GREENVILLE — Brandee Markwith and Toya Osuegbu have signed national letters of intent to attend East Carolina and play volleyball for the Pirates beginning in the fall of 2016 according to an announcement Monday by head coach Julie Torbett.

 

Brandee Markwith | Libero | 5-8 | Honolulu, Hawai’i | Punahou High School

Markwith recently wrapped up her prep career by leading Punahou High School to a third-place finish in the Interscholastic League of Hawai’i state tournament. The Puns were 16-5 overall and 10-5 in league play. She earned all-state recognition the last two seasons and helped her team to a state title as a junior in 2014, collecting a double-double of 29 digs and 14 assists in the championship match. During her sophomore campaign, Markwith paced the Puns to a second-place finish in the ILH state tournament. She played her club volleyball for Ku’ikahi under head coach Kainoa Obrey.

Personal: Full name is Brandee Lea Leinaala Markwith … Born Oct. 16, 1997 in Honolulu, Hawai’i … Daughter of James and Denise Markwith … Has four siblings who all play sports … Her sister Brittney is a middle hitter for the University of Portland … Her mother was a middle hitter for the University of Hawai’i while her father played football for the Rainbow Wahine … Plans to major in criminal justice

Coach Torbett on Markwith: “We are so excited to get a player the caliber of Brandee. She has a high volleyball IQ and is a defensive machine. I like her approach to the game and her personality will blend well with our current players. She has played at a high level and had options to play at Hawaii and other top programs in the country. We will put her talent to immediate use with the graduation of libero Erika Figueroa. Brandee will be exciting for fans to watch and another strong defensive presence for our opponents with which to contend over the next four years.”

 

Toya Osuegbu | Middle Hitter | 5-11 | Winder, Ga. | Winder-Barrow High School

Osuegbu played four seasons of varsity volleyball for Winder-Barrow High School under head coach David Rows and helped the Bulldogs to a 36-22 overall record and a 10-1 league mark in 2015. Tallied 386 kills and 144 total blocks (86 solo) her senior season as well as 83 aces as she earned first-team all-region honors. Osuegbu was also tabbed as a finalist for regional player of the year and was the defensive player of the year for Winder-Barrow. She was named all-region in 2014 as a junior and her team’s player of the year as well as to the Athens Banner Herald All-Area Team. Osuegbu was recognized as the Winder-Barrow offensive player of the year as a sophomore while picking up most improved and defensive player of the year laurels her freshman season. In her prep career, she ended up with 960 kills, 389 total blocks and 138 aces.

Personal: Full name is Toya Toni Osuegbu … Born Feb. 18, 1998 in Gwinnett, Ga. … Daughter of Paul and Pauline Osuegbu … Plans to major in physical education.

Coach Torbett on Osuegbu: “Toya is a fun, dynamic player with big hops in the middle. She reminds me of our current middle hitter Ashley McCrae with her smaller stature but big play and speed. She has some work to do to earn her spot from the start, but I have no doubt she will be a great player for us over her four years and should develop quickly with solid training and coaching as well as being surrounded by good volleyball players at the college lev