Long Beach State University Athletics
Women’s Volleyball’s Recruiting Class Ranked 16th by PrepVolleyball.com
5/26/2020 3:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Beach welcome nine newcomers to the roster for the fall season
LONG BEACH, Calif. – On Friday, PrepVolleyball.com announced the top women's volleyball recruiting classes for the 2020 season and Long Beach State came in at No. 16, while the list was topped by Kentucky.
On the court for the Beach this fall will be a talented mixture of newcomers who are likely to see action immediately. The recruiting class is led by setter Mia Tuaniga who comes to the Beach after an excellent prep career at Mater Dei High School where she was a two-time CIF Champion, All-CIF selection, and an AVCA First Team Under Armour All-American. The Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, Tuaniga is a U.S. Women's Junior National Team member who was also named Orange County Player of the Year. She also played club with Apex1.
"As a setter, she can create opportunities offensively for her attackers," LBSU head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer explained. "She has the ability to bring out the best in her teammates."
In addition to Tuaniga, Long Beach State will also benefit from the talents of Kameron Bacon, Meauna Booth, Kayla Fuller, Jenna Giambi, Maura Hayes, Jaylen Jordan, Kailia Lopez, and Andie Stone.
Bacon is a 6-foot-4 middle who prepped at Rancho Cucamonga High School and played club for T-Street VBC. A three-time All-Baseline League selection, Bacon was twice named Offensive Player of the Year. She also helped the Cougars capture four Baseline League Championships, while guiding RCHS to the CIF D2 Semifinals and the State D2 Quarterfinals.
Booth is a 6-foot-3 middle blocker who hails from Blue Springs, Mo., where she broke the Blue Springs South High School record for most blocks in her junior season. She is a two-time First Team All-Conference and two-time All-District selection, and was named to the PrepVolleyball.com Top 2020 Watch List after earning All-State, All-Tournament Team, and Newcomer of the Year accolades throughout her prep career.
Fuller will join Long Beach State as a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who had a solid four-year prep career at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif. A two-sport athlete who played both volleyball and basketball, Fuller is a three-time Second Team All-League selection, and a First Team honoree. She also played club for Forza 1 and was on the 17UA National Team where her team placed second at Nationals.
Giambi will help anchor the LBSU defense as the 5-foot-5 libero and defensive specialist logged more than 1,000 career digs in her prep career at Upland High School. An All-League and All-Area selection, Giambi accumulated 486 digs in her senior year, while also adding 31 aces, and 580 serve receptions. A member of the Forza 1 volleyball club, Giambi earned MVP honors of the American 18s Division, and earned three bronze medals, and one gold at Junior Nationals. She also won a gold medal at Qualifier and Gold at JVA in Open.
Hayes is a 6-foot-2 right side and setter who excelled at Dana Hills for the last three years. She led the Dolphins to the CIF Playoffs each year and led the squad to the 2018 CIF State Playoffs. A Second Team All-League selection, Hayes also played club volleyball for A4 Volleyball Club and played on the 16U and 17U teams where she qualified for the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships.
Jordan brings a wealth of prep accomplishments to the Beach after having helped Sierra Canyon High School capture four-straight League Championships. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Tarzana, Calif., helped the Trailblazers capture the CIF Championship in 2016 and 2017, as well as the 2017 State Championship. A four-time First Team All-Gold Coast League selection, Jordan was also named to the Daily News First Team All-Area selection, AVCA California All-Area Team, and the Under Armour All-American Watch List. She also played for Sunshine Volleyball Club.
Lopez is a versatile player who can play at outside hitter or defensive specialist. She prepped at South Torrance High School and was named MVP her senior year. The four-time All-League selection also gained experience playing for club Mizuno Long Beach where she helped lead her squad to a fifth place finish at Nationals in the Open 17s. She also played for the U18 National Team.
Rounding out the Beach's recruiting class is Stone who is an outside hitter/opposite who was a four-year letterwinner at San Juan Hills High School. The 2019 All-District CIF Southern Section selection was named to the 2019 AVCA All-Region Team, and was named team captain in her senior season. Stone finished her senior year ranked second in the CIF Southern Section in blocks, and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2019 California Challenge. She also played club volleyball for A4 18s and A4 17s.
