Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball receives five commitments in Winder’s first early signing class
11/15/2018 12:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team and first-year head coach Jonathan Winder announced five additions to the program for the 2019 season in his first early signing class.
"I am blessed and proud to announce this special group of incoming student-athletes to Fresno State Volleyball," Winder said. "They are immensely talented with a history of winning at every level they have been at. Equal to their talent, they all are hard-working, tough, humble, and great teammates."
The five signees will help offset the loss of seven seniors following a historic 2018 season in which the 'Dogs have won 20 matches for the first time in 15 years. The incoming group consists of three graduating high school seniors and two transfers that will join the program as juniors.
"They all play the game really hard with tremendous passion, which is very exciting for us to continue our success with these athletes," Winder added. "As we build our program to the standard that we have, this group will be integral in the success of Fresno State Volleyball both on and off the court."
Included in the signing class are two plays from the Fresno area in Mikayla Weiss (Clovis, Calif./Buchannan HS) and Keri Leake (Fresno, Calif./Clovis HS/Fresno City College). Savanah Smith (Roseville, Calif./Roseville HS/American River College) and Amaria Kelley (Elk Grove, Calif./Cosumnes Oaks HS) are also valley natives while Grace Doyle (Chandler, Ariz./Perry HS) joins current Bulldog sophomores Reagan Leonard and Sydney Lostumo as players from Arizona.
Grace Doyle
Position: MB
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
High School: Perry HS
Winder: "Grace brings fantastic athleticism and speed to the middle blocker position for us. She is competing at a really high level, is a smart player, and is quick with her feet and arm. Her teammates love her, she works incredibly hard, and has a growth mindset. She is able to keep the game light and fun while still being intensely competitive and resilient."
Doyle was a Volleyball All-Premier Region first team selection in 2017 as she totaled 110 blocks in leading her team to a 36-7 overall record and a No. 3 ranking in the state of Arizona. This year, Doyle's Perry HS team is 34-4 and ranked No. 2 in Arizona and 40th in the nation by MaxPreps. As a senior Doyle has averaged 2.2 kills and 1.3 blocks per set while hitting .453. She has 132 total blocks in just 102 sets, including 31 solo blocks.
Doyle has been named MaxPreps Player of the Match three times in 2018 and earned the honor twice in previous seasons. She has broken the school record for solo blocks with 81 and over the last three seasons has hit .422 with 544 kills and 307 total blocks. She also played club volleyball for East Valley Juniors and has participated in U.S. Girls Junior Nationals since 2015.
Doyle says she chose Fresno State because it was the best fit she could have ever found. The coaches and the other girls on the team are what helped her make her decision because they were all so welcoming and excited to have her. She also says that the environment of the school was the best out of all the schools she saw and the people are so nice and supportive.
Amaria Kelley
Position: OH
Height: 6-4
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
High School: Cosumnes Oaks HS
Winder: "Amaria has a high vision of where she wants to be as a volleyball player, along with the talent and work ethic to make it happen. She has a good arm and is long and athletic. She will be able to score immediately in our conference at either pin. She loves the game, loves the grind of athletics, and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her."
Kelley is a three-time All-Delta league selection and a two-year team captain, helping Cosumnes Oaks finish third in the state. As a junior, Kelley was named the Elk Grove Citizen Female Volleyball Player of the Year after she averaged 5.0 kills and 1.8 digs per set and had 78 service aces.
Kelley totaled 528 kills during her junior season, and as a senior she hit a career-best .315 while tallying 4.5 kills per set. She had 31 kills in one match and for her high school career hit .261 with 1,514 kills, 466 digs, and 155 aces in 398 sets played. She also played club volleyball for Stockton Rage and was a previously gymnast for nine years.
Kelley says she chose Fresno State because it has what she wants to study and the volleyball coaches are amazing.
Keri Leake
Position: MB
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
High School: Clovis HS
Previous Schools: Fresno City College/Boise State
Winder: "Keri is a middle blocker that comes with a lot of experience in our conference and competing at a high level. We are stoked that she will be back in Fresno! She is a strong, athletic blocker and an exceptional offensive player. She can dominate a game offensively and defensively because of her athleticism and how hard she plays the game."
A Fresno native, Leake joins the Bulldog program as a junior after playing her sophomore season at Fresno City College. Leake helped FCC win its 12th consecutive Central Valley Conference title with a 25-3 overall record and an 18-0 conference mark. Leake led the team with 0.88 blocks per set and 77 total blocks and was second with 2.86 kills per set while hitting .441. She was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Two-Year College National Player of the Week on Sept. 5 as she hit .416 with 3.00 kills and 1.21 blocks per set over four team wins.
