PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland Pilots have signed Ariel Usher (Forest Grove, Ore.), a Glencoe High School middle blocker, to a National Letter of Intent, volleyball head coach Joe Houck announced on Monday. Usher (6-1) was a first team All-State Selection as a junior and was named the Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) Volleyball Player of the Year during both her junior and senior seasons.
With Usher as co-captain, Glencoe claimed the 5A NWOC League Championship in 2008 after going a perfect 14-0, the first time in school history. Usher was a conference all-around selection all four years and was voted the team’s Most Inspirational Player during her junior year.
Usher, who can play multiple positions, started her club volleyball career at the Multnomah Athletic Club before joining the Portland Volleyball Club for the 2008 season. She led her PVC team to the regional title and was an all-tournament selection at the Emerald City Classic Invitational. The team also went undefeated on its way to winning the Volleyball Festival, the nation’s largest girl’s tournament in Reno, Nev.
“Ariel is one of the most impressive players currently playing in the Pacific Northwest”, said Houck. “Her great size standing at 6-1 and her ability to play many positions will give us flexibility to mix-and-match our lineup as needed. She comes from a strong volleyball background and will be a good fit here.”
Usher is one of three high school volleyball players that have committed to join the University of Portland volleyball program next fall.