On the court for the Beach this fall will be a talented mixture of newcomers who are likely to see action immediately. The recruiting class is led by setter Mia Tuaniga who comes to the Beach after an excellent prep career at Mater Dei High School where she was a two-time CIF Champion, All-CIF selection, and an AVCA First Team Under Armour All-American. The Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, Tuaniga is a U.S. Women's Junior National Team member who was also named Orange County Player of the Year. She also played club with Apex1.
"As a setter, she can create opportunities offensively for her attackers," LBSU head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer explained. "She has the ability to bring out the best in her teammates."
In addition to Tuaniga, Long Beach State will also benefit from the talents of Kameron Bacon, Meauna Booth, Kayla Fuller, Jenna Giambi, Maura Hayes, Jaylen Jordan, Kailia Lopez, and Andie Stone.
Bacon is a 6-foot-4 middle who prepped at Rancho Cucamonga High School and played club for T-Street VBC. A three-time All-Baseline League selection, Bacon was twice named Offensive Player of the Year. She also helped the Cougars capture four Baseline League Championships, while guiding RCHS to the CIF D2 Semifinals and the State D2 Quarterfinals.
Booth is a 6-foot-3 middle blocker who hails from Blue Springs, Mo., where she broke the Blue Springs South High School record for most blocks in her junior season. She is a two-time First Team All-Conference and two-time All-District selection, and was named to the PrepVolleyball.com Top 2020 Watch List after earning All-State, All-Tournament Team, and Newcomer of the Year accolades throughout her prep career.
Fuller will join Long Beach State as a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who had a solid four-year prep career at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif. A two-sport athlete who played both volleyball and basketball, Fuller is a three-time Second Team All-League selection, and a First Team honoree. She also played club for Forza 1 and was on the 17UA National Team where her team placed second at Nationals.
Giambi will help anchor the LBSU defense as the 5-foot-5 libero and defensive specialist logged more than 1,000 career digs in her prep career at Upland High School. An All-League and All-Area selection, Giambi accumulated 486 digs in her senior year, while also adding 31 aces, and 580 serve receptions. A member of the Forza 1 volleyball club, Giambi earned MVP honors of the American 18s Division, and earned three bronze medals, and one gold at Junior Nationals. She also won a gold medal at Qualifier and Gold at JVA in Open.
Hayes is a 6-foot-2 right side and setter who excelled at Dana Hills for the last three years. She led the Dolphins to the CIF Playoffs each year and led the squad to the 2018 CIF State Playoffs. A Second Team All-League selection, Hayes also played club volleyball for A4 Volleyball Club and played on the 16U and 17U teams where she qualified for the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships.
Jordan brings a wealth of prep accomplishments to the Beach after having helped Sierra Canyon High School capture four-straight League Championships. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Tarzana, Calif., helped the Trailblazers capture the CIF Championship in 2016 and 2017, as well as the 2017 State Championship. A four-time First Team All-Gold Coast League selection, Jordan was also named to the Daily News First Team All-Area selection, AVCA California All-Area Team, and the Under Armour All-American Watch List. She also played for Sunshine Volleyball Club.
Lopez is a versatile player who can play at outside hitter or defensive specialist. She prepped at South Torrance High School and was named MVP her senior year. The four-time All-League selection also gained experience playing for club Mizuno Long Beach where she helped lead her squad to a fifth place finish at Nationals in the Open 17s. She also played for the U18 National Team.
Rounding out the Beach's recruiting class is Stone who is an outside hitter/opposite who was a four-year letterwinner at San Juan Hills High School. The 2019 All-District CIF Southern Section selection was named to the 2019 AVCA All-Region Team, and was named team captain in her senior season. Stone finished her senior year ranked second in the CIF Southern Section in blocks, and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2019 California Challenge. She also played club volleyball for A4 18s and A4 17s.
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