Top row (left to right): Aundrea Boyland, Alyssa Chuidian, Arryanna Collins, Valencia Grayson. Bottom row (left to right): Eboni Mitchell, Tiarra Moore, DeSeanna Murphy, Kelly Murphy.
HOUSTON – The Texas Southern University volleyball team announced the addition of eight players who will comprise the Lady Tigers' incoming class for the upcoming 2017 season.
TSU head coach Jocelyn Adams will welcome six incoming freshmen and two junior college transfers to the Lady Tigers squad in the fall. Seven of the eight newcomers are from the state of Texas, including five from the greater Houston area.
Texas Southern again has high expectations after a 2016 season that saw the Lady Tigers compile a 22-11 record and go 16-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Lady Tigers reached the SWAC championship match, losing to Alabama State in four sets.
The 2017 newcomers are:
Aundrea Boyland
Middle Blocker • 5'10" • Arlington, Texas • James W. Martin High School
• Named to the All-District 4-6A First Team following her senior season
• Helped lead Martin to a 13-3 district record and a berth in the Class 6A playoffs in 2016
• Played club volleyball with the 360 Volleyball Club
Coach Adams says: "Aundrea is a player who makes a big impact without necessarily making a lot of noise. She has the ability to alter the game with her defense and blocking ability that will help the Lady Tigers fare well in SWAC play."
Alyssa Chuidian
Setter • 5'6" • Katy, Texas • Morton Ranch High School
• Three-time All-District 19-6A honoree, earning First Team honors in 2016
• Played club volleyball for Katy Volleyball Academy and GVCA Volleyball
• Averaged 5.0 digs and 4.2 assists per set during her senior season
Coach Adams says: "Alyssa is very astute in the game and her defense as a setter will prove advantageous for the Lady Tigers deep into the season. She is a smart floor general who makes great decisions in her role. She gets her hitters involved and her connectivity will trouble opponents this season."
Arryanna Collins
Defensive Specialist • 5'1" • Houston, Texas • MacArthur High School
• Earned all-district accolades in each of her final three varsity seasons
• Named District 18-6A's Defensive MVP as a junior in 2015
• Named District 16-6A's Setter of the Year following her senior season in 2016
Coach Adams says: "Arryanna is a very quick and smart defender. She reads defense well and pursues every ball. This much-needed spark will aid the Lady Tigers in defense and cause opponents to avoid her defensive side of the court."
Valencia Grayson
Defensive Specialist • 5'6" • Houston, Texas • Booker T. Washington High School
• Earned all-district accolades in each of her four years of high school volleyball
• Named District 24-4A's Most Valuable Player in 2016
• Earned District 24-4A First Team honors in four different varsity sports
Coach Adams says: "Valencia is a multi-sport athlete who will use these qualities to run down defensive balls and give opponents trouble in serve receive. She is well-prepared to play defense with her having such quick feet and reflexes."
Eboni Mitchell
Right-side hitter • 6'1" • Austin, Texas • McCallum High School • Blinn College
• Helped lead Blinn College to the NJCAA Division I Tournament and the Region XIV championship as a freshman in 2015
• Earned All-Region XIV Honorable Mention following her sophomore season in 2016
• Two-time all-district first team honoree at McCallum High School
Coach Adams says: "Eboni has great experience coming from a powerful program at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. She is a great blocker and a powerful hitter. Her experience will prove valuable for the Lady Tigers this season."
Tiarra Moore
Right-side hitter • 5'10" • Spring, Texas • Conroe High School
• Two-time all-district honoree
• Named to the All-District 12-6A First Team in 2016
• Played club volleyball with Willowbrook Sports Complex
Coach Adams says: "Tiarra is a very powerful and explosive lefty hitter. She has a great work ethic, has a good variety of hitting options, and will probably be one of the hardest hitters on the team. Tiarra will provide depth in the Lady Tigers offense."
DeSeanna Murphy
Outside hitter • 5'8" • Willis, Texas • Willis High School
• Two-sport athlete at Willis High School, earning all-district honors in volleyball and basketball
• Named to the All-District 20-5A Second Team in 2016
• Played club volleyball with Allegiance Volleyball Club
Coach Adams says: "DeSeanna will be a great player in the Lady Tigers future. She has great power and shot selection, and is a very smart hitter. Her ability to hit over blockers will prove valuable for the Lady Tigers."
Kelly Murphy
Outside hitter • 5'10" • Evergreen, Colo. • Evergreen High School • Arizona Western College
• Helped lead Arizona Western to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2016
• Ranked second on her team in service aces per set
• Played her freshman season at Dominican College (N.Y.), where she ranked second on her team in kills and kills per set
Coach Adams says: Kelly will be a valuable piece in the Lady Tigers' puzzle this season. She is a solid player, server and passes very well. Her experience on the court will aid us in our leadership offensively.
