Jacksonville Volleyball head coach Maggie Couture has announced the addition of seven student-athletes who will join the program starting in the fall of 2022. The incoming class is highlighted by two graduate transfers, two mid-year transfers and three freshmen.
"I am thrilled to introduce our incoming athletes for the Fall of 2022," Couture said. "This is a group that comes in with a mix of high-level experience and tremendous long-term potential. I look forward to seeing how they are all going to impact our program's growing culture, on and off the court."
Read below for more information regarding the seven new Dolphins:
Haley Hart
Position: Middle Blocker
Hometown/Previous School: Frankfort, Ill. | Valparaiso University
Height: 6'1"
Intended Major: Master's of Speech and Language Pathology
Accomplishments Prior to JU: Played 4 seasons at Valparaiso University and will begin her graduate career with the Dolphins. Hart was an integral part of the Beacon's second place finish in the 2021 NIVC Tournament. A 2021 First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and a Second Team All-MVC in the Spring 2021 season, Hart lead Valpo in total blocks for three seasons. In the Fall 2021, Hart hit at a .306 clip, with 2.57 kills per set and 1.01 blocks per set. Hart ranked in the top-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference in kills and blocks, the only player to rank in the top-10 in both categories. Haley graduated with her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Valpo in May 2021.
Lyric Love
Position: Middle Blocker
Hometown/Previous School: Maui, Hawaii | Odessa College
Height: 5'10"
Intended Major: Business
Accomplishments Prior to JU: Arrives in Jacksonville after playing for NJCAA National Championship Qualifier, Odessa College. Love ranks 2nd in the Odessa College record books for blocks in a single season with 189. This past fall, Lyric averaged 2.12 kills per set and 1.64 blocks per set for the Wranglers. In 2019, Lyric was a First Team All-Conference selection, averaging 1.59 blocks per set, good for 3rd in the NJCAA. In the classroom, Lyric was a WJCAC Second Team All-Academic Team choice.
Lizzie Kitchen
Position: Outside Hitter
Hometown/High School: Novi, Mich. | Mercy HS
Height: 6'1"
Intended Major: Marine Science
Accomplishments Prior to JU: A 2019 Michigan Division 1 state champion during her sophomore season, Kitchen arrives at JU after spending four years at Mercy High School. In addition to the state championship run, Lizzie helped the Marlins to the 2019 Catholic League Championship and a 2020 District Championship. In the classroom, Lizzie was an honor roll student, and named the 2021-22 Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Tina Nika
Position: Libero/Defensive Specialist
Hometown/High School: Jacksonville, Fla. | Bishop Kenny HS
Height: 5'5"
Intended Major: Exercise Science
Accomplishments Prior to JU: A 2020 Florida state champion, Nika played 4 years for the Bishop Kenny High School. She finishes her career as a Crusader with a school record 1,421 digs. A 4-year member of the school's beach volleyball program, Nika helped the Crusaders to a state runner-up finish in 2021, in only the 3rd year of the program.
Julia de Sa
Position: Outside Hitter
Hometown/Previous School: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | James Madison University
Height: 5'11"
Intended Major: Psychology
Accomplishments Prior to JU: Played the 2021 season at JMU after spending two seasons at Florida Southwestern State College. This past season for the Dukes, Julia hit at a .173 mark, with a season best 19 kills against Illinois State. De Sa began her colligate career as a member of the inaugural season for the Buccaneers, leading the program to its first national ranking in Feb 2021 and it's first NJCAA National Championship birth that same year. Julia is a two-time All-Suncoast selection, the first FSW player to earn the award twice. As well as, being selected for the 2021 FCSAA All-State Team. She holds the program's all-time kills record with 583 kills and career kills per set record with 3.26.
Lauren Seibert
Position: Libero
Hometown/Previous School: Pensacola, Fla. | Southern Mississippi University
Height: 5'7"
Intended Major: Master's of Speech and Language Pathology
Accomplishments Prior to JU: Played two seasons for the Golden Eagles after spending her freshman campaign at Wallace State CC. Last season, Seibert played in 13 matches for Southern Miss, finding a regular role as the Serving Specialist. In her lone season at Wallace State, Lauren was the starting libero, helping the Lions to a 37-1 record. In the historic campaign for Wallace, Lauren had 479 digs. The Pensacola native had 25 double-digit dig performances on the campaign, highlighted by a 34-dig showing against Walters State CC.
Lauren Young
Position: Setter
Hometown/High School: Delaware, Ohio | Olentangy Berlin HS
Height: 5'11"
Intended Major: Business
Accomplishments Prior to JU: Young comes to JU with a list of prep honors. She has been named to the JVA Ultra Ankle Watchlist in 2019 and again in 2021, as well as being named a member of the PrepVolleyball Class of 2022 Watchlist in 2020. She was also named an AVCA Phenom in that same year. As a member of the OBHS varsity team she was named First Team All-Central District and First Team All-OCC. In the classroom, Young was a member of the Olentangy Berlin 4.0 Honor Roll from 2018-2021 and is a member of the OBHS National Honor Society. Young was also a qualifier for the DECA ICDC 2022 Nationals in Atlanta, GA.
Original source can be found here.
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