DAYTON - University of Dayton volleyball head coach Tim Horsmon has announced four student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play volleyball at UD. Katie Gale (Seven Hills, Ohio/Normandy High School), Lia Hawken (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview High School), Alyssa Miller (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West High School) and Taylor Russell (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne High School) will be joining the team for the fall 2021 season.

"Our staff has done a really great job of recruiting this class, specifically associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Alyssa D'Errico as well as assistant coach Tim Balice," coach Horsmon said of the incoming class. "I think it continues a great legacy that we have here at UD. We have a great setter, two outside hitters, and middle/right side that we really like and expect to impact our program as soon as they get here."

Katie Gale, a 6-4 middle blocker/right side hitter, hails from Seven Hills, Ohio and is a senior at Normandy High School under head coach Carolyn Holt-Balis. She was named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 5, All-Ohio Honorable Mention and All-District First Teams after helping lead her team to a district semifinals appearance this season. Gale led the Invaders in blocks four consecutive years, collecting 330 career blocks to go with 890 career kills. She plays club ball with NOVA Juniors under head coach Corey Verchio and was a part of its 2019 USA Volleyball National Championship title.

"Katie Gale is a neat story. Her mom went to school at Dayton, so she is a legacy student," Horsmon said. "She's a 6-4 middle blocker/right side, and we can play her in both positions. She has a really good arm, and I think she will be a versatile player for us. We are looking forward to the physicality she will add to the front row."

Lia Hawken is a 6-1 outside/right side hitter from Vancouver, Wash., and played three varsity seasons (2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19) under head coach Shelby Swanson at Skyview High School. She helped lead the Storm to consecutive first-place finishes in the Greater St. Helens League in 2018 and 2019, recording 312 kills and 166 blocks over those two seasons. A two-time GSHL First Team honoree, Hawken was also named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 10 Team. She plays club ball with Portland Volleyball Club, most recently on the 18 Black National team under coaches Carl Neuburger and Crystal DeMello. In 2019, her Blue National Team finished in fifth place at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship and Hawken was named to the All-Tournament Team.

"Lia Hawken is one of the first players I can remember that we have recruited to come to Dayton from the state of Washington," reflected Horsmon. "We loved her as soon as we saw her. She is a 6-1 outside hitter that is a very explosive jumper with a really good arm. I think her upside is high, and as she spends years here I think we will only see her get better and better."

Alyssa Miller, a 5-10 setter from Overland Park, Kan., attends Blue Valley West High School and just wrapped up her senior season playing under head coach Jessica Horstick. She helped lead the Jaguars to the 2020 Kansas 6A State Championship title and was named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 8 Team. Miller also earned mention on the Eastern Kansas League All-Conference First Team following the 2020 season. She plays club ball with Dynasty Volleyball, most recently on its 17 Black team under head coach Conan Salanoa and she has also participated in the USA High-Performance Training Program.

"Alyssa Miller is one of the more athletic players we have recruited here at UD," said Horsmon. "We are really excited about how she moves around the court as a setter, she's an explosive jumper that can block and do some really good things in the front row. She's played at a really high level and played in the open division the last few years. We are very excited about who she can be and the athleticism she will bring."

Taylor Russell is a 6-2 outside hitter from Whitehouse, Ohio and currently attends Anthony Wayne High School. She played her prep career under head coach Norm McGhee, competing in the Northern Lakes League. Russell helped lead the Generals to a NLL Conference Title and picked up All-Conference and All-District First Team honors her senior season. In 2019, Russell led Anthony Wayne to a district runner-up finish and claimed All-Conference First Team and All-District Second Team honors. Only the second varsity player in school history to surpass the 1,000-kills mark, she ended her career as a General with 1,074 kills and 136 blocks. Russell most recently played club with the Toledo Volleyball Club under former Dayton volunteer assistant coach Jason Riley.

"When we first saw Taylor Russell, she looked like a 6-0/6-1 player, but she has really grown and is closer to 6-2 now and is stronger," Horsmon commented. "She is touching 10-2 and has worked very hard this year, her ball control has gotten better, and she has a live arm. I think she will be a special outside hitter in our program."