Creighton strengthened its backcourt for the future with the signing of three players Wednesday to national letters of intent.

Guard Andre Yates signed Wednesday night at a family get-together, while guard Isaiah Zierden and guard-forward Tevin Calhoun signed Wednesday morning.

"I can't wait to get on campus," Yates said in a text message confirming his signing.

Yates, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Dayton, Ohio, will fill an immediate need as the Bluejays lose Antoine Young after this season, leaving only Austin Chatman at the position. Zierden, a 6-2 sharpshooter from St. Louis Park, Minn., is expected to strengthen Creighton's perimeter attack.

"Isaiah is one of the best shooters in the country," Bluejay coach Greg McDermott said.

Calhoun is a 6-6 swingman from Linden, N.J. He played one year at Lakeland (Ohio) Community College before sitting out last season. He currently is at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas, and will have two season of eligibility remaining for Creighton.

"Tevin is a skilled wing that should be able to come in and stretch the defense and score the basketball,'' McDermott said. "His athletic ability will be a huge plus for our program.''

At Lakeland, Calhoun averaged 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds to earn newcomer of the year honors in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. He also earned a spot on the all-conference second team.

He originally signed with Central Connecticut out of high school but had to attend junior college because of academic issues.

Zierden, the son of Washington Wizards assistant Don Zierden, averaged 18.8 points as a junior at Benilde-St. Margaret High School. His stock rose during the summer while playing on the AAU circuit when he made 20 3-pointers in five games at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam.

A career 48-percent shooter from 3-point range, Zierden has been called one of the nation's top 10 shooters by Rivals.com and a top-25 shooter by ESPN.com. Howard Pulley, who runs the AAU program in which Zierden plays, compared his shooting ability to Jeff Boschee and Jake Sullivan, who excelled at Kansas and Iowa State, respectively.

"He is a very heady player who has the ability to knock shots down from deep and is a solid ball handler and passer,'' McDermott said. "His progress the last few years has been remarkable. It became obvious to us that his work ethic and desire to improve are second to none.''

McDermott could not comment on Yates because Creighton had not received the necessary paperwork. Yates was expected to get it to the school Thursday.

— Steven Pivovar

Creighton volleyball nets two, gains size

The Creighton volleyball team got a little more intimidating Wednesday.

The Bluejays signed 6-foot-4 Lincoln Pius X standout Lauren Smith, giving CU more size at the middle blocker position. Creighton signed 6-4 Kelli Browning at that spot last year.

"I really think 2011 was one of our best classes and this class is very strong also," coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth said. "Our program is continuing to move forward."

Creighton, which will lose two seniors, signed two players Wednesday. The other was Melanie Jereb, a 6-2 outside hitter from Cary, Ill.

Both played for top-notch prep programs, as well as strong club teams, Bernthal Booth said.

Smith, who has played for the Nebraska Juniors club team for three years, piled up 272 kills and 59 blocks this season in leading Pius to the Class B state tournament. The Thunderbolts will try to win their seventh overall title and first since 2008 this weekend.

"Her strength is the fact she hasn't reached her potential yet and just continues to grow. Not just physically, but in her game,'' Pius coach Jake Moore said.

Booth said Smith likely will develop into a front-row player for the Jays, while Jereb could play in all six rotations.

"They are both really put-together players," Booth said. "Both come from very good programs and know how to win. We like that."

Five Pius volleyball players signed on Wednesday. The others were Cassie Effken and Scarlett Howerter to Drake; Lea Sack to Bradley and Allison Zastrow to Washington University in St. Louis.

— Marjie Ducey

Burke players sign with Bison

Omaha Burke's "dynamic duo" is headed to North Dakota State.

Third baseman-outfielder Sam Peterson hit .400 while second baseman-center fielder Katie Soukup hit .500 for the Bulldogs, who went 15-12 this season.

"They've been the top two hitters the past two years," coach Candi Hughes said. "They just kind of changed my program. They've been great leaders."

Hughes said the work ethic of the two is among the best she's seen in seven years of coaching at Burke. They're both quick, explosive and tough outs.

"I'm very excited to see what the future holds for them," she said. "They will definitely benefit North Dakota State's softball team."

— Marjie Ducey

Lincoln Southeast star heading to Stanford

Lilly Hinrichs really didn't need to visit Stanford.

Once she got her acceptance letter, the Lincoln Southeast diver said it was pretty much a foregone conclusion. She said she tried to keep an open mind, but she's wanted to go there for a long time.

Once she visited the school in Palo Alto, Calif., a few weeks ago, she committed shortly after returning home. She signed her official letter of intent Wednesday.

"It's a great academic opportunity, the diving program is amazing and it's really beautiful there," Hinrichs said.

The three-time state champion also visited Duke, USC, Texas and Texas A&M. She made an unofficial visit to Nebraska.

Hinrichs has a 4.333 grade-point average and worked hard on her application letter. She wants to get a degree in Spanish with a goal toward working in international medicine.

Hinrichs credits her coach at the Nebraska Diving Club, Kris Hoffman, for her diving success. "He has really pushed me."

Hinrich will make another trip to the West Coast next summer when she competes in the Olympic Diving Trials in Seattle.

— Marjie Ducey

Wahoo pitcher Voboril will play for Lopers

Aubrey Voboril, the pitcher who led Wahoo to back-to-back Class C state softball titles, has signed her letter of intent to play at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Voboril posted a 21-6 record this season while battling injuries to lead the Warriors to their second title. She also was named a second team All-Nebraska pitcher, as well as a Class C first-team pitcher.

— Steve Beideck

Ohio point guard picks Nebraska

Ohio point guard Rachel Theriot signed a letter of intent with Nebraska on Wednesday.

The 6-footer from Midpark High School in Middleburg Heights is a two-time All-Ohio performer. Last season, she helped Midpark to a 22-3 record, averaging 12.7 points, 9.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Theriot was ranked as the No. 70 player overall by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and No. 96 by the All-Star Girls Report. She was ranked as the No. 18 point guard in the nation by ESPN/HoopGurlz and was also ranked among ESPN's top 100 high school seniors in the nation.

Theriot chose Nebraska over Xavier, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State, Dayton and Washington, among others.

Junior college pitcher signs with Huskers

Former West Fargo High School standout Matt Strahm says he will pitch for Nebraska.

The 6-foot-4 left-hander played for Neosho County Community College (Kan.) last spring. He was 9-3 with a 2.82 ERA, striking out 77 in 67 innings.

Strahm will play for Neosho County next spring before heading to NU for his junior and senior seasons.