By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Volleyball will have nine newcomers for the upcoming 2024 season, which includes eight high school signings and one transfer. The new class of Tigers includes five from Kansas, two from Colorado, and one from both Nebraska and Texas.
Setter Abrey Galt, a 5-foot, 10-inch junior, is the lone transfer to join the Tigers. She came to FHSU for the Spring 2024 semester, transferring from Oklahoma Baptist University (NCAA Division II member of the Great American Conference) where she competed for two seasons. She helped the Bison to GAC regular season and tournament championships in 2023. She played in 18 matches and made five starts as a sophomore, posting a 5.8 assists per set average. Her season high for assists in a match was 52 and she reached double figures in assists 11 times. As a freshman in 2022, she played in 30 matches and made 10 starts, posting a 5.73 assists per set average. Galt is from Amarillo, Texas, where she attended Tascosa High School and was a two-time all-district first team selection and District 3-5A Setter of the Year.
The eight high school signings for the 2024 season includes Mylie Brown, Carsyn Cormaney, Hope Duncan, Avery Eshleman, Delaney Gish, Ella Goodwin, Grace Schmedding, and Haylee Wolf. Below are capsules on each of the incoming freshmen.
Mylie Brown, 5-9, OH, Beloit, Kan. / Beloit HS
Beloit HS: Three-time all-state selection in Kansas Class 3A, including first team honors as a senior in 2023 and a two-time second-team selection…Four-time all-league selection…Helped Beloit to a state tournament appearances three-straight years (2021, 2022, 2023)…Had over 1,000 kills and digs, finishing with 1,337 kills and 1,075 digs in her prep career, to go with 213 career service aces…Had over 500 kills and over 300 digs as a junior, then over 300 kills and over 200 digs as a senior…Selected to play in the 2024 KVA All-Star Game.
Carsyn Cormaney, 5-11, Colorado Springs, Colo. / The Classical Academy
The Classical Academy: Colorado Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior in 2023…Averaged 2.7 kills per set with a .399 hitting percentage as a senior.
Hope Duncan, 5-8, DS, Lindsborg, Kan. / Smoky Valley HS
Smoky Valley HS: Two-time KVA all-state selection in Kansas Class 3A, including first-team honors in 2023 and honorable mention status in 2022…Set Smoky Valley single-season records for both kills (463) and digs (463) in her prep career…Named to the All-State Tournament Team in Class 3A for both 2022 and 2023…Helped Smoky Valley to a state runner-up finish in 2023…Had over 1,000 kills and digs in her prep career…State placer in the triple jump in track and field…Selected to play in the 2024 KVA All-Star Game.
Avery Eshleman, 6-1, OH, Salina, Kan. / Sacred Heart HS
Sacred Heart HS: Recorded over 1,000 kills in her prep career…Four-time all-league first team selection in volleyball…Multiple All-Saline County Team selections in volleyball…Three-time all-state selection in basketball.
Delaney Gish, 5-6, S/DS, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Doherty HS
Doherty HS: Two-time Colorado Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention selection (2022, 2023)…First-team all-area selection by the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Ella Goodwin, 5-11, RS, Lenexa, Kan. / St. James Academy
St. James Academy: All-league honorable mention selection as a senior…Helped team to the KSHSAA state tournament three straight years, which included a pair of state runner-up finishes.
Grace Schmedding, 6-0, OH, Olathe, Kan. / Heritage Christian Academy
Heritage Christian Academy: KVA All-State Second Team selection as a senior in 2023…Recorded over 300 kills and over 200 digs during her senior year…Earned an All-State Tournament selection in 2023…Helped her school to three-straight Kansas Class 3A state championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Haylee Wolf, 5-5, DS, Omaha, Neb. / Elkhorn North HS
Elkhorn North HS: Two-time all-state honorable mention selection in Nebraska Class B by the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald as a senior in 2023…Recorded over 1,700 digs in her high school career and had an average of 5.6 per set as a senior.