Tech volleyball inks two to letters of intent
December 1, 2010

Tech volleyball inks two to letters of intent

Tennessee Tech volleyball head coach John Blair has announced a pair of talented signees for the 2011 season, both coming from Ohio to join the Golden Eagle program.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech volleyball head coach John Blair has announced a pair of talented signees for the 2011 season, both coming from Ohio to join the Golden Eagle program.

Ellen Conti, a 6-0 middle, and Madison Keyes, a 6-0 middle, have signed national letters of intent to play at Tennessee Tech.
 
"We've added two outstanding, all-around volleyball players, who bring not only athleticism and knowledge but are also great individuals whose character and commitment will be invaluable to this team," Blair said.
 
A native of Grove City, Ohio, Conti was a four-year starter for the varsity volleyball program at Grove City High School. She was named the teams Most Valuable Defensive Player her freshman year and was named the team's MVP her sophomore season.
 
"Ellen is a real versatile player," Blair said. "She has just started to tap her potential as a player."
 
As a junior, Conti was named a team captain and was named to the second team all-Ohio Capital Conference. A year later as a senior she was named first team all-Ohio Capital Conference and first team all-district. She also played three season of varsity basketball in which she was named second team all-Ohio Capital Conference her junior season.
"I  am really excited to play for Tennessee Tech," Conti said. "I liked the size of the campus and it is close to home."
 
Conti's accolades were not confined to the courts as she has excelled in the classroom as well. A National Honor Society member, she was also named a Scholar Athlete all four years at Grove City high School and received the Ohio Capital Conference Leadership award.
 
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Keyes spent four seasons as a member of the Sycamore volleyball team, three of which she started in. She led her team in blocks her sophomore and junior seasons. During her senior season she led her team in kills and finished second in blocks, en route to being named second team all-conference. During her junior and senior seasons her team finished second in the Greater Miami Conference.
 
"Madison is a great athlete," Blair said. "We believe she has a ton of potential and we are excited to see how far she will go as a player."
 
Keyes is also a three-year varsity track and field athlete and plans to participate in a fourth this spring. She led her team in the high jump event her sophomore and junior seasons en route to being named third team all-conference her junior season. She also participated in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
"I really liked the campus and I wanted to play for an experienced coach like coach Blair," Keyes said. "I really liked the nursing program here as well and its one of my main goals is to graduate with a nursing degree."