2016 recruiting class ranked No. 11 by PrepVolleyball.com

PROVO, Utah – PrepVolleyball.com released its final rankings for the 2016 recruiting classes and BYU women’s volleyball came in at No. 11 in the nation, the highest ranking in program history.

This marks the fourth time a BYU recruiting class has been ranked in PrepVolleyball's top 30 since 2003. BYU’s previous high ranking was No. 19 in 2004.

“We are thrilled about the incoming 2016 class and the No. 11 ranking by PrepVolleyball,” BYU coach Heather Olmstead said. “They deserve to be recognized for all they have accomplished and we look for them to continue that excellence here at BYU. They all have unique skill sets that will immediately add to the level of play and competitiveness in our gym. They each have a passion and love for Brigham Young University that will be evident when they step on the Smith Fieldhouse court. They will each get a chance to leave their mark on BYU over the next four years.” 

The Cougars have the highest ranked recruiting class among non-Power 5 programs. Fellow West Coast Conference member Pepperdine is also ranked in the top 30 at No. 28.

BYU’s 2016 recruiting class includes two top-100 players, 6-foot-1 outside hitter McKenna Miller (No. 43) out of Murrieta, California, and 5-foot-6 libero Mary Lake (No. 51) from Palm Springs, California.

Miller earned All-Inland first-team honors from the Press Enterprise while averaging 4.2 kills and 2.3 digs during her senior season at Murrieta Valley High School. As a junior, Lake led Palm Springs High School to the CIF Southern Section title while earning CIF Southern Section Player of the Year honors. She sat out her senior season due to injury.

The top-15 signing class also includes 5-foot-8 libero/defensive specialist Tristyn Moser from Gilbert, Arizona, 6-foot-3 middle blocker Megan Mowry from Anthem, Arizona, and 6-foot-4 middle blocker Kennedy Redding from Bountiful, Utah.

Moser averaged 2.8 kills and 2.8 digs during her senior season at Highland High School while Mowry averaged 2.3 kills and hit .416 at Boulder Creek High School. Redding, a two-sport star at Bountiful, led both the volleyball and basketball teams to 4A Utah state titles as a senior. The Deseret News named her the 4A MVP in volleyball and in hoops she was named the Ms. Basketball, the top player in the state.

From PrepVolleyball.com

11. BYU: Mary Lake, 5-6 L, Palm Springs HS (Palm Springs, California), McKenna Miller, 6-1 OH, Murrieta Valley HS (Murrieta, California); Tristyn Moser, 5-8 DS/L, Highland HS (Gilbert, Arizona), Megan Mowry, 6-3 MB, Boulder Creek HS (Anthem, Arizona), Kennedy Redding, 6-4 MB, Bountiful HS (Bountiful, Utah)

COMMENT: With two Top 100 Senior Aces and other, later-developing talent, BYU’s class jumps up the rankings as the Cougars seek to replace their top hitter, libero and setter from last year’s 28-4 squad that reached the regional semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Nebraska. Miller, Senior Ace No. 43, is the highest-rated recruit coming to Provo. She is an all-around talent with good club experience and the arm to score from anywhere on the court. Expect Lake, Senior Ace No. 51, to slide into the libero spot immediately despite missing her senior year due to a knee injury. She is a great athlete with solid passing kills, sound defensive instincts and an infectious personality. Redding, who led Bountiful to a state title last fall, is perhaps the most intriguing recruit. She also is a basketball star, averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game the last two seasons in high school, who turned down a scholarship offer from BYU in that sport to concentrate on volleyball. Her size and athleticism, blocking instincts and ability to score at the net have the coaching staff tingling with excitement about what Redding might become with year-round training in the sport. Mowry is another physical middle just now tapping into her full potential. She’s an energy player with a knack for scoring off of one foot. Moser rounds out the class. She’s a passer who creates good angles and tracks the ball well off a server’s hand.  BYU will be very young in 2016. This class will have the chance to put its stamp early on the Cougar program.