qualifier, Northern Lights Qualifier, Baltimore Qualifier and Great Lakes Region … Named All-Big Northern Conference in 2004 and 2005 … Earned athlete of the week honors several times during her career from the Northwest Herald.
Coach Somera on Thomas: “Annie is a get-the-job-done kind of player. She’s just steady and if she can continue to develop and improve at the rate she did between her sophomore and junior years, when she comes to us she’ll be ready to roll. Annie’s a six-rotation player who is smart and has a lot of shots. It’ll be fun to watch her game develop.”
