NEW ORLEANS – Head Coach
Ashley Preston's first recruiting class at the University of New Orleans resulted in 11 new student-athletes ranging from Las Vegas to Boston and representation from eight different states who bring a range of different assets and strengths to the volleyball program.
Five of the newcomers are transfers with four coming directly from Division I schools.
Micah Hall made the Big 12's All-Rookie Team at Iowa State in her freshman season. Hall also helped her club team qualify for the Juniors Nationals in 2018.
Mauri Carver joins the program for her senior year after leading the MEAC in blocks while at UMES. Carver was voted team captain of the Hawks as a sophomore.
Claire Turner came from Louisiana where she played one year for the Ragin' Cajuns. The Colorado native made the President's List five semesters at Louisiana.
Kristi Gomez played most recently at Delaware State. The Texas native also played at Laredo JC where she was first in the nation in points and kills as a sophomore.
Sydney Gott played for Division II UH-Hilo in Hawaii. Gott hit .302 in her lone season with the Vulcans. Gott also played at Feather River CC where she was on the AVCA Watch List in 2020.
Six freshmen enter the fold as well.
Kamryn Scroggins broke school records in assists and aces. She reached 3,700 career assists and 1,200 career digs at Glenda Dawson HS in Texas.
Lauren Harrell hit .374 with 327 kills as a senior at Bedford HS. Harrell was also a Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Association All-State selection and led the Dual County League in blocks three times.
Valentina Echeverri recorded 765 career kills and 745 digs. She also posted 134 career service aces while lettering four seasons at East Lake HS and playing in 282 sets.
Chandler Lee was a 2021 AVCA All-American while at Katy HS. Lee reached 1,000 career kills and finished her high school career with 1,044, averaging just over 4.0 kills per set.
Courtney Roundtree helped Baltimore Polytechnic Institute to three regional championships. She was also named one of the Top 15 Players to Watch by the Baltimore Sun.
Sophia Ewalefo tallied 488 kills, 446 digs and 76 total blocks last year at Bishop Gorman HS. The Las Vegas native was part of two state championship teams in 2019 and 2021.
Along with the six returners previewed on Tuesday, the squad of newcomers will get their first collegiate matches with the Privateers this weekend in the DC Challenge.
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