UST Volleyball adds seven with their 2021-22 recruiting class. This incoming class features five freshman and two transfers.
Emerson Sykes is an incoming freshman from Bridgeland High School in Cypress, Texas. Sykes was a three-year letter winner for the Bears and helped lead them to back-to-back 6A District Championships in 2019 and 2020. The setter was named Most Valuable Player and received Second Team All-District honors in 2019 and again was named Second Team All-District in 2020. Sykes also was a three time Academic All-District selection. At the conclusion of her career, she recorded over 1,000 assists for Bridgeland High School, the first person in school history to reach this milestone.
Kendall Howard, from Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas will also add depth at the setter position. The incoming freshman received 24-6A All-District Honorable Mention in 2019 & 2020. She also was an All-State & GHVCA All-Academic selection for both seasons. Howard helped lead the Chargers to the fourth round of the UIL State Playoffs in 2020-21 and would cap off her high school career being voted Most Spirited by her team.
Kara Spice, a Defensive Specialist from Cy Fair High School is the one of two Defensive Specialists in the 2021-22 class. The four-year letter winner racked up accolades during her time as a Golden Eagle. Spice would be a three-time First Team All-District selection and would help lead CFHS to the fifth round of the playoffs in 2019. In 2018, Spice would record 527 digs and 65 aces, both team highs for the season.
Ally Peters is an incoming freshman from Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas. Peters would grab Academic All-District and UIL Academic All-State honors during her high school career. She played six seasons at Willowbrook Volleyball where she placed fifth place in 18u Nationals.
Jaclyn Guerrero wraps up the incoming freshman for the 2021-22 recruiting class. The 5'10 Middle Blocker from Katy Taylor High School shined on and off the court. Between the lines, Guerrero was the three-time captain for the Mustangs and was an All-District Honorable Mention Selection in 2020. Off the court, she achieved the Mustang Volunteering Proudly award, accumulated 317.5 hours of community service in National Charity League (NCL), was the President of the NCL, received the Modellete Award from 2016-2020, and would graduated with honors.
Paige Havel, a 6'3 Middle Blocker from Giddings, Texas, comes to the Celts from Blinn College. While there, she recorded a .300 hitting percentage with 85 blocks while the Buccaneers posted a 29-8 record. Prior to her time at Blinn, Havel played at McNeese State University. During her freshman year, she led the team in blocks (138) and was third on the team in kills (199) and hitting percentage (.267). Havel was a standout athlete at Giddings High School. She was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2016, District MVP in 2017 and 2018, three-time TAVC All-State selection and also helped lead the Track & Field team to a regional championship.
Victoria Marquez, a transfer from Caldwell University, will add depth to the Outside Hitter position. While at Caldwell, Marquez was one of the Cougars top scorers. She competed in the CACC Conference Championship game and appeared in six of the seven games last season. The Humble, Texas native was a two-year letter winner at Kingwood Park High School. Marquez was a member of the 2018 5A State Championship team and received All-District Honorable Mention honors.
"We are excited about the depth in this recruiting class" said Head Coach Keanne Burt. "Many of these athletes are able to play multiple positions and will add lots of dimension to the program. The level of play in practice will be higher and we are excited to see that carry into conference play."
