The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Three Sign With UAB Volleyball
11/12/2025 5:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB Volleyball announced three signees from the class of 2026 on Wednesday. Head Coach Betsy Freeburg added a pair of pin hitters and a setter, all from North of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Ingrid Dittmar | 6-0 | Setter | Tri-Valley High School | Zanesville, Ohio
Dittmar played four varsity seasons for Tri-Valley High School in Dresden, Ohio. Across her four seasons, Dittmar racked up 2543 career assists, averaging 8.0 per set. Dittmar reached 700+ assists in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Dittmar also tallied over 100 digs in each of her four seasons, finishing her career with 614. An all-around threat, Dittmar recorded 272 career kills, 182 aces, and tallied 117 total blocks. Dittmar helped lead Tri-Valley to an 18-6 record in her senior season.
Freeburg on Dittmar: "Ingrid is a great setter who brings a cool and calm demeanor to the setting position. She has good length and is experienced running both a 5-1 and a 6-2. She will add different opportunities for our offense, and we are excited for her to get to Birmingham!"
Makayla Meister | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Newark High School | Newark, Ohio
Meister is a four-year varsity player at Newark High School, appearing in 50 or more sets in all four seasons. Meister averaged 5.2 kills per set while hitting .348 during her senior season. Meister also recorded over 300 kills while averaging 4.0 per set as a junior. Meister has recorded 129 total blocks and 89 aces across her four seasons with the Wildcats. She stepped into a six rotation role in her junior year, seeing an uptick to 245 digs in 2024 before besting it this season with 250.
Meister and Newark went 13-1 in conference play this season, advancing to the Ohio State Championship tournament.
Freeburg on Meister: "Makayla is a six rotation outside hitter who has the ability to score the ball in a lot of ways on the pin. She's a strong attacker with a live arm and good hand contact. She can bring the heat, and that should excite a lot of Blazers fans!"
Payton Sirdine | 6-1 | Pin Hitter | Bloomfield High School | Bloomfield, Conn.
Sirdine played three varsity seasons for Bloomfield High School. Sirdine appeared in 49 sets for Bloomfield this fall, recording 104 kills while hitting .465, according to MaxPreps. Sirdine added 32 aces, 20 total blocks, and 27 digs to her season totals.
Freeburg on Sirdine: "Payton is a physical multi-sport athlete who will turn some heads with her ability to block balls and shut down outside hitters. She loves studying the game, and we cannot wait to see her talent continue to grow in the Green & Gold!"
Dittmar, Meister, and Sirdine will join the Blazers on the court in 2026. Before then, UAB heads to East Carolina and Charlotte for the final week of the 2025 regular season. The Blazers need a pair of wins and some help from around the American Conference in order to qualify for the American Championships next week in Tampa.
Ingrid Dittmar | 6-0 | Setter | Tri-Valley High School | Zanesville, Ohio
Dittmar played four varsity seasons for Tri-Valley High School in Dresden, Ohio. Across her four seasons, Dittmar racked up 2543 career assists, averaging 8.0 per set. Dittmar reached 700+ assists in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Dittmar also tallied over 100 digs in each of her four seasons, finishing her career with 614. An all-around threat, Dittmar recorded 272 career kills, 182 aces, and tallied 117 total blocks. Dittmar helped lead Tri-Valley to an 18-6 record in her senior season.
Freeburg on Dittmar: "Ingrid is a great setter who brings a cool and calm demeanor to the setting position. She has good length and is experienced running both a 5-1 and a 6-2. She will add different opportunities for our offense, and we are excited for her to get to Birmingham!"
Makayla Meister | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Newark High School | Newark, Ohio
Meister is a four-year varsity player at Newark High School, appearing in 50 or more sets in all four seasons. Meister averaged 5.2 kills per set while hitting .348 during her senior season. Meister also recorded over 300 kills while averaging 4.0 per set as a junior. Meister has recorded 129 total blocks and 89 aces across her four seasons with the Wildcats. She stepped into a six rotation role in her junior year, seeing an uptick to 245 digs in 2024 before besting it this season with 250.
Meister and Newark went 13-1 in conference play this season, advancing to the Ohio State Championship tournament.
Freeburg on Meister: "Makayla is a six rotation outside hitter who has the ability to score the ball in a lot of ways on the pin. She's a strong attacker with a live arm and good hand contact. She can bring the heat, and that should excite a lot of Blazers fans!"
Payton Sirdine | 6-1 | Pin Hitter | Bloomfield High School | Bloomfield, Conn.
Sirdine played three varsity seasons for Bloomfield High School. Sirdine appeared in 49 sets for Bloomfield this fall, recording 104 kills while hitting .465, according to MaxPreps. Sirdine added 32 aces, 20 total blocks, and 27 digs to her season totals.
Freeburg on Sirdine: "Payton is a physical multi-sport athlete who will turn some heads with her ability to block balls and shut down outside hitters. She loves studying the game, and we cannot wait to see her talent continue to grow in the Green & Gold!"
Dittmar, Meister, and Sirdine will join the Blazers on the court in 2026. Before then, UAB heads to East Carolina and Charlotte for the final week of the 2025 regular season. The Blazers need a pair of wins and some help from around the American Conference in order to qualify for the American Championships next week in Tampa.
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