COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M volleyball head coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn announced a stellar six-member recruiting class that will bolster an already experienced squad when the Aggies take the court next fall.
| NAME | POS. | HT. | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM |
| Karly Basham | L/DS | 5-8 | Louisville, Ky. | Assumption | KIVA |
| Madison Bowser | MB | 6-1 | Woodbridge, Va. | Colgan | Metro |
| Lauren Davis | OH | 6-4 | Orlando, Fla. | Bishop Moore Catholic | Top Select |
| Ciera Hecht | OH | 5-10 | Prosper, Texas | Prosper | Texas Advantage |
| Treyaunna Rush | OPP | 6-1 | Texarkana, Texas | Texas | Untouchables |
| Sabrina Sustala | L/DS | 5-5 | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Ranch | Houston Juniors |
“This incoming 2019 class is going to be impactful because of the versatility and competitive nature they will add to our gym,” said Kuhn, who will be entering her second season at the helm of the Aggies. “We are adding depth and personality in many areas.”
Karly Basham, a libero/defensive specialist from Louisville, Kentucky, was named second team all-state by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association after captaining Assumption High School to a 43-0 record. Coached by Rod Kordes, it was the third undefeated season in program history for the state-champion Rockets, who were declared the 2018 national champion by PrepVolleyball.com and were No. 1 in the final national rankings by both USA TODAY and MaxPreps.
Basham, who ended her Assumption career riding a 57-match winning streak, also was named to the all-district and all-region first teams, as well as the academic all-state first team by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. She played eight years of club volleyball for KIVA and led her teams to two top-three finishes in the open division at the AAU National Championships over the last four years.
“Karly Basham is going to undoubtedly challenge our competitive culture and push her teammates day in and day out,” Kuhn said. “She is coming from one of the most competitive and successful club and high school programs in the country and will bring a core belief and fight. We look forward to seeing her demand and drive her teammates to the next level.”
Madison Bowser, from Woodbridge, Virginia, was a three-year starting middle blocker for coach Keith Mesa at Charles J. Colgan Senior High School. She was named both the All-Cardinal District and All-6A Occoquan Region player of the year after directing the Sharks to back-to-back undefeated district championships and a spot in the semifinals of the 2018 Virginia Class 6 state tournament.
A 2018 Under Armour All-American honorable mention and a member of PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces “The 150”, Bowser was named All-Met honorable mention by the Washington Post in 2017 and was a three-time all-district selection. She plays for Metro Volleyball Club, and she was a member of the 2014 USA Volleyball High Performance A3 training team.
“Madison Bowser has a special energy about her that I saw the first time I walked up to her court,” Kuhn said. “Yes, her athleticism and young game are exciting, but her enthusiasm for her teammates is what caught my eye. We cannot wait to watch her blossom and come in to her own as an Aggie, bringing everyone along with her contagious energy.”
Lauren Davis, a 6-4 outside hitter from Orlando, is No. 94 in PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces, a list of the top recruits in the nation. A four-year starter at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, Davis teamed with her sister Morgan, who will be a junior for the Aggies next fall, to help lead the Hornets to back-to-back Florida state titles in 2015 and 2016. Coached by Tanya Jarvis, Lauren also helped Bishop Moore to an appearance in the 2017 state finals and was named to the Orlando Sentinel’s 2018 all-area second team.
Davis also was a two-time gold medalist at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, taking top honors with Team Florida in the Girls International Youth Division in both 2015 and 2016. She also played seven years of club ball for Top Select Volleyball Academy. Coached by Blake Rawlins, Top Select won silver in the Open Division at the 2018 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships.
“Lauren Davis is going to bring experience and a strong competitive nature from training at the highest level throughout her club and high school seasons,” Kuhn said. “She has become one of the top pin players in this class, proving she can have an impact on either pin. We are excited for her to continue her development as an Aggie and have an instant impact.”
Ciera “CiCi” Hecht, a 2018 Under Armour All-American honorable mention and a member of PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces “The 150” and the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 6A All-State team, capped her prep career by leading Prosper High School to a third consecutive undefeated district title, an appearance in the high school state regional finals and a No. 17 showing in MaxPrep’s final national rankings.
As a junior, the outside hitter was the 2017 UIL 5A State Tournament MVP after leading the Eagles to the Class 5A state championship. Coached by Erin Kauffman, Hecht was named to the Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches (TAVC) all-state team for a second consecutive year, and she also was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) first team and earned PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American Highest Honorable Mention distinction. In addition, Hecht was named to the TGCA All-Star Team and was selected the District 14-5A utility player of the year.
A four-time academic all-district honoree, Hecht was the District 14-5A defensive player of the year as a sophomore and was named a PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79, a list of the top sophomore recruits in the nation. Hecht, who currently competes for Texas Advantage Volleyball club team, also led LoneStar Volleyball to a third-place finish in the 15 Open Division at the 2016 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships and was named to the all-tournament team.
“Ciera Hecht has an all-around game and will contribute in so many ways,” Kuhn said. “Her competitive spirit and ability to play multiple roles in our gym will push everyone around her right away. On and off the court, Cici will create opportunities to be an influential leader as an Aggie.”
Treyaunna Rush, a 6-1 opposite hitter from Texarkana, Texas, is No. 17 in PrepVolleyball.com’s list of Senior Aces. A four-year starter at Texas High School, the lefty also was named to the AVCA Under Armour All-America second team as a senior. Coached by Melissa Hardy-Trotter, Rush was named to the TGCA 5A all-state team and received all-district MVP honors for a second consecutive year after leading the Tigers to an appearance in the regional semifinals for the first time in school history.
As a junior, Rush was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A all-state third team and also was named East Texas Sports Network (ETSN.fm) volleyball player of the year. The district newcomer of the year as a freshman, Rush currently competes for Untouchables Volleyball Club.
“Treyaunna Rush is a unique left-handed player who has experience as not only an attacker but some setting as well throughout her young career,” Kuhn said. “Her commitment and connection with those around her is what sets her apart. Trey’s natural physicality is just the foundation for where we expect her game to explode onto the national scene as an Aggie.”
Sabrina Sustala, a two-year starting libero at Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas, completes the Texas A&M 2019 recruiting class. Sustala, the Mustangs’ record holder for most digs in a match, season and career, was a two-time all-district first-team selection and was named the District 14-6A co-defensive player of the year as a senior after leading Cy Ranch to the district championship.
Sustala, who graduated high school early and is enrolled at Texas A&M, played eight years of club indoor volleyball, most recently competing for Houston Juniors. Her 17 HJV Elite team placed 13th in the 17 Open Division at the 2018 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships, and her 16 HJV Elite team finished 10th at the 2017 national tournament.
Sustala also competed in beach volleyball and qualified for the GJNC beach nationals all six years as well as AAU nationals each of the last two years.
“Sabrina Sustala is an Aggie through and through,” Kuhn said. “Her volleyball IQ and skills come second fiddle to the Aggie traditions flowing in her veins. We are lucky to have such a solid player to raise the level in our gym, while showing her teammates what it means to truly live out the core values of being an Aggie.”
The Aggies lose only one senior, libero Amy Houser, from last year’s team that went 17-13 overall and tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference with a 10-8 record. In addition, senior-to-be outside hitter Brookah Palmer is slated to graduate in May and will not return to the team.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
