Irish head coach Debbie Brown and her staff have signed five prep players for the 2010 season.

Notre Dame Inks Five Newcomers

Nov. 24, 2009

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Head volleyball coach Debbie Brown announced recently the signing of five high school student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2010.

“I’m very encouraged by the class we’ve signed as there is a lot of depth and talent in these young ladies,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown said. “They will certainly complement the talent we currently have on the roster to help us continue to cement ourselves as one of the elite programs in the country.”

Maggie Brindock (Rockwell, Texas), Andrea McHugh (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Andie Olsen (Oakland, Calif.), Sammie Brown (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Nicole Smith (Franklin, Tenn.) have each signed to suit up for the Irish next season. The quintet includes a pair of setters in Brown and Brindock, who will be leaned upon to run the offense as senior Jamel Nicholas, who graduates in May, is currently the lone setter on the roster.

Notre Dame graduates six seniors this year which comprised an incoming 2006 class that PrepVolleyball.com ranked fifth overall nationally.

Maggie Brindock • Rockwall, Texas
6-0 • Setter
Rockwall HS • Dallas Premier Volleyball Club

The Brindock File: Earned four varsity letters at Rockwall (Texas) … team MVP and team captain … ranks among program’s leaders in aces and kills … PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace … named to 2009 AVCA All-America Watch List … qualified for Junior Olympics with Dallas Premier VBC … named district’s Setter of the Year … led team to first-place finish at 2008 AVPNext Wilson South Central Zone Championships … two-time academic all-district … also earned All-America honors in gymnastics in 2007 and 2008 … member of National Honor Society, National Charity League and Student Council … daughter of Marguerite and Andrew Brindock … has one sister, Tess … born Aug. 18, 1992, in Dallas, Texas … sister played volleyball at Angelo State …

Debbie Brown on Maggie Brindock: “We were very fortunate to sign Maggie. She’s only been setting for one season, but she’s such an incredible athlete. The more she sets, the better she gets. She has a tremendous upside to her game and we’re excited to see what she will bring to our program.”

Sammie Brown • Santa Barbara, Calif.
5-10 • Setter
Dos Pueblos HS • Santa Barbara Volleyball Club

The Brown File: Member of 2009 USA Girls Youth National Beach Training Team … participated in the 2009 World Championships in Blackpool, England with the USA U21 Youth National Beach Volleyball Team …three-year varsity starter … led team to Channel League titles in 2008 and 2009 … 2008 CIF 1A finalist … team finished first in 2009 Californian Challenge … Californian Challenge all-tournament team member … first team all-Channel League in 2008 and a second-team choice in 2007 … led club team to a silver medal at the 2008 and 2009 Junior Olympics … member of the 2008 and 2009 Junior Olympics all-tournament team … gold medalist winner at the 2006 Junior Olympics … daughter of Tina and Patrick Brown … three-time all-conference and all-city selection … mother (volleyball) and father (football) earned varsity letters as Cal Poly SLO … sister, Keslie, is currently a senior setter at Cal State Los Angeles … born March 26, 1992 … member of National Honor Society … AP Scholar … played for same club team as current Irish outside hitter Kristen Dealy.

Debbie Brown on Sammie Brown: “Sammie brings tremendous experience to the setter position. It’s sometimes rare to find a setter who is also a great all-around player. She has played in a system in which she was not only the setter, but hit and blocked quite a bit. She also has quite a bit of experience playing beach volleyball. Her knowledge of the game will bring added value to the roster.”

Andrea McHugh • Yorba Linda, Calif.
5-10 • Outside Hitter
El Dorado HS • Impact Volleyball Club

The McHugh File: One of the most improved players in the nation … crafty and powerful hitter … member of the 2009 U.S. Youth National Team … played in the 2009 FIVB World Youth Championships in Thailand … named to the all-Century League first team after leading El Dorado High School to the league championship in 2008 and 2009 … El Dorado was ranked 40th in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com and 14th in California by MaxPreps.com … all-Century League second team as El Dorado High School also won the Century League championship in 2007 … all-tournament team at the Dave Mohs Orange County Championship, leading her team to a third-place finish … all-tournament team at the Las Vegas Durango Fall Classic … all-tournament team at the Redondo Beach Power Classic … ranked 76th among PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces … two-time team captain … also lettered in track as a high jumper … full name is Andrea Lynn McHugh … born Aug. 18, 1992, in Long Beach, Calif. … parents are Jeff and Lori McHugh … father played basketball at Stanford from 1975-1978 and one year professionally in Switzerland … has two siblings, Matthew and Lauren … president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes … member of California Scholarship Federation.

Debbie Brown on Andrea McHugh: “Andrea is an outstanding all-around player. She has good ball control and is a really good passer and defender. She plays well out of the back row, and has a great court sense and understanding of the game.”

Andie Olsen • Oakland, Calif.
6-3 • Middle Blocker
Bishop O’Dowd HS • Golden Bear Volleyball Club

The Olsen File: Four-time conference champion and two-time regional champion … twice named to the all-conference team … led prep squad to the North Coast sectional title in 2008 … recipient of the Golden Hammer Athlete of the Year award in 2008 and 2009 … daughter of Sharon and John Olsen … born Aug. 7, 1992, in Berkeley, Calif. … has one sister, Emma.

Debbie Brown on Andie Olsen: “Andie is a very strong middle blocker. We had the opportunity to have her at our camp this past summer. Her versatility is one of the things we really liked. She can play the middle and does a great job at that position. She hits a great high ball on either side of the net and we like the power she brings to the position.”

Nicole Smith • Franklin, Tenn.
6-1 • Outside Hitter
Fred Page HS • Impact Volleyball Club

The Smith File: Led Fred Page (Tenn.) to four conference and regional titles … four-time team MVP, all-conference, all-city and all-state performer … earned All-America recognition as a sophomore … 2008 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year … John Maher Scholar-Athlete candidate … part of PrepVolleyball.com’s Top 100 Seniors list in 2008 … class AA state runner-up in 2009 while serving as team captain … two-time district MVP … three-time regional MVP … named to PrepVolleyball.com’s top freshmen, sophomore and junior lists in those respective seasons …. named to all-tournament team and MVP at 2008 Junior Olympics … team won the national event in 2008 and 2006 … all-tournament member at the Junior Olympics in 2006 … participated in the 2008 USVA A2 training camp in Tucson, Ariz. … Tennessee Volleyball All-Star match participant … set school’s track and field records in high jump (state champion in 2008), long jump (state champion in 2008), hurdles and pentathlon (state runner-up in 2007) … On the Ball Magazine Track Athlete of the Year in 2008 … daughter of Sharon and Scott Smith … mother played basketball and volleyball at Ferris State … has two brothers, Aaron and Austin … born March 9, 1992, in Grand Rapids, Mich. … hails from same area as former Irish All-American Lauren Brewster … member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.

Debbie Brown on Nicole Smith: “We were impressed by Nicole every time we saw her play. She is a very strong attacker with a good vertical and has worked hard to develop her overall game. She has an impressive volleyball resume and I’m confident she’ll parlay that into a very strong collegiate career.”

–ND–