MONROE, La. – ULM head volleyball coach Charlie Olson announced eight signees for indoor volleyball and two signees for beach volleyball in the early signing period.
The indoor class includes Emily Adams (outside hitter, Cypress, Texas), Kaitlin Davis (defensive specialist/libero, Cedar Park, Texas), Kailey Friedrich (setter, Cypress, Texas), Logan Jeffus (middle blocker, LaVista, Nebraska), Ashley Rants (outside hitter, Parker, Colorado), Cameron Rogers (defensive specialist/libero/beach, Keller, Texas), Phoebe Stigen (outside hitter, Deer Park, Texas) and Maddy Villarreal (right side hitter, Cypress, Texas).
"These are very special classes to me because it's our first full recruiting class," Olson said. "This class is large, larger than any class I've ever brought in at any school. We had to bring in a larger number to backfill those who graduated this past year and increase our numbers in the gym in certain positions. Most of this class earned All-District and/or All-State honors, broke high school records, and excelled extremely well academically. They are fully bought into the culture we are creating here at ULM, and I look forward to getting them all here on campus. Welcome to the bayou!"
The beach class includes Tamsie Black (blocker, Wilmington, North Carolina) and Delaney Evans (split blocker, Aurora, Colorado) along with Rogers as an indoor crossover athlete.
"We didn't need a big class, but we did focus on height," Olson said. Historically, most of our height has come from crossover indoor or indoor players taking their fifth year to play beach. Delaney and Tamsie both have been training beach and will focus solely on beach when they get to campus. They will help give us the height we need to compete against some of the taller schools we face. Their athleticism and their personalities fit in perfectly with our beach squad. We welcome them to the bayou!"
INDOOR SIGNEES
Emily Adams | 5-10 | Outside Hitter | Cypress, Texas | Bridgeland HS
Adams is a starting outside hitter/defensive specialist for Bridgeland High School. The Bears are continuing district play with a record of 16-3 while heading to a playoff appearance. So far in 2020, Adams has 174 kills, 25 aces and 141 digs. She is a candidate for the AVCA High School All-Region Team. As a junior, Adams was a starter that helped the Bears to a 43-5 record and a district championship. She tallied 268 kills, 65 aces and 201 digs en route to being named First Team All-District. As a sophomore, she was a starter on Bridgeland's first varsity team, helping the Bears to a 20-16 record. She totaled 318 kills, 26 aces and 252 digs and was named Second Team All-District. She is a three-time varsity letterwinner.
Adams is a member of the National Honor Society and an A/B student. She enjoys painting, making jewelry, journaling, listening to music and spending time with friends and family. She plans to major in psychology with a minor in criminal justice at ULM.
She is the daughter of Brady and Carrie Adams.
Kaitlin Davis | 5-9 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Cedar Park, Texas | Cedar Park HS
Davis is a three-year varsity letterwinner for the Cedar Park High School Timberwolves. She is playing libero in her senior season and is part of the Leadership Council. As a junior, she was a Second Team All-District selection at defensive specialist, helping the Timberwolves to a second-place finish in district play and make an appearance in the regional semifinals. As a sophomore in 2018, Davis was Second Team All-District at outside hitter and helped the Timberwolves to a co-district championship and an appearance in the area finals. She is a member of the National English Honor Society, PALS and WHO.
Davis enjoys doing things with her family, playing games, hiking, skiing and traveling. She plans to major in finance with a minor in marketing at ULM.
She is the daughter of Brad and Kim Davis.
Kailey Friedrich | 5-9 | Setter | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Ranch HS
Friedrich is the career-assist record holder at Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas. She broke the career (1,373) and single-season (993) assist records during her junior season for the Mustangs. As a junior she was named to the Class 6A VYPE volleyball team, First Team All-District, GHVCA Postseason honors, TAVC Al-Texas Team 6A, AVCA Phenom Watch List, All-VYPE Honorable Mention setter and MVP for Cypress Ranch HS. As a sophomore, she helped the Mustangs to a co-district championship and bi-district championship. She was named honorable mention All-District and was MVP for Houston Skyline 17 Black. As a freshman, Cypress Ranch claimed an undefeated district championship. She is a team captain and three-time varsity letterwinner.
In the classroom, Friedrich is a three-time Academic All-District selection, a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars.
Friedrich enjoys hanging out with family and friends, volleyball and painting. She plans to major in nursing with a minor in sports medicine at ULM.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Penny Friedrich.
Logan Jeffus | 6-0 | Middle Hitter | Papillion, Nebraska | Papillion La Vista HS
Jeffus is a three-time letterwinner, two-time All-State selection and three-time state qualifier at Papillion La Vista HS in Papillion, Nebraska. In her senior season, she picked up 295 kills, 70 blocks and ranked third in Nebraska Class A by hitting .374 as the Monarchs finished 22-10. As a junior, she tallied 197 kills and led Class A with a .422 hitting percentage on her way to Class A All-State and All Metro honors. She helped the Monarchs to a 36-2 record and a Top 10 national ranking. As a sophomore, she totaled 77 kills and 90 blocks as the Monarchs finished 25-14. She played club volleyball for Premier 17 Gold and Premier 18 Gold, helping Premier 17 Gold to a Top 5 national ranking. She also competed in track and field, earning a letter while competing in the high jump and long jump. She qualified for the Academic Honor Roll.
