Liberty Volleyball Adds 8 Student-Athletes During Early Signing Period
11/11/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty volleyball third-year head coach Trevor Johnson and his staff have announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the team's 2021 roster. Grace Allread, Lindsey Hardesty, Madison Johnson, Jillian Kater, Leah Kodat, Kate Phillips, Kennedi Sutter and Taylor Thomas have all signed commitments to attend Liberty and play volleyball beginning in the 2021-22 academic year. Kodat will enroll during the Spring of 2021.
"We are very excited about the incoming class of 2021!" Johnson said. "We have young ladies coming from all over the country, from California to Delaware. God has brought together a wonderful group who will impact people for Christ through the sport of volleyball. Within this class, I think we have future CEO's and great leaders in their respective fields of endeavor. They all had opportunities to attend other larger universities, but they can see God moving within our program and our university. Flames Nation, you will be excited to see them compete in the fall!"
Grace Allread (S, 5-9, Sylvan Lake, Mich./West Bloomfield High School)
Grace Allread is a standout setter at West Bloomfield High School. Serving as varsity captain during her freshman year, she was named to the PrepVolleyball 2021 Watch List and Frosh 59. Allread then made the PrepVolleyball Soph 79, earning all-league and all-region honors three years in a row. As a junior, she was voted all-state honorable mention, leading her team to a district title. She was named to the Ultra Ankle JVA Watch List in both 2019 and 2020. During her senior year, she earned All-Oakland County Dream Team, PrepDig Michigan Division I "Top Setters" and AVCA UnderArmour All-America Watch List mention.
Allread's older sister, Gabi Allread, played volleyball at Calvin, while her older brother, Zach Allread, played basketball at Northwood.
"Grace joins us from Sylvan Lake, Michigan and Legacy Volleyball Club as another 2020 Under Armor All-American watch list recipient in our recruiting class," Johnson said. "She is a highly touted setter who was voted by PrepVolleyball as a Frosh 59 in 2017, Soph 79 in 2018, and PrepDig Michigan Division I ‘Top Setters.' A National Honor Society Member from 2019-2021, Grace has a burning desire to grow in her faith, and to be the best Volleyball player that she can be. Grace is a fierce competitor on the court. Her personality and smile are infectious and can light up any room. Grace will compete for the starting setter position right away."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Grace!
- Under Armour All-America Watch List
- PrepVolleyball Soph 79; Frosh 59
- PrepDig Michigan DI "Top Setters"#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/GcTU7ylK7u
Lindsey Hardesty (OH, 5-8, Vienna, Va./Trinity Christian School)
Lindsey Hardesty has been a varsity starter since her eighth-grade year at Trinity Christian School. She earned second team all-conference and second team all-state as an eighth-grader. All told, she is a four-time all-conference (three-time first team) and four-time all-state player (two-time first team). Hardesty helped her team to three DAC championships and a 2019 VISAA Division II state title. Last year, she was named DAC Player of the Year and VISAA Division II State Player of the Year. A standout from the service line, she has totaled 215 service aces during her career. She scored a career-high 347 kills as a sophomore and followed with 266 kills last year. Hardesty was also an all-conference and all-state basketball player.
"Lindsey joins us from Vienna, Virginia and Trinity Christian School," Johnson said. "Lindsey has had a decorated high school career in which she was an All-State performer in 2017, 2018, and in 2019 she was voted VISAA D2 Player of the Year as she led her team to the state championship. Lindsey is a great fit for our program. She understands that she is playing for something bigger than herself, and will be a valuable asset to our program both on and off the court. I expect Lindsey to contribute right away for our program."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Lindsey!
- 2019 VISAA Division II State Player of the Year
- 2019 DAC Player of the Year
- 2019 VISAA Division II State Champion #GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/J2wbCaGdxB
Madison Johnson (S/RS, 5-9, Sandston, Va./Liberty Online Academy)
A native of Sandston, Va., Madison Johnson has attended Liberty Online Academy throughout her high school career. After playing junior varsity volleyball in seventh grade, she played for a team comprised of home-schooled students in eighth and ninth grades before focusing on club volleyball. Johnson competed for XZone Volleyball Club as a freshman, junior and senior, while playing for Momentum Volleyball Club as a sophomore. Always competing for her club's top team, she progressed in her abilities each season. She has spent time volunteering as an assistant coach for younger players through XZone Volleyball Club.
"Madison joins us from Sandston, Va.," Johnson said. "Madison is a good athlete with so much untapped potential. What attracted me to Madison in the recruiting process was her relentless pursuit of wanting to be great in everything she does."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Madison!#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/Vg19jJmcOz
Jillian Kater (OH, 6-2, Newark, Del./Wilmington Christian School)
Jillian Kater comes to Liberty after a standout career at Wilmington (Del.) Christian School. A four-year starter, she helped her team to the state tournament as a freshman. As a sophomore, she was named third team all-conference. Shifting from middle blocker to outside hitter as a junior, she earned first team all-conference honors while averaging 8.2 kills, 3.0 aces and 8.69 digs. A three-time DIAA Scholar-Athlete Award winner, she averages 13.8 kills, 2.1 aces and 12.2 digs so far this season while serving as team captain. Kater competes for Delaware United Volleyball Club.
