Volleyball Adds Four To 2016 Signing Class

Volleyball Adds Four To 2016 Signing Class

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University volleyball team signed a pair of juniors and freshmen in the National Letter of Intent (NLI) early signing period for the 2016 season next fall, Head Coach Sharon Quarles announced Thursday morning. 

Augusta boosted the lineup with the addition of junior setter McKenzey Beck (Phoenix, Ariz.), freshman setter Payton Murchie (Trinity, Fla.), junior outside hitter Taylor Sauer (Candler, N.C.), and freshman libero Kenya Stokes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

The newly signed quartet joins a freshmen trio that were signed in December to make up the 2016 signing class. The Jaguars gained setter Sammie Baker from Norcross, Ga., middle-blocker Jessica Hedrick from St. Charles, Mo., and outside hitter Savanna Roy from Tierra Verde, Fla., in the December NLI period. 

NAME YR. HT. POS. HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL
McKenzey Beck Jr. 5-10 S Phoenix, Ariz. / Glendale Community College
Payton Murchie Fr. 5-8 S Trinity, Fla. / J.W. Mitchell HS
Taylor Sauer Jr. 6-0 OH Candler, N.C. / Gulf Coast State College
Kenya Stokes Fr. 5-9 LIB/DS Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. / Rancho Cucamonga HS
         
         
         

"This 2016 incoming class of volleyball players is going to be a fun, dynamic and a competitive group of players to watch," Head Coach Sharon Quarles said. "We have five freshman and two transfers coming in."

Kenzey Beck is a junior transfer from Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ariz. She was named a first team All-American in 2015, the 2015 AVCA Player of the Year, and 2015 first team All-Conference. Beck helped guide Glendale to a National Championship in 2014 and conference and regional championships in 2015 and 2014. Read full bio by clicking here

Payton Murchie is a freshman setter from Trinity, Fla., where she will graduate from J.W. Mitchell High School this May. Murchie was the Florida 6A assists leader and she was named the 2015 MVP and garnered first team All-Conference honors. She was a first team All-Tampa Bay team selection and helped her team to a regional championship in 2015.

Read full bio by clicking here

"We can't say enough about the incoming trio of setters for this fall. They all are very dynamic and they like to run a fast offense. Great offensive leadership will definitely be provided within this group of three setters," Quarles said. "They are going to challenge the opponents blocking and defense every opportunity they get. We are looking forward to the practice court when we can get Sammie, Payton and McKenzey on the floor to battle and compete to make our team better."

Taylor Sauer signed with Augusta from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Fla., where she tied the school record for most kills in a career with 623. Sauer is an outside hitter from Candler, N.C., and holds two North Carolina state records with the most single-season kills (602) and the season average for kills per set (21.5). Read full bio by clicking here

"Taylor is a not only a JUCO (junior college) transfer, but she played a year at UNC Asheville as well. She is a veteran player who has a high volleyball IQ and that can swing across the net," Quarles said.

Kenya Stokes attended Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and will boost the Jaguar defense as a new libero. Stokes started as libero and was the team captain for varsity. She led RCHS in digs in 2015-16 and was a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finalist in 2015-16 and semifinalist in 2014-15. Read full bio by clicking here

"Kenya is a fairly tall defender with a long reach allowing her to cover a lot of ground defensively. She will be rounding out our roster as the third defender along with seniors, Cat Desilvester and JaNhea Beisner. This trio of players is going to see a lot of action on the court this year," Quarles said.