ATLANTA – Georgia State volleyball head coach Sally Polhamus welcomed three student-athletes to the program on Friday. The additions bring this year's list of newcomers to four, who will join a returning squad of 10 letterwinners.
True freshman Sydney Mauer joins Kaylyn Torain, who signed last November, as the two freshmen in this year's class. Mauer was a three-year letterwinner at East Coweta High School in Newnan, Ga. She led her team to a 43-7 record last year, claiming the 2013 East Coweta Offensive Player-of-the-Year Award and was an all-county selection by the Newnan Times-Herald in the process.
Polhamus is also bringing in two transfers to the program. Junior Brianna Jones played two seasons for Pfeiffer, where she set a school record for most kills in a match with 26. Last season, Jones was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Second Team. She played high school volleyball and basketball for Dunwoody in Atlanta, Ga.
Sophomore Annie Ellis will be joining the Panther squad after playing for UC-Riverside last season. She appeared in 16 matches with the Highlanders and finished second on the team in assists. Ellis is from Cerritos, Calif., and lettered for two years at Colony High School. Ellis led the Titans to the Mt. Baldy League championship in 2011 and 2012, producing two undefeated records. Her mother, Donna, played volleyball for Oregon State.
Polhamus is excited about the depth that this recruiting class brings to the program. "We look forward to seeing the impact these players will make in our program. They each bring a strong skill set and add to the competitive drive of our team." Polhamus said. "Brianna and Annie bring valuable experience from their past teams while Kaylyn and Sydney fill in some of our missing pieces."
The Panthers' first home match of the season is Sept. 3 in GSU Sports Arena against Western Carolina. Georgia State opens the season on the road a week before at the Samford/UAB Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., on Aug. 29.
