Cougars add three recruits to 2016 roster

PROVO, Utah – BYU women's volleyball has signed three new recruits for the 2016 season - Mary Lake, McKenna Miller and Kennedy Redding - head coach Heather Olmstead announced Friday. 

Lake, an outside hitter from Palm Springs, Calif., will play defensive specialist for the Cougars.

"Mary is an exceptional defender who reads the game well," Olmstead said. "She plays with an energy that is contagious and that makes her teammates better. We are excited she will enroll in school early to be with us in January, and we expect her to have an immediate impact."

As a junior, Lake led her team to the CIF Southern Section title and was named the MVP of the tournament. She additionally was named the Deseret Sun's Female Athlete of the Year following the 2014-15 season.

Miller, a senior from Lancaster, Calif., plays outside hitter.

"McKenna is an all-around great volleyball player," Olmstead said. "She loves the game of volleyball and that shows on the court when she's playing. She plays for a great club program that is developing her into an outside that will immediately help our team. McKenna has the ability to terminate the ball from anywhere on the court and has a defensive presence about her. We look forward to having her join our team and help us get better."

She was named all-league and all-area in 2014-15 as well as the Best Offensive Player at Murrieta Valley High School. Additionally, Miller was named the Most Valuable Player in the Easter Volley Tournament in Italy as part of her time in the Forza I Volleyball Club. 

Redding comes to the Cougars from Bountiful, Utah, and Bountiful High School.

"Kennedy is a gifted athlete with an incredible knack for blocking," Olmstead said. "She sees the game well and always finds a way to put herself in good positions. She also plays for a great club program and gets good training. We are excited about her growth and development as a person and volleyball player. She works hard and is always in the gym wanting extra reps. She will be a wonderful addition to our team."

As a high school senior and team captain, she helped lead her team to a 21-5, 12-1 record and the school's first 4A state title. The middle blocker also competes for Club V Volleyball.

The three new recruits will help replace the three seniors the Cougars lose at the conclusion of the 2015 season.

Mary Lake

Hometown: Palm Springs, Calif.
Previous School: Palm Springs High School
Position: Defensive specialist/libero
Height: 5-7

Before BYU:

High School:

• Led her team to the 2014 CIF Southern Selection title
• Named the 2014 CIF Southern Selection Player of the Year
• Named the 2014-15 Desert Sun Female Athlete of the Year
• Named the 2014 Palm Springs Player of the Year
• Collected 386 digs and 4.2 digs per set as a junior
• Named a top-50 junior recruit from PVB.com (one of three in her position)
• Four-year varsity letterwinner
• Named team captain as a sophomore and junior as well as the team MVP as a junior
• Suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of her senior season

Club:

• Played for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club
• Helped her team to a first-place finish in the 2013 SCVA 16s Division
• Named the 2014 SCVA Player of the Year in the 16s Division
• First-Team All-American Selection in 2013 by PVB.com
• Added to the Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team in 2013
• Named First-Team Dandi Lion's by PVB.com (one of three)

McKenna Miller

Hometown: Lancaster, Calif.
Previous School: Murrieta Valley High School
Position: Outside hitter
Height: 6-1

Before BYU:

High School:

• Played on the varsity squad for three years and the junior varsity squad as a freshman
• Participated in the Southwestern League Division IAA in California
• Named all-league and all-area in 2014-15
• Named the Best Offensive Player in 2014-15

Club:

• Played for Forza I Volleyball at the Elite level
• Listed as the No. 43 Senior Aces in 2015
• Named the MVP at the Easter Volley Tournament in Italy in 2015
• Added to the 2015 Dream Team for the Colorado Qualifier and the Las Vegas Classic

Kennedy Redding

Hometown: Bountiful, Utah 
Previous School: Bountiful High School
Position: Middle blocker
Height: 6-4

Before BYU:

High School:

• Led her team to the 4A state title as a senior
• Helped guide her team to a 21-5, 12-1 record in her senior year
• Added to the 2015 UHSAA Academic All-State Volleyball Team
• Added to the Deseret News All-State Volleyball 4A First Team in 2014
• Added to the Salt Lake Tribune All-State Volleyball 4A First Team in 2014
• Added to the 2014 Standard-Examiner All-Area Volleyball First Team
• Named the Davis Clipper/Mountain Orthopaedic Athlete of the Year in 2015
• Named First-Team All-Region Volleyball Selection (Region 6) in 2014
• Received All-State and All-Region volleyball honors each year from 2012-present
• Received the Standard Examiner Student Athlete Award for the 2014-15 season
• Named the Standard Examiner "Star" in 2015
• Helped her team to regional championships in 2014 and 2015
• A four-year varsity letterwinner
• Also received all-state and all-region honors in basketball for four years

Club:

• Played for Club V Volleyball