Jan. 27, 2003

The Duke volleyball team has signed three high school standouts to national letters-of-intent, Blue Devil head coach Jolene Nagel announced on Monday.

Tealle Hunkus, Virginia Levanas and Laura Murphy are all listed among the "Hot 100" volleyball prospects by Student Sports Magazine and comprise the Duke Volleyball class of 2007. The reruiting class was ranked ninth nationally by Student Sports Magazine.

"I am thrilled about our incoming recruits in 2003 and what they will bring to our program," Nagel said. "Each one is an excellent match academically as well as athletically. They all have had quality experience at the club level competing against the very best in the country. I look for each of them to make great contributions to our program as we continue to strive to be one of the best teams in the nation.

A 6-1 outside hitter from Girard, Ohio, Hunkus rewrote the record books at Girard High School. She is a two-time first team All-State honoree and a four-time All-Conference selection in volleyball. She received All-America honors from Student Sports Magazine and set Ohio records with 470 kills as a senior in 2002 and 1,168 kills during her career. A three-sport standout, Hunkus also garnered recognition as a four-year letterwinner in basketball and three-year letterwinner in track. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club.

"Tealle Hunkus is a tremendous athlete who will only continue to get better as she gains court experience," said Nagel. "Her strong armswing and mobility will allow her to do great things for the development of our program on a national level."

Levanas, a 6-2 middle blocker from Pacific Palisades, Calif., earned first team All-Sunshine League and first team All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) honors in 2001 and 2002. She helped lead her Marymount High School team to three consecutive state CIF Division IV championships (2000-02) and was named team MVP as a senior. Levanas is also a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation.

"Virginia 'Pixie' Levanas has nice size and continues to improve as a middle blocker," said Nagel. "Her abilities as well as her personality will contribute immediately to our team. Each week she continues to compete against the very best. We will be the lucky beneficiaries of that experience this fall."

Laura Murphy, a 6-0 outside hitter/setter from Palos Verdes, Calif., helped lead her Chadwick School team to an undefeated regular season and a Prep League championship as a senior. She is a two-time Prep League Most Valuable Player and first team All-CIF selection. A member of a highly successful club program, she played in the 2001 United States Junior Nationals and competes for the Manhattan Hotshots. Murphy is a three-sport athlete who has also lettered in swimming and basketball. She is a four-year honor roll student, an AP Scholar and a member of the 2002 National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Honor Roll.

"Laura Murphy is a versatile player who will be able to play more than one position," said Nagel. "Her love of the sport has allowed her to develop an all-around game. I look for her to strengthen our ball control capabilities and be an offensive force as well. Her past experiences, along with a demanding club schedule, is preparing her for her opportunity at Duke. Her setting and hitting skills add a new and exciting dimension to our team."

Hunkus, Levanas and Murphy will join a Duke squad that posted a 24-10 record last season and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive years.

"All three of these incoming freshmen are exceptional on many different levels and we are very excited to have them in our program," Nagel said.