The Eastern volleyball team signed its only scheduled recruit for the year as Mother McAuley senior Kera Griffin signed a National Letter of Intent Monday.

Griffin, a 5-foot-11 middle hitter, led Mother McAuley to a 36-4 overall record and a spot in the Class AA state quarterfinals.

Griffin was named to the Daily Southtown and Chicago Sun-Times All-Area teams and was an All-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference pick.

“Kera is a very talented individual,” Eastern coach Brenda Winkeler said. “She comes from a team from McAuley who is a state powerhouse.”

She is already familiar with two of the current players on the Panther roster by playing 2nd City club volleyball with Sarah Niedospial and Mary Welch.

“They are very excited to have her coming here,” Winkeler said. “The familiarity of someone having people she has played with is something that is good.”

Griffin brings a lot of experience to Eastern and comes from a volleyball family. Her older sister Meg is an outside hitter at the University of Illinois.

Winkeler hopes Griffin can improve the Panthers’ 9-23 overall record, and most importantly, get them back into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after not qualifying the last two years.

“She will bring a lot of experience and talent to this team and hopefully she can make a difference right away,” Winkeler said.