Feb. 26, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate women's soccer head coach Kendall Reyes announces the signing of seven players to National Letters of Intent to play for the Spartans. Signing to play for Upstate are Caitlin Beale, Jaclyn Bishop, Jordan Brown, Tiffany Frank, Caitlin Robinson, Alexandra Schalk and Erin Vavro, all of which will enter school as freshmen in the fall of 2008.

"We're pretty excited about this group," Reyes, who will be coaching his ninth season at USC Upstate in 2008, said. "We've got a good mix of players coming of out Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey, Florida and South Carolina. This group will certainly help us take a step forward in this process to compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference and the Division I level.

"There were quite a number of things that we felt we needed to address in recruiting. We needed to have some physically stronger players in the midfield and up front. We have a good mix of forwards and midfielders and some versatility as well."

Caitlin Beale (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater HS) led her team to the 2007 Georgia Class 4A state championship and an appearance in the Class 4A final four in 2006. She was named All-Region and All-Fayette County in 2006 and played club soccer for Glory United.

Jaclyn Bishop (Delran, N.J./Holy Cross HS) was a four-year starter at Holy Cross and was named All-Group Second-Team midfielder in 2007. She was also named All-South Jersey in 2006 and helped her team to the South Jersey Non-Public School finals in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Jordan Brown (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County HS) helped lead Whitewater High School to the 2007 Georgia Class 4A state championship and an appearance in the Class 4A final four in 2006. She was named Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Fayette County and is a two-time recipient of the Allen Vigil Ford Student-Athlete of the Week Award.

Tiffany Frank (Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson HS) plays club soccer for the Countryside Lightning, which is currently ranked number one in the nation among club soccer teams. She led her club team to the Region III Premier League title and a tournament championship held at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.

Caitlin Robinson (Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna HS) was the Class 4A top scorer in South Carolina in 2007 and 2006 and has scored 122 goals in three seasons. She was named to the South Carolina "Super 22", which lists the 22 best players in the state, and was an all-state selection in 2007.

Alexandra Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich./Bishop Foley Catholic HS) led her high school team to back-to-back district titles in 2007 and 2006 and was named all-district in 2007 and 2006. She plays club soccer for the Michigan Gators along with fellow Spartan signee Erin Vavro.

Erin Vavro (Lenox, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) was named team captain of her high school team and was named to the Division I All-Regional team in 2007. She was also named all-district, all-conference and all-county in 2007 and has played club soccer for the Michigan Gators and the Michigan Hawks.

Reyes is looking forward to seeing how his incoming players mesh with the returning players, who went through their first season in Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2007.

"One thing that will be consistent with these players in relation to the team we have coming back is that all of them have tremendous work ethic," Reyes said. "They are very passionate about the game and very excited about being apart of the Spartan program...it will be a great blend to go with what we have returning. Our returning players have been doing a lot of work in the off-season."

USC Upstate Women's Soccer Signees Bios

Caitlin Beale
Midfielder/Forward - Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater HS

Helped lead Whitewater to 2007 Georgia 4A State Championship, finished the season ranked #1...Named All-Region, All-County and All-Area in 2006...Recipient of the 2006 USAA National Soccer Award...Nominated for USAA Who's Who in Soccer for the 2007-08 school year...Helped Whitewater to the final four of the Georgia 4A state tournament in 2006, finished the season ranked #5...Helped Whitewater to sweet sixteen of Georgia 4A state tournament in 2005, finished the season ranked #9...Member of Glory United club soccer team...State of Georgia Certificate of Merit recipient (top 5% of class)...National Honors Society member...National Beta Club member...Spanish Honor Society member...USAA National Mathematics Award recipient...

Reyes says: "Very versatile player...can give us different looks...quick and technical...extremely high work rate."

Jaclyn Bishop
Defender/Midfielder - Delran, N.J./Holy Cross HS

Four-year starter at Holy Cross...Led team in scoring in 2004 and 2005...Named All-Group Second-Team Midfielder in 2007...Named All-South Jersey in 2006...Named All-Burlington County in 2005...Named All-Parochial First-Team 2004-06...Named All-Patriot First-Team 2004-06...Member of 2004-06 Holy Cross teams that made the South Jersey Non-Public Final (Parochial A)...Played on Wall Strikers and Mt. Laurel Strikers club teams...Led club team to 2006 Puma Region III Invitational U-16 Championship...Led club team to New Jersey Championship and Region 1 Premier Championship in 2005...Helped club team to National Semifinals and Region 1 Championship in 2004...New Jersey State Fair Player Award recipient in 2002-03...New Jersey Olympic Development Program team selection from 2005-07...Competitive swimmer and member of Holy Cross track team...Holy Cross Swim Team Rookie of the year in 2004...First-Team All-County BCSL All-Star Swimming Freestylist in 2005 and 2006...Named to the honor roll at Holy Cross...Student Activity Board member at Holy Cross...

