SFA Beach Volleyball Adds 12 to 2024-25 Roster
8/29/2024 12:30:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The SFA Ladyjacks Beach Volleyball Team and Head Coach Madi Wilkerson added 12 new players to their roster for the upcoming 2025 beach season.
Here's what Head Coach Wilkerson had to say about the newcomers for the Ladyjacks and how they will contribute to the 'Jacks success on the sand courts this upcoming season.
"We are very excited about this incoming class. We have a variety of positions and experience that will contribute to the continual growth of SFA Beach Volleyball. Several of these new additions are from all over the country and bring new styles of play. These newcomers also know how to take care of their business in the classroom and uphold the high academic standards the program has already established. We are looking forward to getting started this fall in preparation to compete in the Southland."
Kylie McKean: Graduate Defender
Kylie joins SFA as a transfer from Erskine College and originally heralds from Easley, South Carolina where she attended Easley High School. McKean shined in both the classroom and the court at Erskine College as she earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology at Erskine College while making the Dean's List, in addition to serving as the captain of the Erskine Beach Volleyball team.
Kate Smith: Freshman Utility
Kate comes to SFA as a freshman from Phoenix, Arizona where she attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School and played club volleyball for Sealth Beach Volleyball. Smith has had no shortage of accomplishments and achievements over the last two seasons as she is a 2x Division 1 6A Beach Volleyball State Champion, a 2x Desert Valley Region Honorable Mention, as well as a 2x All Academic Division 1 Beach Volleyball Honorable Mention. In both 2023 and 2024, Kate was named to the JVA Beach Watchlist, while in 2023 was crowned the AAU 18u Open National Champion, and led her team to a third place finish in the 2024 18u National Championship Tournament.
Olivia Zeigler: Junior Defender
Olivia joins the purple and white as a transfer from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and is a Texas native as she comes from Newark Texas and attended VR Eaton High School, where she played club beach volleyball for Texas Image Sand. While at A&M-Kingsville, Zeigler excelled in both academics and athletics as she was named to the Honor Roll and Deans List in 2023, while being awarded the AVCA Top Flight Award in 2024.
Savannah Johnson: Sophomore Blocker
Savannah joins the SFA Beach Volleyball Program as a transfer from Southern Nazarene University. Savannah is no stranger to Texas as she grew up in Waxahachie, Texas where she attended Waxahachie High School. During her high school career, Johnson was superb in both the classroom as well as the sand court as she was named to the All-Academic District Team, the First Team All-District 11-6A Team, and was awarded the Fighting Heart Award.
Tessa Rogers: Senior Blocker
Tessa joins SFA as a senior transfer where she originally attended University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) before most recently attending San Jose State University. Rogers originally hails from Durham, North Carolina where she attended Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School where she played club beach volleyball for Sinjin Beach and was named to the 2016 All-District Indoor Team. While she was a freshman at UNCW, Rogers tied the program record for most wins a pair freshman year, while being both named to the commissioners honor roll and being named the preseason player to watch for the Southland Conference in 2023 while attending San Jose State University.
Berklee Andrews: Junior Defender
Berklee comes to the Pineywoods as a junior transfer from Lake-Sumter State College and is no stranger to Texas as she grew up in Seguin, Texas and attended Navarro High School. Andrews carries no shortage of achievements and accomplishments with her to SFA as in 2022 she won Gold at the International Beach ParaVolley Event, before taking 3rd place at the NJCAA Beach National Championship in 2023 while being named to the 2nd Team All-American FSCAA Region 8 Team. While at Lake-Sumter in 2024, Berklee was named the Lake-Sumter Female Athlete of the Year, while also being named to both the First-Team and All-FSCAA Region 8 Teams.
Haylee DePonte: Freshman Defender
Haylee begins her college career with the Ladyjacks as a freshman from Aiea, Hawaii where she attended Moanalua High School and played club beach volleyball for Hunakai H1 Performance. DePonte shined in both the classroom and court while at Moanalua High School as she was named the Student-Athlete of the Year in 2023, while being a National Honor Society Member in both 2023 and 2024, while being a four-year Honor Roll and Principal List nominee. Outside of the classroom, DePonte was a Varsity Conference Champion and all-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021, while being an All-Conference Second Team nominee in both 2022 and 2023, and an All-State Honorable Mention in both 2022 and 2023.
Hailey Prodan: Freshman Blocker/Split
Hailey begins her first year in the Purple and White as a freshman hailing from Pearland, Texas where she attended Pearland Dawson High School where she played club beach volleyball for Third Coast Beach Open Travel Team. Prodan has had no shortage of success both academically and athletically during her high-school career as she was top 25% in her graduating class at Glenda Dawson High School, while being named to the GHVA Post-Season Academic Team, as well as being named to the Academic All-State and All-District teams. While on the court, Hailey was an AVCA Phenom Watch List recipient, while being named a Top Performer at the 2022 Prep Dig Expo, and led her team to a fifth place finish at the 2023 USAV Beach Nationals.
