NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware volleyball head coach Bonnie Kenny announced two new additions to the Blue Hen volleyball program who will join the team beginning in the fall of 2009.

Setter Renee Tomko (above right) joins the squad as a transfer following one season with the Louisville Cardinals, while middle hitter Chelsea Lawrence (below right) rounds out the incoming freshman class along with Alissa Alker and Logan Sebastian, who joined during the early signing period.

Tomko, a 5-9 setter from Jefferson Hills, PA, appeared in 20 matches for Louisville last season and helped lead the Cardinals to the 2008 BIG EAST Championship. During the year, she ranked second on the team with 473 assists and led the squad with a 7.51 assists-per-set average.

Prior to arriving at Louisville, Tomko was a four-year starter for Thomas Jefferson High as she led the team to a 47-7 record during her tenure. A four-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-State pick, she was the Big 7 Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2006 and 2007.

A former member of the Renaissance Volleyball Club, Tomko plans to major in exercise science at Delaware.

“Renee is a terrific addition to our program,” said Kenny. “Her presence will add a competitive presence in our gym immediately in the setting position. Having two setters of this caliber is a big plus for us in training and preparing for competition.”

Lawrence, a 6-1 middle hitter from Evanston, Illinois, was a 2008 Honorable Mention News-Gazette All-State selection. During her senior campaign, she helped guide Evanston Township to a fourth-place finish at the class 4A state tournament.

A member of the All-Central Suburban League South Division team, she led the Wildkits to a school-record 30 wins last year. Lawrence capped her career with a team-high seven kills on just eight attempts in the consolation finals of the IHSA Tournament.

A former standout on the Sports Performance Club Team, Lawrence intends to major in Spanish at Delaware.

“Chelsea is a gifted athlete with a long, lean volleyball body,” said Kenny. “She has the natural attributes to be a quality player at the college level. With more training, she will challenge in the middle hitter position for us and become a force at the net.”

Lawrence and Tomko join a program that is coming off two straight Colonial Athletic Association championships and consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.