Henderson State University signs 10 players to '19 volleyball class

ARKADELPHIA -- Henderson State volleyball coach Phil McDaniel announced the addition of 10 players to the varsity and junior varsity programs this week as a part of the Reddies' 2019 signing class.

The 10 new signees join McKenzie Tuyo, who signed in November, to complete the 2019 class for Henderson. Five signees hail from Arkansas.

"The 2019 class joining our Henderson State volleyball family will give us much-needed depth at nearly every position on the court," McDaniel said. "Additionally, this group of freshmen will provide a great deal of competition for both the varsity and junior varsity squad.

"We have a plethora of skills within this group. We are adding some attackers who are physical and strong, as well as attackers who are smaller and quicker. We will be able to expand our offensive options next fall and our ball control will continue to be a focus for us as well as we continue to prep for the 2019 season."

Among the junior varsity signees is 5-8 Arkadelphia outside hitter Jamari Whitaker, a four-year letter winner in both volleyball and basketball. She was named All-State in Class 4A and made all-conference as a junior.

The in-state varsity signees are 5-2 Conway libero Matti Fairchild and 5-10 Ashdown outside hitter Adaysia Thompson. The other in-state junior varsity signees are 5-8 Batesville front row hitter Tera Culp and 5-3 Conway defensive specialist Jastyn Vickers.

Henderson added 5-10 middle blocker Kaitlyn Sykes as a varsity signee out of North Richland Hills, Texas. The three-year letter winner at Birdville High School finished her career with more than 400 kills and 200 blocks to earn second-team all-district honors after her junior and senior seasons. Sykes was a three-time Academic All-State honoree.

Out-of-state junior varsity signees included 5-5 setter Alex Graham, out of Heritage High School in Texas; 5-9 De Kalb outside hitter and setter Kynli Holder, from Texas; 5-9 setter and right side player Marett Mollnow, out of Colony High School in Alaska; and 5-11 right side player Jacey Tupper, out of Deer Creek High School in Oklahoma.

Henderson finished the 2018 season with a record of 28-6 after making the finals of the Great American Conference tournament at Bank OZK Arena. The Reddies entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed after going 13-3 in conference matches.

The team included only one senior in Zuzana Ondruskova, who earned All-GAC honorable mention. All-GAC First-Team outside hitter Courtney Bolf, a junior, and Second-Team selection Adrianna Hartmann, a junior middle hitter, are poised to lead the team again this fall.