Jennah Atchley: Freshman Split Blocker
Jennah joins the purple and white as a Texas native freshman from Blanco, Texas where she attended Blanco High School and played club beach volleyball for 210 Beach. Atchley was named to the JVA Best in Beach Watchlist, while leading her club team, 210 Beach, to a fifth-place finish in the BVCA Club Challenge. Atchley has had great success in the classroom during her high school career as she was a National Honor Society Member, an FCCLA Member, as well as being named as an Honorable Mention to the Volleyball Academic All-State Team.
Maddy Wade: Freshman Defender/Split Blocker
Maddy comes to the Pineywoods as a freshman from Austin, Texas where she attended Westlake High School and played club beach volleyball for Silver Beach where she was a LOVB Club Representative. While at Westlake High School, Wade was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Academic Team, as well as being named an Honorable Mention to the THSCA Academic All-State Team, and leading her team to a second place finish at the BVNE Nationals in 2023.
Ashley Boswell: Sophomore Blocker
Ashley comes to SFA as a Sophomore transfer from Westmont College and attended Freeman High School where she played club beach volleyball for CPA Volleyball. While playing for CPA, Boswell was named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List, while leading her team to a pair of second place finishes at the Las Vegas Classic as well as at the Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament. Boswell has excelled in both the classroom and court as she graduated as Valedictorian from Freeman High School, while being named to the Westmont College Dean's List, and was a three-time First Team All-Conference honoree. Outside of the classroom Ashley was a multi-star athlete as she was named MVP for the Northeast A District Volleyball, while being named to the All-State First Team honoree, and was named a two-time doubles MVP for NEA District Tennis, and played in the National NAIA Tournament where she placed top-16.
Sophie Lee: Senior Defender
Sophie joins the Ladyjacks as a senior transfer from University of Portland and originally hails from Coronado, California where she attended Coronado High School. Where she played club beach volleyball for Coast Beach Volleyball Club. Lee has experienced great success in both the classroom and the sand courts as she was named a WCC All-Academic Honoralbe Mention in both 2023 and 2024 and was named to the deans list every semester of her undergrad from 2020-2024. While at Portland, Lee was a team captain in both 2023 and 2024, and participated as a SAAC Representative from 2021-2024, while serving as the SAAC Communications Director in both 2023 and 2024.
Here's what Head Coach Wilkerson had to say about the newcomers for the Ladyjacks and how they will contribute to the 'Jacks success on the sand courts this upcoming season.
"We are very excited about this incoming class. We have a variety of positions and experience that will contribute to the continual growth of SFA Beach Volleyball. Several of these new additions are from all over the country and bring new styles of play. These newcomers also know how to take care of their business in the classroom and uphold the high academic standards the program has already established. We are looking forward to getting started this fall in preparation to compete in the Southland."
Kylie McKean: Graduate Defender
Kylie joins SFA as a transfer from Erskine College and originally heralds from Easley, South Carolina where she attended Easley High School. McKean shined in both the classroom and the court at Erskine College as she earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology at Erskine College while making the Dean's List, in addition to serving as the captain of the Erskine Beach Volleyball team.
Kate Smith: Freshman Utility
Kate comes to SFA as a freshman from Phoenix, Arizona where she attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School and played club volleyball for Sealth Beach Volleyball. Smith has had no shortage of accomplishments and achievements over the last two seasons as she is a 2x Division 1 6A Beach Volleyball State Champion, a 2x Desert Valley Region Honorable Mention, as well as a 2x All Academic Division 1 Beach Volleyball Honorable Mention. In both 2023 and 2024, Kate was named to the JVA Beach Watchlist, while in 2023 was crowned the AAU 18u Open National Champion, and led her team to a third place finish in the 2024 18u National Championship Tournament.
Olivia Zeigler: Junior Defender
Olivia joins the purple and white as a transfer from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and is a Texas native as she comes from Newark Texas and attended VR Eaton High School, where she played club beach volleyball for Texas Image Sand. While at A&M-Kingsville, Zeigler excelled in both academics and athletics as she was named to the Honor Roll and Deans List in 2023, while being awarded the AVCA Top Flight Award in 2024.
Savannah Johnson: Sophomore Blocker
Savannah joins the SFA Beach Volleyball Program as a transfer from Southern Nazarene University. Savannah is no stranger to Texas as she grew up in Waxahachie, Texas where she attended Waxahachie High School. During her high school career, Johnson was superb in both the classroom as well as the sand court as she was named to the All-Academic District Team, the First Team All-District 11-6A Team, and was awarded the Fighting Heart Award.
