Humphreys Adds Seven Signees to Ladyjacks' Roster for 2019 and Beyond
11/14/2018 7:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Five players from Texas, one from Illinois and one from Puerto Rico comprise SFA's 2019 class
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - SFA head volleyball coach Debbie Humphreys announced Wednesday that seven student-athletes comprise the Ladyjacks' 2019 signing class.
"We are really excited about the 2019 recruiting class," commented SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys. "They are extremely talented in both ball control and the ability to score. Hopefully a few of them will come in and compete for playing time right away since competition is what you always want in the gym on a daily basis.
"Along with their skill set, they are loaded with personality and will have no problem helping to keep things fun on the court," continued Humphreys. "They have the ability to accomplish great things during their time at SFA."
Payton Cerny | 6-4 | RS | Richardson, Texas | Richardson HS | Madfrog Club Team
• The tallest player among the Ladyjacks' seven 2019 signees, Cerny has compiled an extensive list of accolades while competing for Richardson High School. Appearing on both the AVCA Phenom and Under Armour All-America Watch Lists, the right side has been named First Team All-District, First Team All-City and Offensive Player of the Year as a prep volleyball player. She has amassed over 1,000 kills in her high school career and is Richardson High School's all-time leader in terminations. This season, she collected District Hitter of the Year honors and earned an All-Tournament selection, too.
• Humphreys on Cerny | "Payton is loaded with potential and we expect her to improve quickly. She is a tremendous blocking presence and she has a powerful arm. Once she adjusts to the speed of D1, she will be quite a force for our opponents to deal with. We look forward to helping Payton take her game to another level."
Kaitlyn Glawe | 5-9 | OH | Amarillo, Texas | Randall HS | Amarillo Elite Club Team
• Able to excel in either the front row or the back row, Glawe has spent quite a bit of time in and around the USA Volleyball circuit through her prep career. A member of the USA Volleyball High Performance Regional Team and the USA Volleyball High Performance A2 Training Program, Glawe also appeared at USA Volleyball's High Performance Prospect Training Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For Randall High School, Glawe earned the title of Co-MVP of District 3-5A as a junior and was also selected as an All-District First Team selection that season. Glawe recently helped Randall move on to the 2018 state tournament and collected an All-Tournament Team selection at the UIL 5A Region I Championship.
• Humphreys on Glawe | "Kaitlyn is a solid all-around volleyball player. She has the tools necessary to be successful in both the front row & back row. We expect her to thrive in a more up tempo offense. It will be fun watching her take all of those skills to the next level."
Kelsey Harrington | 6-1 | MB | Midland, Texas | Robert E. Lee HS | Midland Juniors Club Team
• Three individuals standing at 6-0 or taller are in the Ladyjacks' 2019 class and Harrington is one of them. Through her prep career at Robert E. Lee High School, Harrington has earned a Co-District MVP honor this season as well as First Team All-District and Academic All-State honors. Off the volleyball court, Harrington is a member of National Honor Society and serves as the secretary of her student council.
• Humphreys on Harrington | "Kelsey has a tremendous upside and will improve rapidly once she is around the pace of D1 on a daily basis. She is a good athlete who is quick off the floor and has a fast arm. Kelsey has all the physical tools to be a dominant middle blocker in the Southland Conference. The weight room will be good for her to help her develop the strength necessary to be a strong blocking presence."
Sheretta Hill | 6-1 | MB/RS | Sulphur Springs, Texas | Sulphur Springs HS | Tyler Junior College
• The first two seasons of Hill's collegiate career were spent in nearby Tyler, Texas, as the middle blocker suited up for Tyler Junior College. During Hill's tenure as a member of the team, the Apaches have advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament twice and earned a fourth-place national finish in 2017 when Hill was a freshman. In 2018, Hill is averaging 2.17 kills and 0.80 blocks per set and has been named to the Dean's List, won an academic award and also collected the TJC Legacy Award. As a prep, Hill earned First Team All-District accolades in both volleyball and track and was a Second Team All-District Choice in basketball.
• Humphreys on Hill | "Sheretta is a ridiculous athlete, extremely dynamic and jumpy. She has improved significantly as a VB player during her time at TJC and we know that will continue. We are excited to work with her and see where she will excel as a part of the SFA volleyball program."
Hannah Jones | 5-9 | RS/DS | Aledo, Texas | Aledo HS | Club Texas Club Team
• Now in her final season at Aledo High School, Jones has continued to produce at a high level, earning District Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-District and Academic All-District honors. As a junior in 2017, Jones was named the DFW Varsity Volleyball Player of the Week after averaging 14.5 kills and 10.5 digs per match over a two-match span. A state semifinalist with Aledo High School, Jones collected TGCA All-Star, First Team All-District and Academic All-District honors as a junior, too.
• Humphreys on Jones | "Hannah is a great teammate who has a way of making those around her better. She has high level ball control skills and the ability to terminate despite her size. She is the player you want on your team because she goes hard and has fun competing. We are excited to have Hannah as a part of the SFA volleyball family."
Dara Kane | 5-9 | S | Hudson, Ill. | Normal West HS | Illini Elite Club Team
• One of two non-Texas players among SFA's 2019 signing class, Kane earned an All-Conference nod while competing for Normal West High School. Named a scholar-athlete by her high school as well, Kane plans to major in business at SFA.
• Humphreys on Kane | "Dara is a phenomenal athlete who takes care of all the little things at a high level. Her work ethic makes her a setter that teammates want to play hard for. We expect her to adjust to our style of offense very quickly."
Ariana Pagan | 5-10 | OH | Isabela, Puerto Rico | Friedrich Froebel Bilingual School | Playeras de Isabela Club Team
• Coming to east Texas from Puerto Rico, Ariana Pagan brings both a high-level skill volleyball skill set and a laundry list of individual accolades to the table. Pagan appeared on three different U18 teams - foremost on that list the Puerto Rico Junior National Team - and played libero for all three of those squads. She also competed on the USA Volleyball High Performance U18 squad and the NORCECA Championship U18 team. Currently Pagan is also an outside hitter for the U20 Puerto Rice Junior National Team and has claimed MVP awards at the Jeep Volleyball Championship and multiple other tournaments. The president of her high school National Honor Society, Pagan has been named an All-Star in multiple tournaments, too.
• Humphreys on Pagan | "Ariana is a solid all-around volleyball player. She can score as a hitter and has high level ball control skills as well. In a time when many volleyball players have either back row skills or front row skills, Ariana possesses both. We are excited to work with her to help her take her attacking to another level."
So far in 2018, SFA has laid claim to the Southland Conference regular season title, leads the nation in wins (29) and is riding a nation-leading 26-match winning streak. Friday morning in Natchitoches, La., SFA starts its run in the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament as the top seed. At 11:00 a.m., the Ladyjacks do battle with eighth-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi inside Prather Coliseum in the first of four quarterfinal matches in the league tournament.
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