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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech head lacrosse coach Megan Burker has announced the signing of nine players to National Letters of Intent who will enroll at Tech in Fall of 2014. Tristan McGinley, Paige Graham, Amanda Uliano, Xani Shultis, Emma Harden, Carly Primo, Mary Claire Byrne, Brittany VanVeldhuisen and Kristen Kohles will make up the class of 2018 for the Hokies.

“We couldn’t be more excited for this Virginia Tech Lacrosse Class of 2018,” Burker said of the newcomers. “All around they are committed to the vision and goals of our program, and capable of pushing our team to the next level. They are strong student-athletes with high morals and a dedication to success in the classroom, on the field and in the community. We look forward to having them join our team next fall.”

McGinley is one of three New Jersey natives to join the squad, hailing from Moorestown, N.J. She has wontwoletters so far in her lacrosse career at Moorestown High School, helping her team capture the Tournament of Champions title in both of those years. The midfielder was named MHS Warrior Player last year, while also earning Scholar Athlete and Unsung Hero awards.

Graham will join her older sister and current Tech freshman Meagh Graham on the team next season. TheRockville, Md., native has won two letters at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School entering her senior season. Graham earned All-Conference honorable mention honors in each of her season on varsity. The attacker has played club ball for Rebels.

Uliano joins the Hokies from North Caldwell, N.J., and has won three letters at West Essex Regional High School entering her senior year. The attacker earned Second Team All-Essex County honors as a sophomore. Uliano played one year of club ball for T3 Elite, and three for E&A Elite.

Shultis will captain her Emma Willard High School team this spring after already winning two letters.The Ballston Spa, N.Y., native became a varsity starter late in her freshman year and was given the Coaches Award by season’s end. Shultis also helped her team to the NYS Section 2 Class C finals as a junior. The middie spent five years playing club ball for Albany Elite, and more recently played a year for ADK Lacrosse and IAS Lacrosse.

Harden is from Alpharetta, Ga., and has won two letters thus far at Milton High School. The midfielder helped her squad to back-to-back Georgia High School State Championships over the past two season. As a junior Harden scored 20 goals on 24 shots, also grabbing 26 ground balls and causing six turnovers. Harden has played club for XTEAM BLACK, helping the team to the 2013 Sandstorm Tournament championship.

Primo will make it eight New Yorkers on the Tech roster when she arrives on campus, hailing from Manlius, N.Y. She lettered as a junior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, helping her team to a Section 3 League Championship. The midfielder, who is a member of both the National Honor Society and Science Honor Society, has spent the past two years playing club for Star Riders.

Byrne is the lone Virginian in the class of 2018, hailing from McLean, Va. The midfielder will earn her fourth varsity letter this spring at Connelly School of the Holy Child. Byrne helped her team to an ISL championship in 2011 and was named MVP of that game. She was named to the All-ISL team each of the past three years and Second Team All-Met as a junior. Byrne has played club ball for Capital Lacrosse for the last four years.

VanVeldhuisen will win her fourth letter in lacrosse this spring at Voorhees High School. The Washington, N.J., native was named to the Express Times All-Area first team as a junior captain, also earning her team’s Offensive MVP award the same season. VanVeldhuisen, a midfielder, has scored over 100 goals already in her career at Voorhees and has played club ball for T3 North 2014 Black.

Kohles joins the Hokies from Bel Air, Md. and John Carroll High School. She will earn her fourth varsity letter in lacrosse this spring. As a junior, Kohles was named to the Baltimore All-Metro team, and helped her team to the U-15 national semifinals in 2011. Playing club for NEMS, Kohles and her teammates made it to the national finals in 2013 and the quarterfinals 2009-11.

For updates on Virginia Tech lacrosse, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Lax).