A trio of high school standouts from three different states -- outfielder Emma Kelly-Glasoe (Olympia High School-Washington), infielder Jordan Rice (Totino-Grace High School-Minnesota) and pitcher Samantha Schuchardt (DeForest Area High School-Wisconsin) -- along with transfers Julia Nealer (Iowa Lakes Community College) and Jenny Rasmussen (Ellsworth Community College) have all signed national letters of intent to attend and play softball for the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2011-12.

"We are excited to welcome these quality student-athletes to the Bulldog softball family," said UMD head coach Jen Banford. "They all bring a great deal of experience competing at a high level and have had success on and off the field."

Emma Kelly-Glasoe (OF • 5-8 • Olympia, Wash. • Olympia H.S) -- Has started the past three seasons for the Bears and served as their team captain as both a junior and senior .... twice attained All-Narrows League recognition ... played a variety of positions over the course of her prep career -- outfield, shortstop and third base .... also lettered three times in soccer (midfield and defense) ... has an aunt and uncle who are employed at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Julia Nealer (P • 5-6 • Lynnwood, Wash. • Iowa Lake C.C.) -- Recently put the wraps on her second season of pitching duty at Iowa Lakes Community College ... missed a sizable chunk of the 2011 season while nursing a broken hand, but still registered a 5-3 record and a 2.76 earned run average in eight appearances spring ... received NJCAA All-American status in 2010 after fanning 310 batters in 254 overall innings of work while logging a 33-8 record and a 0.77 ERA ... paced the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Division II ranks that year in league earned run average (0.53), wins (23), strikeouts (244) saves (4) and innings (172) ... helped lead the Tritons to a third-place finish at the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championship ... was named the Most Valuable Pitcher at that event ... set a NJCAA tourney record for strikeouts in one game (13) and in a tournament (44 in six games) ... captained the Lynnwood High School softball Royals as a sophomore, junior and senior and was a first team all-conference selection all three of those years ... lettered four times in softball and three times in swimming for the Royals.

Jenny Rasmussen (C • 5-6 • Waupun, Wis. • Ellsworth C.C.) -- Batted .352 in her second, and final, season of ball at Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College en route to corralling All-Region second team honors ... also compiled a .503 slugging percentage and belted three home runs while appearing in 52 of 55 games ... was a two-time All-East Wisconsin Conference first team honoree while attending Waupun High School ... started four years for the softball Warriors ... also competed for two years in basketball (forward) as a prep ... her cousin, Ryan Rasmussen, is a junior guard with the UMD basketball team.

Jordan Rice (IF • 5-6 • Ham Lake, Minn. • Totino-Grace H.S.) -- Has been one of the anchors of the Eagle infield for the past four seasons ... landed All-North Suburban Conference and All-Section acclaim last year ... is captaining the Eagles in 2011 ... also lettered twice in volleyball (libero) at Totino-Grace High School.

Samantha Schuchardt (P • 5-9 • Windsor, Wis. • DeForest Area H.S.) -- Took over as the DeForest High School's mound ace as a rookie and has never looked back ... is a three-time All-Northern Badger Conference honoree (first team in 2010, second team in 2009 and honorable mention in 2008) .... was chosen the Norskies' Most Valuable Player as both a junior and sophomore.

The Bulldogs, whose roster contained six seniors, won 21 of their final 26 games this spring en route to posting a 33-17 overall record (for a .667 winning percentage -- their best mark in eight years) and went 18-4 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, good for third place. In addition, UMD earned its second straight NCAA Division II Tournament berth and third in the past five seasons.

(All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse).