The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team announced the additions of junior outside hitter Ashley Riordan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and sophomore middle hitter Natalie Atzinger (Louisville, Kentucky). Riordan and Atzinger are the third and fourth players to join the Screaming Eagles this year and the first two players that Head Coach Craig Bere has added since taking the program over in June.

Riordan is transferring to USI from Clarion University of Pennsylvania where she recorded 355 kills and 446 digs during her sophomore campaign. She also was a Clarion "Scholar Athlete" and earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "Player of the Week" honors.

A graduate of Jennings County High School in North Vernon, Indiana, Riordan earned All-Area and All-Hoosier Hills Conference honors as well as the JCHS Hustle Award. Riordan also was a member of the Circle City 18-1 club team that was 56-7 and placed 5th at the 2000 USJVA National Tournament.

"Ashley will be a great addition to our program," Bere stated. "She will add depth to the outside hitters and her playing experience should allow her many opportunities to make an impact. Ashley is a quality young lady that we are happy to have in our program."

Atzinger is transferring to USI from NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University. During her freshman season, she averaged 2.69 kills per game and was third on the team in kills per game as well as total kills (253). She helped lead ETSU to a 20-6 overall record and a 15-5 conference mark.

The 20-6 record marked the best winning percentage the team had recorded since 1991 while the 15 conference wins was the most ETSU had posted in Southern Conference play. In ETSU's final game, a 3-2 loss to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the Southern Conference Tournament, Atzinger recorded a match-high 21 kills.

A graduate of Holy Cross High School in Louisville, Kentucky, Atzinger was a two-time All-State and All-Region performer. She played for the 2000 KIVA club team that finished in the top four at the AAU National Championships.

"Natalie is a well skilled player that knows the game," Bere said. "Her leadership skills and desire to work hard will be a tremendous asset to our program. Natalie has posted quality stats in her first year of college and we expect her to come in and provide similar numbers here."