BOONE, N.C.  - Appalachian State University has added a fifth newcomer for the 2008 season, as junior outside hitter Maja Jechorek (Sulechow, Poland/Casper College) joins the team for the fall, head coach Matt Ginipro announced on Friday.

"We are very fortunate to find a player like Maja this late in the year,” said Ginipro. “She will bring a lot of talent and depth to our group of outside hitters. Maja is coming from a program which competed for a National Championship last season and that experience will be a great addition in the gym."

The 6-1 Jechorek spent the last two seasons at Wyoming's Casper College under head coach Angel Sharman, where she amassed 768 kills and averaged of more than 2.8 kills per game. In 2007 she led the team to a spot in the NJCAA Tournament with 469 kills on the year.

She overcame an early injury in 2006 but finished the season with the highest hitting percentage on the team en route to all-region honors.

Before her time at Casper, Jechorek captained and led her prep team to consecutive Under-18 Sulechow Championships under coaches Zbigniew Baranski and Bafak Rafal Blaszczyk.

Jechorek joins returning outside hitters Jordan Jesberg and Lauren Swecker and freshman Maggie Seeds.

Along with Seeds, Prescott Lederer, Julia Marstall, and Kasey Sauls complete the 2008 incoming class as the Mountaineers open the season at the Charlotte Invitational August 24-25.