USF Volleyball Adds Three to Begin Signing Period
TAMPA, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 – Head coach
Courtney Draper and the USF volleyball program are excited to announce three additions to the 2019 roster and class of 2023.
USF wasted little time with the signing period beginning on Nov. 14, bringing in talented individuals at three different positions. All three of the additions have success at both the club level and with their respective high school teams. A combination of size, athleticism, volleyball acumen and the right attitude has coach Draper and her staff excited about what's to come.
"I am very proud of this recruiting class and it is one of the strongest classes since my arrival to USF," said coach Draper. "I feel confident that each and every player is a great fit for our program. Of course they are good players, but their personalities and competitive drive is exactly what we need to add and complement our returning players. And I feel that because our current team has done so well, that assists in the recruitment process with our prospective student athletes. I am anxious for them to get here and get to work with us."
Makayla Washington | 6-0 | Right Side | Tallahassee, Fla. | Leon HS
Washington plays for Tallahassee Juniors Volleyball Club and has competed with Team Florida at the High Performance Championships. Her High Performance team finished in first place in 2016 and 2017. She tallied over 1,300 kills with a career hitting percentage of .410 playing for coach Angie Strickland at Leon High School. Also had 370 total blocks and 68 service aces in four seasons. She helped lead Leon to the Class 8A state championship game as a junior, tallying 431 kills and 113 blocks. Washington was named the All-Big Bend Player of the Year three consecutive seasons.
Coach Draper on Washington:
"One of the things about Makayla that makes her so unique is her versatility. She is a six rotation player who can swing in the middle, outside or right. That is something that is awfully hard to find. That also says a lot about her character that she is willing to fill whatever role her current team needs. She is a very dynamic attacker and has a fast arm that I anticipate scoring many points for us in the coming seasons. And while she is a great attacker, it is nice that she can add the passing and defensive piece as well. She is enrolling this spring, which is very exciting so that she will become acclimated to our program, and style of play immediately."
Ally Barnhart | 6-4 | Middle Blocker | Lenexa, Ks. | De Soto HS
Barnhart has spent the last two seasons playing club volleyball with the Asics Mavs 18-1 team. A four-year varsity athlete for head coach Lindsay Hothan at De Soto High School, Barnhart recorded 685 kills, 425 blocks and a .264 hitting percentage. Barnhart was named to the Frontier League First Team and Second Team All-State as a junior. She was named to the United Kansas Conference Second Team and First Team All-State in her senior season. Barnhart was also named KVA Academic All-State twice.
Coach Draper on Barnhart:
"Ally will be the tallest player on our roster next fall and she is entering her second spring playing at the 18 open level. Most high school athletes only get one year at the 18 open level. I think that her high level club experience at Asics MAVS has really prepared her to be able to contribute to our USF Volleyball program. Ally is going to be a great blocker for us and has above average speed for a player of her size. I really feel like she is the perfect fit for USF Volleyball."
Jordan Valley | 5-5 | Defensive Specialist | Haslett, Mich. | Haslett HS
Valley plays club with the Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy and was named a Prep Volleyball All-American in 2017. She recorded 1,390 digs in four seasons at Haslett High School with 220 aces and 808 kills. She improved each season, tallying career highs of 478 digs and 258 kills as a senior. Valley was named to the AVCA Phenom List twice, voted team captain three times and as the team MVP in her junior year. She has earned multiple all-state and all-conference honors in volleyball as well as track & field and gymnastics.
Coach Draper on Valley:
"When we think of characteristics that we want in a libero – Jordan Valley checks all the boxes. She is feisty, she is fast, and she communicates well. She is a confident player, as she should be, and she loves to compete and win. We need tough athletes in our program, and I think that she is just that. She is a very fun player to watch, as her athleticism really shines on the court."
About USF Volleyball
Now in her seventh season with the Bulls, head coach Courtney Draper has her team at 19-9, just one win shy what would be the most in her time at USF. Redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne became the seventh player in program history to reach 400 career blocks earlier this season. Sophomore Jaeden Brown is second in The American in total blocks and leads USF with a hitting percentage above .300. Junior transfer Jac'cara Walker has led USF in kills all season long and recorded her 1000th career kill earlier in the year. Senior setter Briana Stowell
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