Jeffus enjoys volleyball, hanging out with friends, music and traveling. She is undecided on a major at ULM.
She is the daughter of Corey and Stephenie Jeffus.
Ashley Rants | 6-0 | Outside Hitter | Parker, Colo. | Chaparral HS
Rants is a varsity captain for the Chaparral High School Wolverines in Parker, Colorado. She is a three-year varsity letterwinner, helping the Wolverines to the 2019 state championship and a No. 21 national ranking. Also helped Chaparral HS finish as state runner-up in 2018. She was named to the USA Volleyball High Performance Continental Team, a two-year USA Volleyball High Performance selection, and a two-year High Performance Sand Volleyball selection.
Rants enjoys attending concerts, spending time with friends and family and shopping. She plans to major in marketing with a minor in business at ULM.
She is the daughter of Craig and Rachel Rants. Her father played basketball at UC-Colorado Springs in 1990-91 and soccer in 1993, while her mother played basketball at UCCS in 1990.
Cameron Rogers | 5-5 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Keller, Texas | Keller HS
Rogers is a two-time varsity letterwinner for the Keller High School Indians in Keller, Texas. She helped the Indians to three Class 6A playoff appearances. She opted to play beach volleyball for her senior season. As a junior, she totaled 434 digs, 47 assists and 30 service aces. She was named the Prep Volleyball Recruit of the Week on Feb. 29, 2020, named to Prep Dig Top 100 Texas 2021 Players and AVCA All-American Watch List. As a sophomore, she had 266 digs and 21 service aces. She is a two-time Academic All-District selection.
Rogers enjoys riding horses, hunting, fishing and exploring the outdoors. She plans to major in agricultural business and management at ULM.
She is the daughter of Craig and Kris Rogers. Her father played college baseball at Hardin-Simmons and Winthrop.
Phoebe Stigen | 5-10 | Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist | Pasadena, Texas | Deer Park HS
Stigen is a four-year letterwinner at outside hitter and defensive specialist for Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas. She is part of a Lady Deer squad that is still undefeated in district play as of signing day. As a junior, she was named to the 2019 All-VYPE Public High School Team, 2019-20 AVCA Phenom Watch List and was recognized by PrepVolleyball.com as one of the Top 30 kill leaders. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the John Turner Classic after collecting 100 kills in the weekend tournament. As a sophomore, she was named to the 2018-19 AVCA Phenom Watch List and PrepVolleyball.com Class of 2021 One to Watch List. As a freshman, she helped Deer Park to an undefeated district championship, advancing to the regional quarterfinals of the high school state playoffs. She was selected to the PrepVolleyball.com Class of 2021 One to Watch List.
Stigen enjoys playing volleyball, going to the lake or beach with friends and family, thrift shopping and playing with her pet bunny Franklin. She plans to major in biology with interest in dermatology at ULM.
She is the daughter of Roger and Beatrice Stigen.
Maddy Villarreal | 6-1 | Right Side | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Ranch HS
Villarreal is a three-year varsity starter and a team captain for the Cypress Ranch High School Mustangs. She has 850 kills with a .262 hitting percentage. She was selected to the 2020 All-Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Team and the VYPE 2020 Preseason Team. She was a two-time First Team All-District selection, a Second Team All-District selection, a 2019 and 2020 AVCA Phenom, 2018 Prep VB Soph 79, earned the 2019 Most Valuable Offensive Player Award and 2018 US Nationals Bronze Medalist at USAV Open Nationals. She led the Mustangs in kills as a junior and helped Cypress Ranch to the 2018 Co-District and Divisional championship. She also played seven years with Skyline Juniors Houston Volleyball with the Royal and Black teams. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and a two-time Academic All-District selection.
Villarreal enjoys volleyball, art, painting, physical fitness, running and music. She plans to major in pre-med with a minor in business at ULM.
She is the daughter of Steven and Tara Villarreal.
BEACH SIGNEES
Tamsie Black | 6-0 | Blocker | Wilmington, N.C. | J.T. Hoggard HS
Black is a two-time letterwinner for the J.T. Hoggard High School Vikings. As a junior, she helped the Vikings win the Mideast Conference Championship and reach the North Carolina State Elite Eight while totaling 101 kills and 65 blocks. She was a two-time letterwinner in indoor volleyball, where she played middle blocker for the Vikings. She was named to the National Honor Society.
Black enjoys going to the beach and watching movies. She plans to major in business administration and minor in marketing at ULM.
She is the daughter of Jamie and Heather Black.
Delaney Evans | 5-10 | Split Blocker | Aurora, Colo. | Eaglecrest HS
Evans was a letterwinner for the Raptors and is preparing to play in Eaglecrest's spring season in 2021. She enjoys photography and serving as a manager for the wrestling team. She has earned three academic letters, is an AP scholar with honors and will graduate with an honors diploma. She plans to major in toxicology at ULM.
She is the daughter of Jeff and Olivia Evans.
