Moon Township, Pa. - Robert Morris University volleyball head coach Dale Starr has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.  Outside hitters Arden Fisher (Oakmont, Pa. / Riverview) and April Krivoniak (Greensburg, Pa. / Latrobe) will join middle blockers Madelyn Betts (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) and Leah Dunivan (Troy, Ohio / Miami East) as incoming freshmen to the team for the 2013 season.

"I am really pleased with this class," Starr said.  "We addressed our needs for depth and every one of these kids is versatile enough to play multiple positions.  I think they will fit into our program pretty seamlessly.  Together with our returning players, I expect big things out of this team in the future;  I feel we will compete for a NEC title in the near future."

Fisher, a 5-11 outside hitter, comes to Robert Morris after completing her high school career at Riverview.  At Riverview, Fisher was a four-year letterwinner as well as the team's captain during her senior season.  At the conclusion of her junior year, Fisher was selected to the WPIAL all-section team, the WPIAL first team, and the PIAA team.  Fisher was also recognized as a feature athlete in the Valley News Dispatch as well as being named the team's Most Valuable Player.  In her senior season, Fisher was again named to the WPIAL first team and selected for the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches' Association all-state team.

"Arden is a very accomplished player who will come in as an outside hitter and compete for playing time right away," Starr said.  "She has a very high volleyball IQ for a player of her age; she is as good defensively as she is offensively.  I expect big things from Arden as we try to fill the shoes of our graduating seniors."

Krivoniak, a 5-10 outside hitter, joins the Colonials after starting all four years at Latrobe High School.  A multi-sport athlete, Krivoniak also played basketball as well as track and field.  Krivoniak earned all-section honors as a freshman, sophomore, and senior while also earning all-WPIAL honors in her sophomore and senior seasons.  During her freshman and sophomomre years, Krivoniak contributed to Latrobe's back-to-back section championships.  Off of the court, Krivoniak was an AP Scholar, a distinguished honor roll student, and a member of the National Honor Society.

"April has played multiple positions in high school and club, but will focus on being an outside hitter for us," Starr said.  "I expect her to come in and compete for playing time right away at multiple positions.  She is a tremendous athlete and we will utilize her athleticism and versatility in our offense."

Betts, a 5-10 middle blocker and opposite hitter, comes to RMU after three seasons at Plymouth High School in Canton, Mich.  In her junior year, Betts was named to the all-region and all-Observer teams while being an honorable mention for the all-conference teams.  She earned her high school's Offensive Player of the Year award as well during her junior campaign. Afer her senior season, Betts was named to the all-region, all-conference, and all-Observer teams while also being nominated for the all-state team.  In fifty matches as a senior at Plymouth, Betts led the team with 449 kills and 302 digs.

 "Madelyn is another very versatile athlete who will fill multiple roles as a middle blocker and a right side hitter for us," Starr said.  "She works very hard and has a great presence and attitude on the court.  I am looking forward to see what Madelyn brings to the court as her energy is contagous and will give us a big lift in the gym on a daily basis."

Dunivan, a 6-1 middle blocker, fills out the recruiting class for the Colonials after four years at Miami East High School in Ohio.  A three-sport athlete at Miami East, Dunivan was a member of back-to-back Ohio D-III State Chamionship teams in her junior and senior seasons.  Dunivan served as a four co-captain for the squad while earning a spot on the all-league team in each of her four years.  She was named to the all-district second team in her final three years at Miami East and was an all-Ohio honorable mention after her senior campaign.  Dunivan holds the Miami East record for most solo blocks in a career with 325 as she helped the team to a 95-12 record during her time at the school.

 "Leah is a very physical presence at the net and is a tremendous blocker; she has a nose for the ball and gets a ton of touches," Starr said.  "She will compete for playing time right away as a middle and I think our middle blockers will be a strength for us.  She will be a great compliment to Becky Jay and Kristin Thompson."

Robert Morris qualified for its 14th-consecutive NEC Tournament in 2012, extending the league's longest active streak.  RMU defeated a Big 12 member for the first time in program history as they took down West Virginia in five sets at the Sewall Center on Sept. 11, 2012.  The program will graduate four seniors from a team that went 14-2 in NEC action this past season.