"Jillian joins us from Newark, Delaware and Wilmington Christian School. Jillian, 'Jill,' can play a variety of positions for us. With her being 6-2 she can put up a good block anywhere we put her. I like her versatility and I'm excited to see what God has planned for her these next four years."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Jillian!
- 2019 First Team All-Conference
- 2018 Third Team All-Conference
- 2017 State Tournament#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/lvgIverPAn
Leah Kodat (DS/L, 5-4, New Lenox, Ill./NorthStar Academy)
Leah Kodat is home schooled and will enroll at Liberty in January after graduating in December from NorthStar Online Academy. Competing for Wheaton Academy in high school volleyball for the last two years, she is a two-time Metro Suburban All-Conference honoree. Kodat was named to the 2018 Ultra Ankle JVA Watch List and appeared on the same list in 2019. She played for Chicago Elite in club volleyball, earning 2016 AAU Junior National Volleyball All-American honors.
"Leah joins us from New Lenox, Illinois," Johnson said. "Leah happens to be our first recruit when we got hired in 2018. What stood out to me in the recruiting process was seeing her volleyball IQ, and how she was able to read the play, and put herself in the right position. The game seems very slow to Leah because she's able to see the right things. Leah plays with a lot of joy and happiness. She loves to celebrate her teammates' success! Leah will help with our serve receive right away."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Leah!
- 2018, 2019 Ultra Ankle JVA Watch List
- Two-time Metro Suburban All-Conference
- 2016 AAU Junior National All-American#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/vwPL5wstCN
Kate Phillips (OH, 5-11, San Diego, Calif./Santa Fe Christian School)
Kate Phillips joins the Lady Flames from Santa Fe Christian School, where she has received many accolades for her play as an outside hitter. A 2020 Under Armour All-America Watch List member, Phillips has helped her team to a pair of CIF Division I championships. She was named to the AVCA Phenom List as a sophomore. During her first three seasons of high school, she totaled 563 kills. Phillips was a 2019 second team All-CIF selection.
Phillips will join her older sister on Liberty's volleyball team, as Abby Phillips is currently a sophomore at Liberty. Their older brother, Caleb, plays football at Stanford.
"Kate joins us from Southern California where she played for one of the best volleyball clubs in the country, WAVE," Johnson said. "She is currently on the 2020 Under Armor All-American watch list. Kate is not only a great all-around athlete, but an even better person. She will help solidify our serve receive with her tremendous ball control, and how well she can see the court as an outside hitter by putting the ball away. I see Kate helping us right away in the fall."
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Kate!
- Under Armour All-America Watch List
- Two-time CIF Division I Champion
- 2018 AVCA Phenom#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/QyTZ1zNVDR
Kennedi Sutter (OH/RS, 5-11, Keller, Texas/Keller High School)
Kennedi Sutter hails from Keller, Texas and Keller High School, where she competes as both outside hitter and right-side hitter. Sutter is a two-time All-District selection, including second team honors as a junior. The senior has also earned two Academic All-District honors. As a sophomore, she received her team's Newcomer of the Year Award, while she earned Keller's Spear-It Award as a junior. She plays club volleyball for Excel Volleyball Club.
"Kennedi joins us from Keller, Texas, and Excel Volleyball Club," Johnson said. "Kennedi is a great athlete who can play a variety of positions for us. She can pass and play outside, and she can play right side, and shut down the other team's best hitter. She has a heavy arm for her stature, and a tough jump float serve. Kennedi will make a huge impact on and off the court for us!"
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Kennedi!
- Two-time All-District
- Two-time Academic All-District#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/U6dn1phH9c
Taylor Thomas (OH, 5-11, Denton, Texas/Denton High School)
Taylor Thomas brings an impressive resume from Denton, Texas. A 2020 Under Armour All-America Watch List member, she was named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region team. Thomas is a two-time District 8-5A MVP and a 2019 5A All-State honoree. As a junior, she totaled 514 kills, 595 digs and 48 blocks while being named the All-Area Co-Offensive Player of the Year. She was voted to the second team THSCA Academic All-State team this season. As a freshman, she received All-Area second team honors while also being named the 2017 District 5-5A Newcomer of the Year and her high school's varsity MVP.
"Taylor joins us from Denton, Texas and Texas Pistols Volleyball Club," Johnson said. "Taylor is our 3rd recruit in this class who is on the 2020 Under Armour All-America Watch List. She was recently voted AVCA High School All-Region Team as well. Taylor has a passion for improving in everything that she does. She will outwork anyone, and I love that about her. Taylor plays with a chip on her shoulder and I think that drives her every time she steps on the court. Taylor is a grinder. I'm excited to see what God has in store for Taylor and the impact that she will make on this program!"
????????????, ????????????, ?????????????????? ???
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) November 11, 2020
Welcome, Taylor!
- 2020 Under Armour All-America Watch List
- 2020 AVCA High School All-Region
- Two-time District 8-5A MVP#GoFlames #RiseWithUs #BurntheShips pic.twitter.com/PukqJL51Dg
