EAST STROUBDSURG – Prior to the start of next week's camp, fourth-year head coach
Tricia Melfy has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes to the East Stroudsburg University volleyball team for the upcoming 2024 season.
The Warriors welcome
Danica Becerril,
Allison Birtcil,
Kelly Crites,
Mariah Dennis,
Hanna Garrison,
Cailey Jones,
Katalin Kovacs,
KiLee Kuhlman,
Allison Oberlin-Pope,
Natalie Small and
Taylor Wise.
More information on each of the newest student-athletes for the ESU volleyball team is listed below.
Danica Becerril | Freshman | Middle Blocker | Bend, Oregon
Background: Three-year starter at Summit High School … helped the Storm Cats to three state playoff appearances … Second Team All-Conference during junior season … Honorable Mention All-Conference in senior year … finished with 289 kills, 115 blocks, 43 aces and .462 hitting percentage during 2023 season … named Prep-Dig All-Expo Team … awarded top performer at Oregon Top 250 Expo … named Tournament MVP at 2023 Orlando Presidents Day Tournament … OSAA All-Academic Team all four years … majoring in biology.
Allison Birtcil | Junior| Opposite Hitter | Tucson, Arizona
Glendale Community College (2023): Played in 22 matches and 80 sets … recorded 197 kills, 11 digs, 48 blocks, 11 assists and four aces.
Background: Played volleyball at Ironwood Ridge High School … named AX 5A Sonoran Region Offensive Player of the Year … selected to AZ 5A Sonoran All-Region First Team … honored on AZ Beach Volleyball All-Section First Team … majoring in exercise science at ESU.
Kelly Crites | Freshman| Outside Hitter | Bryan, Ohio
Background: Outside hitter at Fairview High School … named Player of the Year by her conference, district, Crescent News and for Northwest Ohio … All-State selection … guided the Warriors to three conference and sectional titles and two district championships … finished career with 1,700 kills … recorded 40 kills in a match and 552 kills in a season … member of National Honor Society … earned academic honors from conference and district … majoring in business.
Mariah Dennis | Freshman| Middle Blocker | Charlotte, N.C.
Background: Played volleyball at Mountain Island Charter School … two-time team MVP … CSAA All-State selection … two-time First Team All-Region … named First Team All-Conference … recorded school record 16 kills in match … member of National Honor Society … majoring in political science with a concentration in pre-law.
Hanna Garrison | Freshman | Outside Hitter | Portage, Mich.
Background: Played volleyball at Portage Northern High School … earned high honors all four years … majoring in exercise science with a minor in therapeutic science.
Cailey Jones | Junior| Outside Hitter | Bel Air, Maryland
Felician (2022-23): Played in 12 matches … recorded 18 kills and 12 blocks... CACC All-Academic Team (2023) … played in 29 matches with 112 kills (2022)
Background: Played at Patterson Mill High School (M.D.) … four-year varsity starter … All-County team all four years … regional champion and state finalist … varsity captain for a year… won principal's honor roll … played for APEX Performance volleyball club … member of Spanish Honors Society … majoring in biology with concentration in Pre-PA studies at ESU.
Katalin Kovacs | Sophomore | Setter | Budapest, Hungary
Southern New Hampshire (2023): Played in 13 matches and 42 sets as a setter … recorded 207 assists, 99 digs, 20 aces and four kills.
Background: Played volleyball and beach volleyball for Kerék Általános Iskola és Gimnázium … majoring in sport management at ESU.
KiLee Kuhlman | Freshman | Outside Hitter | Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Background: Played volleyball at Cumberland Valley High School … helped the Eagles win three conference championships and one district title … named All-State, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District her senior year … tabbed Second Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-District her junior season … finished with 500 kills her senior campaign … majoring in political science with a minor in prelaw.
Allison Oberlin-Pope | Freshman| Outside Hitter | Charlotte, N.C.
Background: Played volleyball at East Mecklenburg High School … two-year team captain … helped the Eagles capture the conference tournament championship her senior season … named AVCA Phenom, All-America, All-Region and Best & Brightest … three-time All-Conference selection … two-time All-Region honoree … named to NCVBCA watchlist … presented with Eagle Award (Coach Award) … finished career with 750+ kills, 500+ digs and 200+ aces … member of National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and National Athletic Society … a National Merit Scholar … Senior Marshal (top 20) … majoring in marine biology.
Natalie Small | Freshman| Middle Blocker | Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Background: Played volleyball at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School … helped the Colonials to two league championships (2022-23) … two-time First Team All-League and two Third Team All-District selection … 2023 team MVP … recorded the team's highest kill percentage in back-to-back seasons … graduated with magna cum laude … majoring in chemistry.
Taylor Wise | Sophomore| Libero/Defensive Specialist | Chelsea, Alabama
West Georgia (2023): Redshirted
Background: Played volleyball at Chelsea High School … named to the JVA watchlist twice (2022-23) … majoring in exercise science at ESU.