-TSU-
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
HOUSTON – The Texas Southern University volleyball team announced the addition of eight players who will comprise the Lady Tigers' incoming class for the upcoming 2017 season.
TSU head coach Jocelyn Adams will welcome six incoming freshmen and two junior college transfers to the Lady Tigers squad in the fall. Seven of the eight newcomers are from the state of Texas, including five from the greater Houston area.
Texas Southern again has high expectations after a 2016 season that saw the Lady Tigers compile a 22-11 record and go 16-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Lady Tigers reached the SWAC championship match, losing to Alabama State in four sets.
The 2017 newcomers are:
Aundrea Boyland
Middle Blocker • 5'10" • Arlington, Texas • James W. Martin High School
• Named to the All-District 4-6A First Team following her senior season
• Helped lead Martin to a 13-3 district record and a berth in the Class 6A playoffs in 2016
• Played club volleyball with the 360 Volleyball Club
Coach Adams says: "Aundrea is a player who makes a big impact without necessarily making a lot of noise. She has the ability to alter the game with her defense and blocking ability that will help the Lady Tigers fare well in SWAC play."
Alyssa Chuidian
Setter • 5'6" • Katy, Texas • Morton Ranch High School
• Three-time All-District 19-6A honoree, earning First Team honors in 2016
• Played club volleyball for Katy Volleyball Academy and GVCA Volleyball
• Averaged 5.0 digs and 4.2 assists per set during her senior season
Coach Adams says: "Alyssa is very astute in the game and her defense as a setter will prove advantageous for the Lady Tigers deep into the season. She is a smart floor general who makes great decisions in her role. She gets her hitters involved and her connectivity will trouble opponents this season."
Arryanna Collins
Defensive Specialist • 5'1" • Houston, Texas • MacArthur High School
• Earned all-district accolades in each of her final three varsity seasons
• Named District 18-6A's Defensive MVP as a junior in 2015
• Named District 16-6A's Setter of the Year following her senior season in 2016
Coach Adams says: "Arryanna is a very quick and smart defender. She reads defense well and pursues every ball. This much-needed spark will aid the Lady Tigers in defense and cause opponents to avoid her defensive side of the court."
Valencia Grayson
Defensive Specialist • 5'6" • Houston, Texas • Booker T. Washington High School
• Earned all-district accolades in each of her four years of high school volleyball
• Named District 24-4A's Most Valuable Player in 2016
• Earned District 24-4A First Team honors in four different varsity sports
Coach Adams says: "Valencia is a multi-sport athlete who will use these qualities to run down defensive balls and give opponents trouble in serve receive. She is well-prepared to play defense with her having such quick feet and reflexes."
Eboni Mitchell
Right-side hitter • 6'1" • Austin, Texas • McCallum High School • Blinn College
• Helped lead Blinn College to the NJCAA Division I Tournament and the Region XIV championship as a freshman in 2015
• Earned All-Region XIV Honorable Mention following her sophomore season in 2016
• Two-time all-district first team honoree at McCallum High School
Coach Adams says: "Eboni has great experience coming from a powerful program at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. She is a great blocker and a powerful hitter. Her experience will prove valuable for the Lady Tigers this season."
Tiarra Moore
Right-side hitter • 5'10" • Spring, Texas • Conroe High School
• Two-time all-district honoree
• Named to the All-District 12-6A First Team in 2016
• Played club volleyball with Willowbrook Sports Complex
Coach Adams says: "Tiarra is a very powerful and explosive lefty hitter. She has a great work ethic, has a good variety of hitting options, and will probably be one of the hardest hitters on the team. Tiarra will provide depth in the Lady Tigers offense."
DeSeanna Murphy
Outside hitter • 5'8" • Willis, Texas • Willis High School
• Two-sport athlete at Willis High School, earning all-district honors in volleyball and basketball
• Named to the All-District 20-5A Second Team in 2016
• Played club volleyball with Allegiance Volleyball Club
Coach Adams says: "DeSeanna will be a great player in the Lady Tigers future. She has great power and shot selection, and is a very smart hitter. Her ability to hit over blockers will prove valuable for the Lady Tigers."
Kelly Murphy
Outside hitter • 5'10" • Evergreen, Colo. • Evergreen High School • Arizona Western College
• Helped lead Arizona Western to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2016
• Ranked second on her team in service aces per set
• Played her freshman season at Dominican College (N.Y.), where she ranked second on her team in kills and kills per set
Coach Adams says: Kelly will be a valuable piece in the Lady Tigers' puzzle this season. She is a solid player, server and passes very well. Her experience on the court will aid us in our leadership offensively.
-TSU-
Courtesy: TSU Athletics