Dolgoff bolsters Old Dominion roster

Thank you, Monarch Nation.

For the past several days, some folks on the excellent Old Dominion message board have been buzzing about a new player, Ashley Dolgoff, becoming a Lady Monarch. Given the recent transfers by guards Pryncess Tate-Dublin (seemingly inevitable) and Carolann Cloutier (ouch!), it certainly made sense that ODU would be in the market for a late-summer addition.

But was it true?

"Yes, Ashley did sign with Old Dominion last Monday (Aug. 2)," Dolgoff's mother, Marilyn, said in an e-mail. "Ashley is a long wing from Ellicott City, Md. Her AAU coach, Otto Jett, matched Ashley up with ODU. With such a strong program, sense of tradition; and after spending the day with their friendly and knowledgeable staff it was an easy decision. Ashley hopes to bring versatility to the Lady Monarchs because she can score in a multitude of ways and defend several different positions."

Marilyn Dolgoff sounds like a coach, doesn't she? Not to mention one proud momma. But if Ashley's such a stud, how come it took until August for a school to snap her up?

"Ashley had a ACL tear after her junior year, in the spring of 2009," said Jett, who for the past six years has specialized in molding and developing unsigned seniors/under-the-radar talents and re-inserting them into the recruiting pool. "So she missed her big recruiting summer."

Dolgoff did recuperate in time to resume being the go-to girl at tiny Glenelg Country School (285 students in grades 9-12), where she averaged 27.3 ppg as a junior. But Jett estimates "it wasn't until probably about late May when Ashley began feeling like her old self."

Even then, Jett said schools such as Delaware, Loyola and American maintained a wait-and-see approach with Dolgoff. Midway through the summer, only one D-I offer was on the table - from New Mexico State.

Then ODU entered the picture.

"I just said to Ashley, 'Do you want to go to the desert, or do you want to go to the beach?"

So what kind of player is ODU getting?

"Well, she's a 6-2 guard, lefthanded, and a slasher," Jett said. "Can play the 2 or the 3. Very creative, and has a nice midrange jumper. She's not as consistent from 3, but she can shoot it from there. Has long arms and will block some shots. Just needs a little more upper-body strength.

"Plus she's hungry. Loves to play and compete. She's very quiet and has a high-pitched voice. But don't let that fool you. She can get a little nasty out there."

So there really will be another fresh lion in the Lady Monarchs' den. Welcome to ODU, Ashley. Thanks for the head-ups, Marilyn and Otto.

And thanks again, Monarch Nation.