BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Two fresh faces will join eight returning Camels for the 2008 volleyball season, with the signing of Hope Leatigaga and Michelle White by first-year Campbell head coach Leigh Mullins.

The pair is the first to be signed by Mullins at CU, who was named the Camels new head coach in late March.

Leatigaga comes to Buies Creek after an outstanding career at Walsingham Academy, located in Williamsburg, Va., where the 5-foot-7 setter led the Trojans to a host of championships, including a Metro Conference title as a freshman, the Peninsula District AAA Conference Championship in 2005, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division II State Championship in 2006, while claiming the Grace Christian School Invitational as a senior.

"Hope brings great setting experience," said Mullins. "She has a wonderful demeanor as a freshman setter, and I think her maturity is really going to take this team very far. She's definitely one of the most accurate setters I've ever recruited."

The new Camel also registered numerous individual honors over her four year career at Walsingham, including VISAA Division II Player of the Year as a senior, along with all-state recognition, with Tidewater Conference All-Conference and All-Tournament honors in 2007.

Leatigaga also grabbed all-state accolades as a freshman and a junior, earning the VISAA Division II All-Tournament MVP award in 2006, in addition to all-conference and all-tournament honors for her league performances. As a sophomore, Leatigaga earned a spot on the Peninsula District AAA All-Conference squad, while collecting Metro All-Conference MVP and all-tournament recognition as a freshman with the Trojans.

In addition to her volleyball success, Leatigaga also set school records in discuss and shotput, while winning the state discus title in 2007. The Newport News, Va. native helped her basketball team to the VISAA Division II state championship as a senior as well, and in 2007, Leatigaga played soccer in addition to her volleyball duties.

Leatigaga will major in criminal justice or pre-law at Campbell, with plans of law school after her undergraduate career.

White will come to CU from East Chapel Hill High School, where the middle blocker helped the Wildcats earn a 21-6 overall record in 2007. As a senior, the 5-foot-10 newcomer earned her first Piedmont Athletic Conference all-league nod in the 4A league.

"Michelle is going to bring great speed and athletic ability to our program," said Mullins. "She's a great athlete and I'm very excited to work with her. She will be definitely be fighting for a starting spot in the middle."

While taking the team's most improved award as a freshman, White and the Wildcats finished second in the Five-County Conference, the school's former 3A athletic conference.

At the club level, the Chapel Hill native helped her Triangle Volleyball squad finish among the top in the region, winning one regional tourney before finishing second in the 2007 championships. The Triangle team, which she competed with for three years, also took several other top five finishes last season, including fifth place in the Richmond, Va. based Monument City Classic. White's club also qualified for several national tournaments throughout her three year involvement, competing in the AAU National Championships and the USA Junior Olympic Championships last year.

White is one of 41 athletes that have gone on to play collegiately from Triangle Volleyball since 2003, including 14 from the 2008 class. Former Campbell setter Sarah Dillon, a 2003-06 product for the Camels, is another Triangle alumni.

White plans to pursue a major in physical therapy at CU in the fall.

"We're bringing in a freshman class that is very dedicated to Campbell, not just athletically, but as students too," added Mullins. "Both of these young ladies also have great athletic ability. They have the talent not just to play right away, but to come right in and start. These two will certainly gel well with the group we already have as well."