Leake began her collegiate career at Boise State, where she played as a freshman in 2017. For the Broncos Leake saw action in 18 matches with six starts at middle blocker, tallying 27 kills and 24 blocks over 42 sets played. She tallied four kills in two matches played against the Bulldogs, starting the match in Fresno.
Leake was a two-time All-Tri River Athletic Conference honoree at Clovis HS. As a senior she was named to the Fresno Bee All-Star Team and served as a team captain. She led the team to a valley championship in 2014 and as a senior she recorded 262 kills - second most on team - with a hitting percentage of .355, in addition to 39 blocks and 27 digs. She also competed in the high jump and was the most valuable field athlete for the Clovis HS track and field team and played club volleyball for Rage Volleyball club.
Savanah Smith
Position: OH
Height: 5-11
Hometown: Roseville, Calif.
High School: Roseville HS
Previous Schools: American River College/Washington State
Winder: "Savanah is awesome. She is extremely well rounded in her skill set and will immediately help us in every phase of the game. She's a fantastic teammate, full of joy and passion for the game and her team. Her ball control, vision as a hitter, and leadership are three areas on the court that will stand out for us right away."
Smith began her collegiate career in the Pac-12 as she played her freshman season at Washington State in 2017. She helped lead the Cougars to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as she played in 56 sets and totaled 40 kills and 14 blocks. Smith totaled a season-high seven kills and two blocks in the team's NCAA Tournament win over Florida State.
This season, Smith has led American River College to a 19-7 overall record and 12-3 league mark. She leads the team with 2.88 kills per set and is second with 3.95 digs per set while also contributing 0.57 blocks per set. She was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Two-Year College National Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after recording three double-doubles and averaging 3.44 kills and 4.00 digs per set over four matches.
Smith played three seasons of varsity volleyball at Roseville HS, leading the team to three playoff appearances. Smith was named All-Capital Valley Conference as both a junior and senior, earning first team honors as a senior, and she also was an All-Tournament selection during her junior year. Smith led her team in kills in both her junior and senior seasons, averaging 3.4 kills per set as a junior and 2.8 kills per set as a senior. She also played club volleyball for Synergy Force.
Smith says she chose Fresno State because of the great coaching staff and the togetherness the girls have with each other.
Mikayla Weiss
Position: S
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.
High School: Buchanan HS
Winder: "We are fortunate to have such a great teammate and setter in Mikayla joining our program from right here in the Valley. She has a knack for making plays to win the game and knowing how to set a match. She's a good athlete, strong hands, great teammate, hardworking, and learns really well. She will have a huge positive impact on our program and in the community."
Weiss led her Buchanan HS team to a Tri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) championship and Central Section title with a 35-8 record in 2018. Weiss was named the 2018 TRAC MVP and is a three-time all-league selection, including first team selections as a junior and senior
Buchanan increased in victories in each of her four seasons, going from 20 wins as a freshman to 35 wins in her junior and senior season. Weiss had an increase in assists in each season as well, tallying 1,039 as a junior and 1,262 as a senior, averaging 11.2 assists per set. She totaled 300 digs and 2.5 digs per set during her junior season and for her prep career she averaged 8.7 assists per set and 2.2 digs per set while also totaling over 600 kills and nearly 200 service aces. She has also played club volleyball for Cal Volleyball club and current Bulldog Volunteer Assistant Coach Rudy Barajas.
Weiss says she chose Fresno State because she wanted to stay local and be close to her family.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
"I am blessed and proud to announce this special group of incoming student-athletes to Fresno State Volleyball," Winder said. "They are immensely talented with a history of winning at every level they have been at. Equal to their talent, they all are hard-working, tough, humble, and great teammates."
The five signees will help offset the loss of seven seniors following a historic 2018 season in which the 'Dogs have won 20 matches for the first time in 15 years. The incoming group consists of three graduating high school seniors and two transfers that will join the program as juniors.
"They all play the game really hard with tremendous passion, which is very exciting for us to continue our success with these athletes," Winder added. "As we build our program to the standard that we have, this group will be integral in the success of Fresno State Volleyball both on and off the court."
Included in the signing class are two plays from the Fresno area in Mikayla Weiss (Clovis, Calif./Buchannan HS) and Keri Leake (Fresno, Calif./Clovis HS/Fresno City College). Savanah Smith (Roseville, Calif./Roseville HS/American River College) and Amaria Kelley (Elk Grove, Calif./Cosumnes Oaks HS) are also valley natives while Grace Doyle (Chandler, Ariz./Perry HS) joins current Bulldog sophomores Reagan Leonard and Sydney Lostumo as players from Arizona.
