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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech lacrosse team and head coach Megan Burker welcome nine newcomers for the 2012-13 academic year. Gracee Hendrix, Laney Clarke, Claiborne Lucas, Jessi Thon, Kelsey Allen, Meghan Macera, Mikayla Sweeney and Hannah Sieger make up the class of 2016, while the addition of senior transfer Rachel Sweeney rounds out Tech’s newcomers this season.

Hendrix, a midfielder from Vero Beach, Fla., was a four-year letterwinner at Vero Beach High School. Named team captain and MVP as a senior, Hendrix helped her squad to both district and state titles in each of her four years.

Clarke recently joined the squad upon arriving at school this fall and hails from Virginia Beach, Va. Clarke, an attacker, helped her Cape Henry Collegiate team to the state championship game as a junior and senior, capturing the title in her final year. Serving as team captain as a senior, Clarke was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior and senior

Lucas joins the Hokies after winning four letters as a midfielder at Patrick Henry High School. The Roanoke, Va., native was named Southwest Virginia Player of the Year and captained her team in her final two seasons. Lucas earned both First Team All-America and Wendy’s High School Heisman honors, while also being named to the All-District Academic team. She was honored as an Academic All-American as a senior.

Thon hails from Victor, N.Y., and won five letters at local Victor High School. The midfielder earned First Team All-League and All-Greater Rochester team honors. As a senior, Thon was named an Academic All-American, while also earning team MVP accolades.

A West Islip, N.Y., native, Allen, won four letters at West Islip High School before arriving at Tech. A team captain as a senior, the midfielder was named an Academic All-American that same year. Allen also earned All-Division honors as a junior and senior.

Macera was a three-year letterwinner and senior captain at Westminster High School in Maryland. The middie helped her team to the state finals every year she was on the squad, while also earning All-County and All-Conference honors.

Mikayla Sweeney, a Waxhaw, N.C., native, arrives at Tech after playing four years at the varsity level at Marvin Ridge High School. A three-time team captain, the attacker was named team MVP as a sophomore and junior. Along with being a two-time Academic All-American, Sweeney earned All-State and All-Conference honors in each of her four years.

Sieger joins the Hokies after earning four letters at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, Calif. The goalie earned First Team San Diego Section and All-CIF honors as a senior. She was also named Athlete of the Year at Rancho Bernardo.

Rachel Sweeney joins the Tech squad, as well as her younger sister, after transferring from Presbyterian College. Playing two seasons for the Blue Hose, Sweeney appeared in 31 games and made 27 starts. She scored five goals and tallied four assists at PC.

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