2018 recruiting class ranked No. 8 by PrepVolleyball

PROVO, Utah – PrepVolleyball released its final rankings for the 2018 recruiting classes this week and BYU women’s volleyball came in at No. 8 in the nation.

This is BYU’s highest-ever ranking, besting the No. 11 ranking of the 2016 class. It marks the sixth time a BYU recruiting class has been ranked in PrepVolleyball’s top-30 since 2003.

The Cougars have the highest-ranked recruiting class among non-Power 5 programs.

BYU’s 2018 recruiting class includes two top-100 players, 6-foot-4 middle blocker Heather Gneiting (No. 6) from Pleasant Grove, Utah, and 6-foot-3 middle blocker Whitney McEwan (No. 63) out of Bountiful, Utah.

Gneiting was named AVCA Under Armour First-Team All-America in 2017 in addition to being named to the USA Today Third Team. McEwan was honored as an AVCA Under Armour Third-Team All-American this year and was a first-team all-state selection.

Also making the list is a top-250 Senior Ace from Highland, Utah – Madi Robinson.

The 5-foot-10 outside hitter Robinson was a finalist for PrepVolleyball’s National Player of the Year and was named an AVCA Under Armour All-American in 2017.

Additionally, the top-10 signing class includes 5-foot-8 setter Tayler Tausinga out of American Fork, Utah, and Riley Lyman, a 6-foot-0 outside hitter transfer from Snow College.

Tausinga was named to the UVCA All-State First Team as well as the All-Region First Team last year. Lyman was previously named an AVCA Two-Year College First Team All-American and was added to the NJCAA First Team All-America list.

From PrepVolleyball:

8. BYU: Heather Gneiting, 6-4 MB, Pleasant Grove (Utah); Whitney McEwan, 6-3 MB, Woods Cross (Utah); Madelyn Robinson, 6-0 OH, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah); Tayler Tausinga, 5-8 S, American Fork (Utah)

COMMENT: Coming off a 30-win season and sixth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16, the Cougars look to reload with this year’s incoming class. Headlining the group is Gneiting, who was No. 6 in the PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces. Gneiting has been on campus all semester and looks to fill a hole in the middle left by graduating senior Cosy Burnett. “Heather has the size and power to be a really dominant middle blocker,” BYU head coach Heather Olmstead said. “We look for Heather to continue the tradition at BYU of great blocking… She is a true competitor with a growth mindset.” McEwan, Senior Ace No. 63, will vie to fill the other middle blocker position. McEwan was a force in the high school and club ranks and has skills that will translate well to the next level. “Whitney has great size and athleticism with a knack for blocking,” said Olmstead. Robinson, a top-250 Senior Ace with a knack for scoring, will compete for playing time on either pin. She is coming off of an outstanding club season with Club V. “Madi is a great athlete with a big arm and the ability to score from the left and right,” said Olmstead. “Madi comes in as a six-rotation player who, we can assume, will raise the level of play in the gym from the moment she walks through the door.” Tausinga, a Utahan who joined the squad in January, will add depth to the setter position in 2018 and compete to start in the future. The First Team All-State player as a high schooler is a terrific leader with a competitive nature. BYU completes the class with JUCO transfer Riley Lyman, a 6-0 outside hitter who had a storied high school career and in 2017 was Region XVIII Player of the Year. Lyman is a prototypical six-rotation outside hitter and relentless competitor who will push for playing time in the front row and back.