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LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Volleyball head coach Kristi Gray announced on Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2022) the addition of three student-athletes from the high school ranks to the program’s Class of 2023 recruits.

Ella Chaney (Prosper, Texas/Prosper HS), Kennedy Gustafson (Humble, Texas/Summer Creek HS) and Sydnie Waller (Franklin, Tenn./Centennial HS) have each signed with Louisiana and are set to join the program beginning in the 2023-24 academic year.

They join Maddi Fritz (La Grange, Texas/La Grange HS), Abby Cunningham (Carencro, La./Westminster Christian Academy) and Mio Yamamoto (Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan/New Mexico Military Institute), who signed in November, in comprising Louisiana’s 2023 signing class.

Chaney’s decorated career at Prosper (Texas) High School included appearances on the AVCA’s High School All-American Watch List in 2021 and 2022, the Class of 2023 Prep Dig rankings (No. 32), selection to the Austin TGCA All-Star team plus an Under Armour All-American honor in 2020.

She delivered back-to-back seasons of 300-plus kills to round out her prep career, totaling a career-best 413 kills on a .293 hitting percentage as a senior in fall 2022. Chaney, who saw time at outside hitter, middle blocker and right side hitter for PHS, produced career totals of 868 kills, 198 blocks and 732 digs.

Chaney has competed on the club level for Dallas Skyline since 2019, was most recently a member of 18 Royal.

“Ella (Chaney) is one of the top players in her class from Texas,” Gray said. “She is a very versatile competitor, having played all positions on the front row. She is another defensive threat we have added in this class who we believe can come in and make a big impact.”

With over 1,000 career digs, Gustafson is another accomplished libero picked up by Louisiana. The Summer Creek (Texas) High product has annually led the district in digs and was selected to the TGCA Class 5A-6A All-Star team.

Gustafson’s final two seasons with Summer Creek saw her round up over 600 digs each time, culminating with a career-best 681 digs in her senior season. She also excelled from the service line, recording an impressive 155 aces.

On the club level Gustafson has competed with TAV Houston and Houston Juniors, most recently with HJ 18 Elite in 2022.

“We actually first saw and offered Kennedy (Gustafson) at our camp this summer,” Gray remarked. “She is a defensive machine, and we can’t wait to get her in the gym. She picked up numerous accolades this year, with one being defensive player of the year for her district.”

A Williamson County Class 6A all-district selection, Waller posted 387 kills (3.5 per set), 50 aces, 39 blocks and hit .216 over 110 sets played for Centennial (Tenn.) HS during her senior season in fall 2022.

It was the second straight all-district honor for Waller, a right side/outside hitter, who earned the accolade in 2021 as well as a spot on the county’s all-tournament team. She has competed on the club level for Tennessee Performance.

“Sydnie (Waller) is a true competitor who plays with high level energy – one of the first things we saw in her,” Gray stated. “She is a wall on the front row and is going to come in and help us immediately defensively on the net.”

ABOUT LOUISIANA VOLLEYBALL

Louisiana (15-13, 8-8 Sun Belt) recently completed Year 2 under Gray’s guidance which culminated in the program’s first-ever appearance in a national postseason tournament, taking part in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in Edinburg, Texas.

During the 2022 season, the Ragin’ Cajuns picked up their signature non-conference win of Gray’s tenure with a straight sets sweep of the SEC’s Alabama at the TCU Horned Frog Invitational in September, were a Top 150 RPI team throughout the season and ranked Top 100 nationally in blocks. The team’s high-energy style of play attracted a single-season total attendance record (6,446) to Earl K. Long Gym.