PEORIA, Ill. -- Scott Luster will be welcoming four freshmen to the Bradley volleyball team for the fall of 2007 in what may be the strongest recruiting class in his tenure as head coach of the Braves. Middle blocker Emily Austin (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville/Team St. Louis), outside attacker Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South/Parkway Lightning) middle blocker/right side Caitlin Staib (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central/Sports Performance) and outside attacker Alex Starks (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods/Eastside) each signed National Letters of Intent during the Fall signing period.

"We are very excited about this recruiting class," Luster said. "This may be the deepest class we have recruited in my near decade in Peoria and I expect all four to have an immediate impact on our program and be major contributors as freshmen."

Austin is a 6-3 middle blocker that averaged 3.88 kills per game and holds the Oakville High School career record with 362 blocks. She led her team in blocks each of her four years, averaging 1.5 blocks per game during her prep career and was also the team leader in kills each of her final three seasons. Austin is a three-time first-team all-conference selection and was named the team's MVP her junior and senior seasons in addition to capturing all-district honors all three years.

"Emily will challenge for the middle blocking position immediately," Luster stated.

A 5-11 outside hitter, Collins was a first-team all-conference and all-district selection her senior season. A two-year co-captain at Parkway South, she played club volleyball with the Parkway Lightning where she was primarily a middle blocker.

"Melissa has the ability to play all around and will be trained as an outside attacker," Luster said. "She has excellent jumping ability and is an intense competitor, as is Emily."

Staib helped lead Naperville Central to a 70-12 record the past two seasons, including the 2005 Class AA State title. This fall the 6-1 middle blocker/right side collected 145 kills, 75 blocks and 43 aces, helping Naperville Central to a 31-8 record and DuPage Valley Conference Championship. A two-time all-conference selection and third-team All-Area pick by the Chicago Sun-Times, she helped her school to a Regional title in her final prep season. As a junior she tallied 211 kills, 63 blocks and 26 aces for the Redhawks, helping the team to a 39-4 record and state championship.

"Caitlin is one of the finest slide hitters anywhere," Luster added. "She has the quickness and power we look for in that important position."

Local product Alex Starks, a six-foot middle-blocker/outside hitter led Richwoods with a 4.9 kills per game average and collected 366 kills as a senior while hitting at a .387 clip. Starks earned all-tournament honors at the Panthers Volleyball Invite and also at the Crimson Volleyball tournament, while helping the Knights to the Mid-State 6 Conference championship this fall.

"Alex has unlimited potential and with her outstanding jumping ability," Luster said. "She could become a premier player in the MVC."

Bradley closes out the 2006 season Saturday at preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Northern Iowa at 8 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.