Recruiting class ranked No. 19 in the country

PROVO, Utah – BYU women’s volleyball coach Shawn Olmstead and his staff believed they had signed a strong recruiting class for 2015 and that feeling was validated as the class has been ranked No. 19 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.

“Our staff has worked very hard to put this class together,” Olmstead said. “This is a very talented and competitive group of student-athletes that has an opportunity to make an immediate impact. We’re excited to get them on campus.”

The incoming class includes fall signees Sophie Cram (6-3, MB/OH, Las Vegas, Nevada/Bonanza HS), Veronica Jones (5-11, OH, West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills HS), Kiana Tuileta (5-10, S, Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou HS) and recent signees Emily Lewis (6-4, RS/OH, Highland, Utah/Lone Peak HS), Lacy Haddock (5-10, OH, Provo, Utah/Timpview HS) and Lyndie Haddock (5-10, S, Provo, Utah/Timpview HS).

PrepVolleyball.com has two of BYU’s newcomers ranked among the nation’s top 100 recruits with Lewis at No. 60 and Cram at No. 94.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season,” Olmstead said. “Last season was special and we return a lot of talented players from that team. With our incoming freshmen we’ll have a very deep and talented team. We’re excited to lace them up and get on the court when August rolls around.”

The recruiting class joins an experienced roster that helped lead the Cougars to the greatest season in program history in 2014. BYU finished the 2014 season with a 30-5 overall record and won the West Coast Conference with a 16-2 record. The Cougars advanced to the title match at the 2014 NCAA Championships for the first time in school history and were ranked No. 3 in the nation in the final polls.

Alexa Gray, the 2014 WCC Player of the Year and an AVCA second-team All-American, returns for her senior season to lead the Cougars. Middle blockers Whitney Young and Amy Boswell are also back after they finished No. 1 and 2 in the nation in blocking in 2014. Senior libero Ciara Parker, BYU’s all-time leader in digs during the rally scoring era, is also back along with two players with experience starting at setter in Camry Willardson Godfrey and Alohi Robins-Hardy.

From PrepVolleyball.com on BYU’s recruiting class

BYU brings in a 2015 class that has a variety of talent in all positions, which will help the Cougars stay competitive after their run to the National Championship match last winter. Graduating early to get a head start, PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace No. 94 Cram has been in the gym making some early gains while benefiting from training with the team. Her size and athleticism should add depth to the middle position, where her blocking is a strength. Jones should add immediate value to the OH position with her powerful arm swing while touching 10-6. Tuileta comes to campus as an experienced setter whose Buffanblu team won the Hawaii Division I title in 2014. Coming from a family with a high volleyball IQ, Tuileta has extreme knowledge of the game and a fierce competitive drive. Coming in at No. 60 in the Senior Aces, Lewis, whose mother played at BYU, can play multiple positions across the front row. She has the ability to learn quickly and can put up a big block. Rounding out the class are identical twin sisters Lacy and Lyndie Haddock, who are two-time state champions at 4A Timpview. Both have extremely high ceilings on the court, can play multiple positions and look to raise the level of competiveness in the gym. Both are strong ball control players with hitting ability. Lyndie also is an adept setter.

See the entire article at PrepVolleyball.com (subscription required).