Meet the Newcomers
Signed! 🖊 Welcome to the Bulldogs Grace Doyle!
— Fresno State VB (@FresnoStateVB) November 15, 2018
⭐ Volleyball All-Premier Region First Team
⭐ Led team to a 34-4 record, ranked No. 2 in Arizona and 40th in the nation by MaxPreps
⭐ Averaged 2.2 kills and 1.3 blocks per set hitting .453 this season#GoDogs pic.twitter.com/SZE90Wpu9t
Grace Doyle
Position: MB
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
High School: Perry HS
Winder: "Grace brings fantastic athleticism and speed to the middle blocker position for us. She is competing at a really high level, is a smart player, and is quick with her feet and arm. Her teammates love her, she works incredibly hard, and has a growth mindset. She is able to keep the game light and fun while still being intensely competitive and resilient."
Doyle was a Volleyball All-Premier Region first team selection in 2017 as she totaled 110 blocks in leading her team to a 36-7 overall record and a No. 3 ranking in the state of Arizona. This year, Doyle's Perry HS team is 34-4 and ranked No. 2 in Arizona and 40th in the nation by MaxPreps. As a senior Doyle has averaged 2.2 kills and 1.3 blocks per set while hitting .453. She has 132 total blocks in just 102 sets, including 31 solo blocks.
Doyle has been named MaxPreps Player of the Match three times in 2018 and earned the honor twice in previous seasons. She has broken the school record for solo blocks with 81 and over the last three seasons has hit .422 with 544 kills and 307 total blocks. She also played club volleyball for East Valley Juniors and has participated in U.S. Girls Junior Nationals since 2015.
Doyle says she chose Fresno State because it was the best fit she could have ever found. The coaches and the other girls on the team are what helped her make her decision because they were all so welcoming and excited to have her. She also says that the environment of the school was the best out of all the schools she saw and the people are so nice and supportive.
Signed! 🖊 Welcome to the 'Dogs to our fourth signee, Amaria Kelley!
— Fresno State VB (@FresnoStateVB) November 15, 2018
⭐ Three-time All-Delta league selection
⭐ 2017 Elk Grove Citizen Player of the Year
⭐ Averaged 5.0 kills per set as a junior and hit .315 as a senior#GoDogs pic.twitter.com/MZ8BasAMNa
Amaria Kelley
Position: OH
Height: 6-4
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
High School: Cosumnes Oaks HS
Winder: "Amaria has a high vision of where she wants to be as a volleyball player, along with the talent and work ethic to make it happen. She has a good arm and is long and athletic. She will be able to score immediately in our conference at either pin. She loves the game, loves the grind of athletics, and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her."
Kelley is a three-time All-Delta league selection and a two-year team captain, helping Cosumnes Oaks finish third in the state. As a junior, Kelley was named the Elk Grove Citizen Female Volleyball Player of the Year after she averaged 5.0 kills and 1.8 digs per set and had 78 service aces.
Kelley totaled 528 kills during her junior season, and as a senior she hit a career-best .315 while tallying 4.5 kills per set. She had 31 kills in one match and for her high school career hit .261 with 1,514 kills, 466 digs, and 155 aces in 398 sets played. She also played club volleyball for Stockton Rage and was a previously gymnast for nine years.
Kelley says she chose Fresno State because it has what she wants to study and the volleyball coaches are amazing.
Signed! 🖊 Welcome to the Bulldog family Keri Leake!
— Fresno State VB (@FresnoStateVB) November 15, 2018
⭐ Played at Boise State and Fresno City College
⭐ Fresno native from Clovis HS
⭐ Had 0.88 blocks and 2.86 kills per set hitting .441 this year for FCC#GoDogs pic.twitter.com/iqQdw287iB
Keri Leake
Position: MB
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
High School: Clovis HS
Previous Schools: Fresno City College/Boise State
Winder: "Keri is a middle blocker that comes with a lot of experience in our conference and competing at a high level. We are stoked that she will be back in Fresno! She is a strong, athletic blocker and an exceptional offensive player. She can dominate a game offensively and defensively because of her athleticism and how hard she plays the game."
A Fresno native, Leake joins the Bulldog program as a junior after playing her sophomore season at Fresno City College. Leake helped FCC win its 12th consecutive Central Valley Conference title with a 25-3 overall record and an 18-0 conference mark. Leake led the team with 0.88 blocks per set and 77 total blocks and was second with 2.86 kills per set while hitting .441. She was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Two-Year College National Player of the Week on Sept. 5 as she hit .416 with 3.00 kills and 1.21 blocks per set over four team wins.