Tessa Rogers: Senior Blocker
Tessa joins SFA as a senior transfer where she originally attended University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) before most recently attending San Jose State University. Rogers originally hails from Durham, North Carolina where she attended Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School where she played club beach volleyball for Sinjin Beach and was named to the 2016 All-District Indoor Team. While she was a freshman at UNCW, Rogers tied the program record for most wins a pair freshman year, while being both named to the commissioners honor roll and being named the preseason player to watch for the Southland Conference in 2023 while attending San Jose State University.
Berklee Andrews: Junior Defender
Berklee comes to the Pineywoods as a junior transfer from Lake-Sumter State College and is no stranger to Texas as she grew up in Seguin, Texas and attended Navarro High School. Andrews carries no shortage of achievements and accomplishments with her to SFA as in 2022 she won Gold at the International Beach ParaVolley Event, before taking 3rd place at the NJCAA Beach National Championship in 2023 while being named to the 2nd Team All-American FSCAA Region 8 Team. While at Lake-Sumter in 2024, Berklee was named the Lake-Sumter Female Athlete of the Year, while also being named to both the First-Team and All-FSCAA Region 8 Teams.
Haylee DePonte: Freshman Defender
Haylee begins her college career with the Ladyjacks as a freshman from Aiea, Hawaii where she attended Moanalua High School and played club beach volleyball for Hunakai H1 Performance. DePonte shined in both the classroom and court while at Moanalua High School as she was named the Student-Athlete of the Year in 2023, while being a National Honor Society Member in both 2023 and 2024, while being a four-year Honor Roll and Principal List nominee. Outside of the classroom, DePonte was a Varsity Conference Champion and all-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021, while being an All-Conference Second Team nominee in both 2022 and 2023, and an All-State Honorable Mention in both 2022 and 2023.
Hailey Prodan: Freshman Blocker/Split
Hailey begins her first year in the Purple and White as a freshman hailing from Pearland, Texas where she attended Pearland Dawson High School where she played club beach volleyball for Third Coast Beach Open Travel Team. Prodan has had no shortage of success both academically and athletically during her high-school career as she was top 25% in her graduating class at Glenda Dawson High School, while being named to the GHVA Post-Season Academic Team, as well as being named to the Academic All-State and All-District teams. While on the court, Hailey was an AVCA Phenom Watch List recipient, while being named a Top Performer at the 2022 Prep Dig Expo, and led her team to a fifth place finish at the 2023 USAV Beach Nationals.
Jennah Atchley: Freshman Split Blocker
Jennah joins the purple and white as a Texas native freshman from Blanco, Texas where she attended Blanco High School and played club beach volleyball for 210 Beach. Atchley was named to the JVA Best in Beach Watchlist, while leading her club team, 210 Beach, to a fifth-place finish in the BVCA Club Challenge. Atchley has had great success in the classroom during her high school career as she was a National Honor Society Member, an FCCLA Member, as well as being named as an Honorable Mention to the Volleyball Academic All-State Team.
Maddy Wade: Freshman Defender/Split Blocker
Maddy comes to the Pineywoods as a freshman from Austin, Texas where she attended Westlake High School and played club beach volleyball for Silver Beach where she was a LOVB Club Representative. While at Westlake High School, Wade was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Academic Team, as well as being named an Honorable Mention to the THSCA Academic All-State Team, and leading her team to a second place finish at the BVNE Nationals in 2023.
Ashley Boswell: Sophomore Blocker
Ashley comes to SFA as a Sophomore transfer from Westmont College and attended Freeman High School where she played club beach volleyball for CPA Volleyball. While playing for CPA, Boswell was named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List, while leading her team to a pair of second place finishes at the Las Vegas Classic as well as at the Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament. Boswell has excelled in both the classroom and court as she graduated as Valedictorian from Freeman High School, while being named to the Westmont College Dean's List, and was a three-time First Team All-Conference honoree. Outside of the classroom Ashley was a multi-star athlete as she was named MVP for the Northeast A District Volleyball, while being named to the All-State First Team honoree, and was named a two-time doubles MVP for NEA District Tennis, and played in the National NAIA Tournament where she placed top-16.
Sophie Lee: Senior Defender
Sophie joins the Ladyjacks as a senior transfer from University of Portland and originally hails from Coronado, California where she attended Coronado High School. Where she played club beach volleyball for Coast Beach Volleyball Club. Lee has experienced great success in both the classroom and the sand courts as she was named a WCC All-Academic Honoralbe Mention in both 2023 and 2024 and was named to the deans list every semester of her undergrad from 2020-2024. While at Portland, Lee was a team captain in both 2023 and 2024, and participated as a SAAC Representative from 2021-2024, while serving as the SAAC Communications Director in both 2023 and 2024.
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