Alisha Kearsley, a 5-foot-8 setter and outside hitter from Blackfoot, Idaho., signed a Frontier Conference/NAIA letter of intent to play volleyball for the University of Montana Western, head coach Katie Howells announced yesterday.  She transfers from Western Wyoming Community College.

"Alisha is a great signing for us," Howells said. "She comes from a solid program and is coming with the right attitude. What I liked about Alisha when she visited our school, is that she is mentally tough and very focused. She shows the desire of a true competitor on the court. Alisha also takes her academics seriously and plans to earn a degree in elementary education at Montana Western. She will join us in the fall as a setter but she is versatile enough to play on the outside as well."

Kearsley graduates this spring from Western Wyoming (WWCC). She is primarily a setter, but due to injuries, she finished her season as an outside hitter. In her two-year career at WWCC, she had 230 kills, 218 assists, 178 digs, 46 service aces and 38 blocks.

Kearsley was also a star in the classroom as she maintained a 3.84 GPA and was named to the 2008 President's Honor Roll, the 2009 Dean's list and earned Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference academic all-conference honors.

She is a 2008 graduate of Blackfoot High School of Blackfoot, Idaho where she earned all-conference and all-state honors. Kearsley was named to her high school's honor roll and received academic all-state honors.

"I am really excited to be a Bulldog," Kearsley said. "I decided to come to Montana Western for a few reasons. One is because of the volleyball program. I look forward to a great season this next year! Another reason I chose to come to Montana Western is because of the education program. I know a few people from my hometown that have graduated from UMW and they only had good things to say about it."

Kearsley plans to major in elementary education. She is the daughter of Laurie and Lyman Kearsley.