The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Beach Volleyball Inks Six to Class of 2018-2019
5/17/2018 11:55:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
Fifth-year player Jaelyn Keene is the lone graduate transfer of the group, while freshmen Emma Andraka, Jenna Gathright, Ashlee Stansel, Brooke Stansel, Lizzie Thompson and round out the crop of newcomers.
"We are very excited with the makeup and talent of the players that we are bringing in," Iannone said. "Jaelyn boasts outstanding collegiate experience as an incoming graduate transfer, and that leadership will mesh nicely with the incoming freshmen. Our freshmen are extremely talented and have a championship mindset which is what we are building here at UAB."
Jaelyn Keene: Graduate Transfer/Jacksonville, Ill./Illinois State
A four-year starter at Illinois State, Keene was tabbed to the First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference all four years of her career. She was named the female athlete of the year at ISU in 2018 and ended her career ranking fifth all-time with 1,567 kills, fifth in blocks (472) and first in hitting percentage (.367). The middle blocker also made her mark in the classroom, as she was named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and received the MVC Commissioners Academic Excellence award on three occasions (2014-2016).
Meet graduate transfer Jaelyn Keene (@jaelyn_keene) from Illinois State who joins us for the 2018-19 season. In four years at Illinois State, she was a four-time First Team All-MVC selection, Academic All-American, ranks first in career hitting % and fifth in kills. ????????? pic.twitter.com/BRhO0aNQ44
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 8, 2018
Emma Andraka: Freshman/King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion
A member of the Elite East Coast Power Indoor and East Coast Beach Volleyball Academy beach teams, Andraka finished her high school career with over 1,000 career kills and digs as a four-year varsity starter. She was named to the PIAA All-State team as a junior and senior and was a captain her final two years. Excelling in the classroom as well, Andraka was named to the PAC All-Academic team.
Rounding out the class of 2018-19 is incoming freshman Emma Andraka! Emma joins us from Pennsylvania where she had over 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career dig for Upper Marion Area. She was an PIAA All-State selection as a junior and senior and played beach for @ECBVA. ?????? pic.twitter.com/XxTDSdS2lX
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 15, 2018
Jenna Gathright: Freshman/Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore
Gathright, who lettered in four varsity sports while in high school, comes from an athletic pedigree as her mom was a two-time national indoor volleyball champion at UCLA and played professionally in Europe and on the AVP. Gathright was named All-Conference and All-Region in 2016 and excelled in the classroom with a 4.11 GPA (10th in her class). Gathright graduated high school early in Michigan and since been out in California training with beach volleyball icon Holly McPeak and Elite Beach Volleyball Club.
Join us in welcoming incoming freshman Jenna Gathright! Her beach resume includes winning the 2017 Chicago ABT and placing third in the Huntington Beach AAU junior qualifier. She graduated HS early (4.11 GPA) and moved to Cali to train with Elite Beach VB Club! pic.twitter.com/KLY0X1f2et
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 14, 2018
Ashlee Stansel: Freshman/Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
A hardcourt player for Stony Point, Stansel was equally proficient in the sand with the Austin Volleyball Academy, highlighted by trips to the national championships in California the past three years. She was named freshman CoMVP in 2014 and took home second team All-District honors in 2017. She picked up 391 kills, 375 digs and 54 aces over the duration of her career. An All-Academic team selection in 2016 and 2017, Stansel graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Twinning! Yesterday you met Brooke, today we introduce twin sister Ashlee Stansel (@ashleexoxo_12) who joins us this fall as a freshman. Ashlee has appeared in three straight Beach National Championships and helped lead her team to a Bi-District title as a senior. ?????? pic.twitter.com/dcGHc9O0Qj
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 10, 2018
Brooke Stansel: Freshman/Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
Ashlee's twin sister, Brooke was also a three-year participant at beach nationals. She lettered in indoor volleyball for two years while amassing 253 digs, 45 kills and 64 aces. She was named first team All-District in 2017 and is the all-time Stony Point record holder with 1,501 assists. A standout in the classroom as well, Brooke graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was a four-year member of the National Honor Society.
Say hello to incoming freshman Brooke Stansel (@brooke_stansel)...Brooke joins us in the fall and brings an impressive volleyball resume with her, including three straight Beach National Championship appearances and also holds her school record for career assists. ???????? pic.twitter.com/JOZLbDXPow
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 9, 2018
Lizzie Thompson: Freshman/Statesville, N.C./Statesville
A leader on the court for one of North Carolina' best teams, Thompson was the team captain in 2016 and 2017 and finished her career with 1,000 digs and 1,000 assists. She was a 2015 state champion and was named All-Conference her final three seasons.
Join us in welcoming incoming freshman Lizzie Thompson! Lizzie comes to Birmingham via Statesville, N.C. where she as a four-year starter for Statesville HS with over 1,000 careers kills and digs. She played club for BeachSouth Volleyball Club. ?????? pic.twitter.com/lNvUeBQNPN
— UAB Beach Volleyball (@UAB_BVB) May 11, 2018
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