Long Beach State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Announces Additions To Fall 2015 Roster
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Head coach Brian Gimmillaro announced the addition of two transfers and three freshmen to the 2015 Long Beach State women's volleyball roster. Nele Barber and Hayley Benson will transfer to the Beach from Marquette and Ball State, respectively, while Mykah Wilson, Carly Beddingfield and Doris Bogoje join as freshmen.
"We will have an outstanding incoming class this fall," Gimmillaro said of his fall and spring signees. "I'm pleased with our two outstanding transfers and an incredible freshman class. I am really looking forward to working with this group in the fall."
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Benson makes her way to the Beach from Ball State as a redshirt senior and will begin pursuit of a master's degree in the fall. She is a two-timeAll-Mid American Conference selection, earning the honor in 2013 and in 2014. She also was selected to the AVCA's All-Midwest Region team last year.
A 6-4 middle blocker from Hilliard, Ohio, Benson led the MAC last year with a .368 hitting percentage. That mark went up to a league-best .433 in conference matches. She also led her team in 2014 with 341 kills (2.87 per set) and 105 total blocks (0.88 per set). As a sophomore, Benson hit .353 on the year and averaged 2.50 kills per set.
Barber comes to the Beach as a junior after spending the last two years at Marquette. She was a two-time Big East Freshman of the Week in 2013 and was also recognized on the All-Big East Championship team after leading the Golden Eagles to their first ever tournament title. Barber helped Marquette to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014.
A 6-0 outside hitter from Berlin, Germany, Barber became a six-rotation player as a sophomore at Marquette. The Golden Eagle went 24-9 last year with Barber ranking second on the team with 314 kills (2.75 per set) and third on the team with 271 digs (2.38 per set). She also tallied 50 total blocks and 26 service aces. She hit .292 as a freshman, averaging 2.79 kills per set.
Wilson will join the Beach as a freshman from Southlake, Texas. A 5-11 defensive specialist and libero, Wilson was an All-State selection and District Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Southlake Carroll High School.
She also helped her club team to an amazing accomplishment as the libero for the Texas Advantage Volleyball Club. TAV 17 Black went undefeated in the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships last year and did not drop a set against the best club teams in the nation. Wilson earned All-Tournament recognition as the libero. She made PrepVolleyball.com's Sophomore 79 list as one of the top sophomores in the country in 2012.
Beddingfield makes her way to the Beach from Albuquerque, N.M. after a successful prep career at Bosque High School. She is a three-time All-State selection in New Mexico. She was selected to the Second Team in 2012 as a sophomore before earning a First Team distinction in 2013 and 2014.
A 6-2 outside hitter, Beddingfield set her school's record for kills in a season with 335 and also holds the record with nine blocks in a match. She was selected to New Mexico's 4A North All-Star team for this summer's All-Star Volleyball game.
Bogoje comes to the Beach from Dubrovnik, Croatia, where she has been a member of the Volley Club Dubrovnik for the past four years. She joined the club as the youngest player on her team but helped VC Dubrovnik to second place finish in 1.B Croatian League in 2012-12. With the second place finish, her team jumped up into Croatia's top volleyball club league where it has remained.
The 6-2 outside hitter is another spring signee with the ability to be a six-rotation player. She was invited to join Croatia's national U18 team for the European Championship in 2014. She has helped VC Dubrovnik this year to a perfect 10-0 start to the season just two years after jumping into Croatia's top league.
All five will join Long Beach State in the fall and will be immediately eligible for the 2015 season.
