BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team will welcome eight new student-athletes for the 2022 season, Head Coach
Mark Pryor announced on Monday.
"When I was looking at this class for 2023, I really had one thing in mind, and that was offense" Pryor said. "We have led the conference in digs per set the last three years, so I am comfortable with how we play defense and our ability to slow teams down offensively. An area that we needed to improve in was to be able to terminate the rally more quickly, and each one of these players has an ability to do that. With their length, jumping ability, or arm speed, these players will be able to bring us a more powerful offense that will give us a more balanced identity, instead of a defense first mindset."
Faith Clark | 5'9 | Outside Hitter | Freshman
Bryan High School | Bryan, TX
Faith was a first team all-district selection and a two-time academic all-district recipient. She was also named district Hitter of the Year in 2021 and was a member of Brazos Valley Juniors Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Faith is a left side hitter who just plays hard and has a great work ethic. She is a real fit with the team and UMHB, and she will bring a lot of competition to our gym. Faith plays with a reckless abandon that fans will enjoy watching."
Kaia Halfmann | 5'11 | Setter | Freshman
Tomball Memorial High School | Tomball, TX
Kaia was a two-time academic all-district selection and received all-district first team honors her senior year. She was also a member of Texas Tornados Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Kaia is a setter who has good length and great quickness. She excels at setting the middle, and since that is the focal point of our offense, her skill set fits our scheme. She is a great addition to our program."
Katie Warden | 5'10 | Outside Hitter | Freshman
Crawford High School | Crawford, TX
Katie was a two-time all-tournament team selection, four-time Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches all-state selection and received four-time academic all-district honors. She was also 2021 District MVP and 2021 Texas Girls Coaches Association Legacy All-Star Team. Katie was a member of Waco Juniors Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Katie has the potential to be one of the most terminal left sides in the league long term. She has a very heavy arm when she contacts the ball. She will make our gym more competitive immediately."
Annissa Moreno | 6'0 | Middle Blocker | Freshman
Brock High School | Brock, TX
Annissa was a two-time all-district selection and received academic all-district honors in 2021. She was also a State Champion in 2019 and a 2021 District MVP for serving. Annissa was a member of Fort Worth Fire Volleyball Club.
Quote for Coach Pryor: "Annissa is a middle who has only begun to tap into her potential as a middle. She has good lateral quickness, and is going to be able to beat lots of teams with her overall quickness. She is a wonderful fit for UMHB's culture and will be great here."
Jenci Seahorn | 6'0 | Hitter | Freshman
Harmony High School | Harmony, TX
Jenci was a two-time First Team All-East Texas selection and a two-time first team all-state selection. She was also 2020 District Most Valuable Hitter, 2021 District MVP and a member of Dallas Summit Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Jenci could play left, middle, or right for us. She is a great athlete who really elevates well off the floor and could end up being a special player here. She could be a real problem for other programs regionally."
Cameron Pesek | 6'2 | Right Side | Freshman
St. Paul High School | Shiner, TX
Cameron was a three-time all-district first team selection and a two-time all-state first team selection. She was also a two-time academic all-state selection and a four-year letterwinner. Cameron was a member of Corpus Christi Force Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Cameron is a right-side hitter that has improved greatly over the last two years as a 6'2 lefty. She is going to create lots of problems with the hitting angles she can create and her blocking will definitely help solidify our defense."
Dravyn Hurd | 6'1 | Middle Blocker | Freshman
Hamshire Fannett High School | Beaumont, TX
Dravyn was a two-time all-district selection at Hamshire Fannett High School. She was also a member of Xcel Volleyball Club.
Quote from Coach Pryor: "Dra is a very physical middle. She is a gifted athlete with size and athleticism. She has a real drive to be great, and I think that her ceiling is really high. She will be one of our highest attackers the day she walks in the gym. She's going to be the real deal."
Kaylie Vasil | 5'10 | Outside Hitter | Junior
Midlothian High School | Midlothian, TX
Kaylie was an all-district volleyball player at Midlothian High School, where she also earned academic all-district and academic all-state awards. She was also a two-time ASC all-conference second team selection while with McMurry University. Kylie was a part of the 2022 UMHB Beach volleyball program this spring.
Quote from Mark Pryor: "Kaylie transferred to us in January, and she has made some good strides in acclimating to how we approach things here. What is nice about Kaylie is that she has really adopted our team culture. I really don't like taking transfers, but Kaylie has made the transition from former school to UMHB pretty quickly. She is fitting in well with what we want and I see good things for her here."
"If these players come in and embrace who we are as a program and who we want to be as people, they will do very well here" Pryor said. "That is always the challenge with young talented players. If they can come in and accept what their role may be early on, then each one will be able to help the program achieve our ultimate goals."
UMHB will open the 2022 season September 1
st – 3
rd at home with a five-team tournament. The action will begin with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Howard Payne University on Thursday, September 1
st at The Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.
