Philadelphia, PA - La Salle University volleyball head coach Dave Stever announced the signing of two players for the 2006 season.  Stever adds a local product in Danielle DiMarco (Springfield, PA) out of Cardinal O'Hara High School.  The second signee, Rachel Stemper (Centennial, CO) comes by way of Arapahoe High School in Centennial Colorado.

 

DiMarco, a 5-9 outside hitter, was a four-year starter at O'Hara, where the team earned the Catholic League Championship each year; O'Hara extends its championship run to six in 2005.  During her time of O'Hara, DiMarco was a member of a team that boasted a 52-1 record, with the lone loss to Archbishop Prendergast during her freshman campaign. 

 

She finished her career third all-time in kills, recording 682, including three annual tournaments in which the team competes.  DiMarco earned several honors during her career, including being selected as a two-time First Team All DelCo and All-Catholic team member.  As a senior she was picked as a First Team All-State member and named DelCo Player of the Year and the Catholic League MVP. 

 

As a club player, DiMarco competed most recently for Valley Forge 17 - 1 Red at the Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City, earning the "Bring the Heat" Award.  In 2004, she served as captain of the Liberty Belle 16's at the Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas.  In 2003, as a member of synergy 15's, DiMarco's team finished second in Bid tournament and 61st out of 330 teams at Davis Festival in California. Finally, DiMarco competed two years for DELCO club team, when the team won the East Coast Championship in 2001 and was runner up in 2002.

 

Also an outside hitter, 5-10 Stemper was selected as an All-League player for the Centennial League as well as being honored as the Most Valuable Player during her senior year.  Stemper was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-State selection during her final season.

 

A four-year varsity player, Stemper has been playing volleyball since fifth grade and served as an assistant coach for middle school students.  She also competed for one year for the Colorado Performance club team that competed in Nationals in Houston, Texas.

Stemper logged additional club experience playing for the American Sports Organization club team for three years and competed in Nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

Stemper is an all-around student-athlete, being inducted as a member of the National Honor Society and earning a spot on the Honor Roll for four years.  A Key Club Member, Stemper also participates in the Wild Warrior Women Club.