Coach Andrea Hudson and the Lee University volleyball team continue to build on a top four finish in the NAIA Nationals last season as Rachael Cunningham, an outside and right-side hitter from Dallas recently signed with the Lady Flames.

“Rachael is a strong player,” said Hudson. “Her height (6-foot) is a definite advantage, but she is also a great ball-control player as well.

“Rachael comes from a very strong club program and will be a wonderful contributor to our team,” the coach added. “She originally signed with North Texas State University, but after that program underwent a coaching change, she decided to give Lee a call. We feel Lee is a great fit for Rachael in every aspect.”

The latest signee was a four-year varsity starter for coach Marci Brinkman at Flower Mound (Texas) High School. She was also a standout for the TAV club team. She helped Flower Mound reach the state tournament for two years and was named the team's most valuable hitter as a senior.

During club-ball play, Cunningham was the team's MVP and team captain for five straight years. Academically, she received the Lady Jag Award during her junior and senior seasons. She will be a Computer Information Systems major at Lee.

Word travels far and wide when your program is ranked with the best. Cunningham said she learned about Lee from her sister, Meghan, who played volleyball for Biola University, a California NAIA power. In fact, Meghan will also be attending Lee this fall and working in the master's program.

“I selected Lee because this is where God called me to go and because I absolutely love it,” she pointed out.

“I feel like hitting and passing are the strongest parts of my game. I still need to improve on my mental game.“

“I want to play for the glory of God and give my best effort in practice and in every game,” Cunningham added. “My goal for the team is to have great chemistry and motivate each other to play big in every game.”