Leake began her collegiate career at Boise State, where she played as a freshman in 2017. For the Broncos Leake saw action in 18 matches with six starts at middle blocker, tallying 27 kills and 24 blocks over 42 sets played. She tallied four kills in two matches played against the Bulldogs, starting the match in Fresno.
Leake was a two-time All-Tri River Athletic Conference honoree at Clovis HS. As a senior she was named to the Fresno Bee All-Star Team and served as a team captain. She led the team to a valley championship in 2014 and as a senior she recorded 262 kills - second most on team - with a hitting percentage of .355, in addition to 39 blocks and 27 digs. She also competed in the high jump and was the most valuable field athlete for the Clovis HS track and field team and played club volleyball for Rage Volleyball club.
Signed! 🖊 Our fifth and final newcomer is Savanah Smith! Welcome to the family, Savanah!
— Fresno State VB (@FresnoStateVB) November 15, 2018
⭐ Played at Washington State and American River College
⭐ Averaged 2.88 kills, 3.95 digs, and 0.57 blocks per set for ARC
⭐ Two-time all All-Capital Valley at Roseville HS#GoDogs pic.twitter.com/VMKwyqRKuB
Savanah Smith
Position: OH
Height: 5-11
Hometown: Roseville, Calif.
High School: Roseville HS
Previous Schools: American River College/Washington State
Winder: "Savanah is awesome. She is extremely well rounded in her skill set and will immediately help us in every phase of the game. She's a fantastic teammate, full of joy and passion for the game and her team. Her ball control, vision as a hitter, and leadership are three areas on the court that will stand out for us right away."
Smith began her collegiate career in the Pac-12 as she played her freshman season at Washington State in 2017. She helped lead the Cougars to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as she played in 56 sets and totaled 40 kills and 14 blocks. Smith totaled a season-high seven kills and two blocks in the team's NCAA Tournament win over Florida State.
This season, Smith has led American River College to a 19-7 overall record and 12-3 league mark. She leads the team with 2.88 kills per set and is second with 3.95 digs per set while also contributing 0.57 blocks per set. She was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Two-Year College National Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after recording three double-doubles and averaging 3.44 kills and 4.00 digs per set over four matches.
Smith played three seasons of varsity volleyball at Roseville HS, leading the team to three playoff appearances. Smith was named All-Capital Valley Conference as both a junior and senior, earning first team honors as a senior, and she also was an All-Tournament selection during her junior year. Smith led her team in kills in both her junior and senior seasons, averaging 3.4 kills per set as a junior and 2.8 kills per set as a senior. She also played club volleyball for Synergy Force.
Smith says she chose Fresno State because of the great coaching staff and the togetherness the girls have with each other.
Signed! 🖊 Welcome to the Bulldog family Mikayla Weiss!
— Fresno State VB (@FresnoStateVB) November 15, 2018
⭐ 2018 Tri-River Athletic Conference MVP and three-time all-league selection
⭐ Led Buchanan HS to conference championship and Central Section title
⭐ Averaged 11.2 assists and 2.4 digs per set this season#GoDogs pic.twitter.com/ZTwvj5uDDn
Mikayla Weiss
Position: S
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.
High School: Buchanan HS
Winder: "We are fortunate to have such a great teammate and setter in Mikayla joining our program from right here in the Valley. She has a knack for making plays to win the game and knowing how to set a match. She's a good athlete, strong hands, great teammate, hardworking, and learns really well. She will have a huge positive impact on our program and in the community."
Weiss led her Buchanan HS team to a Tri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) championship and Central Section title with a 35-8 record in 2018. Weiss was named the 2018 TRAC MVP and is a three-time all-league selection, including first team selections as a junior and senior
Buchanan increased in victories in each of her four seasons, going from 20 wins as a freshman to 35 wins in her junior and senior season. Weiss had an increase in assists in each season as well, tallying 1,039 as a junior and 1,262 as a senior, averaging 11.2 assists per set. She totaled 300 digs and 2.5 digs per set during her junior season and for her prep career she averaged 8.7 assists per set and 2.2 digs per set while also totaling over 600 kills and nearly 200 service aces. She has also played club volleyball for Cal Volleyball club and current Bulldog Volunteer Assistant Coach Rudy Barajas.
Weiss says she chose Fresno State because she wanted to stay local and be close to her family.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
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