Reyes says: "Very technical player...very strong in the tackle...incredible work ethic...can play back line or midfield position."

Jordan Brown
Defender/Midfielder - Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County HS

Helped lead Whitewater High School to 2007 Georgia 4A State Championship, finished the season ranked #1...Helped Whitewater to the final four of the Georgia 4A state tournament in 2006, finished the season ranked #5...Named Allen Vigil Ford Student-Athlete of the Week during junior and sophomore seasons...Named Rookie of the Year at Fayette County in 2005...

Reyes says: "Unique player...very smooth and silky around the ball...very competitive...good ball-winner...can play anywhere on the back line or on the outside of the midfield."

Tiffany Frank
Forward/Midfielder - Lakeland, FL/Lake Gibson HS

Member of three-time Florida state champion Countryside Lightning club soccer team, currently ranked #1 in the nation...Led Countryside to Disney tournament title and Region 3 Premier League title...Named Offensive MVP during junior season, scoring 40 goals...Honors student...Competes in the 400 and 800 meters and 1600 meter relay on Lake Gibson track team...

Reyes says: "Can play midfielder...dynamic movement in the forward position...creates things on her own...has playmaking ability for others."

Caitlin Robinson
Forward - Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna HS

Compiled 122 goals and 36 assists in three seasons at T.L. Hanna...Led T.L. Hanna to back-to-back Region I-4A championships and Class 4A third round playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007...Led Class 4A in goals scored in 2006 and 2007, 2nd in goals scored in 2005...Named S.C. Super 22 in 2007...Named All-State in 2007...Named to 2007 Viking Cup All-Tournament Team...Named Region I-4A Player of the Year in 2007...All-Region I-4A selection from 2005-07...Named All-Area Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006...Named All-Area in 2007...Named team MVP in 2006 and 2007...Named team offensive player of the year in 2005, 2006 and 2007...South Carolina Olympic Development Program selection from 2003-06...Plays club soccer for Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)...CESA College Advisory Program in 2006 and 2007...National Honors Society member...Yearbook editor...Named Most Athletic in senior superlatives...2006 and 2007 letter winner in girl's basketball at T.L. Hanna...

Reyes says: "Strong player...good pace and technique...finds a way to score goals...has scored goals at all levels...will bring goal scoring prowess."

Alexandra Schalk
Midfielder - Sterling Heights, Mich./Bishop Foley Catholic HS

Helped lead Bishop Foley to back-to-back district titles in 2006 and 2007...Named All-District in 2006 and 2007...Scored eight goals and collected 18 assists in 2007...Member of Michigan Gators club soccer team...Led club team to 2005 Michigan State Cup Championship...Led club team to Michigan State Cup finals in 2002 and 2004-07...National Honors Society member...Honor roll student...Senior and Junior Class Student Council representative...2007 Excellence in U.S. History Award recipient...2006 Excellence in Literature Award recipient...

Reyes says: "Very strong on the ball...another solid athlete...good vision...can strike the ball very well with either foot."

Erin Vavro
Midfielder - Lenox, Mich./Anchor Bay HS

Division I All-State Honorable Mention and All-Regional Team selection in 2007...Led Anchor Bay in points in 2007 with six goals and 13 assists...Named Team Captain and Co-MVP in 2007...Named All-District, All-Conference and All-County in 2007...Named All-Academic, All-District, All-Conference and All-County in 2006...Led Anchor Bay in scoring with 11 goals and 13 assists...Named First-Team Blue Water Area...Played club soccer for Michigan Gators and Michigan Hawks...Member of four indoor national championship teams...Member of 2006 U16 Michigan State Cup Championship team...Member of team that reached U16 Region III Puma Invitational semi-finals...Member of team that reached U16 U.S. Youth Soccer Region II semifinals...Member of team that reached U17 Texas Cup semifinals...Member of team that reached 2007 U17 Michigan State Cup finals...Member of team that reached U17 Puma Region III semifinals...Student Council President...Three-year class vice president...National Honors Society Member...Peer counselor...Serves as volunteer assistant volleyball coach for seventh and eighth graders...

Reyes says: "Workhorse in the midfield...dominant in the tackle...fierce competitor...will help us compete in physical battles."