Troy University Athletics
Troy Volleyball Signs Four Newcomers
11/13/2019 3:30:00 PM | Volleyball
Troy, Ala. – Troy head volleyball coach Josh Lauer announced the signing of four standout high school players Wednesday. Each of them will enroll at Troy University in the fall of 2020. Lauer's fourth recruiting class at Troy is comprised of Tori Hester, Tessa Laney, Savannah Poling and Tabitha Wheeler.
Quotable – Troy head coach Josh Lauer
5-9 | OH
Mount Ulla, N.C.
West Rowan High School/Carolina Union Volleyball Club
Hester joins the Trojans from West Rowan High School where she posted 1,643 kills, 1,443 digs and led her team to back-to-back conference championships in 2018 and 2019. The two-time conference player of the year also registered 213 service aces and 175 total blocks. Hester was named to the 2019 AVCA High School All-Region team and is a three-time all-county and all-conference selection.
5-11 | S
Fayetteville, Ga.
Starr's Mill High School/Tsunami Volleyball Club
Laney joins the Trojans from Starr's Mill High School where she registered 2,577 career assists, 1,253 digs and led her team to the state finals and semi-finals in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The two-time first team all-state selection also tallied 309 service aces and 648 kills on .446 hitting throughout her career. Laney's name appears twice in the Georgia high school volleyball record books, recording the second and fourth-most assists in a single match in state history with 64 and 58, respectively. Laney is also an AVCA High School All-Region team selection.
"Tessa represents our future at the setter position. I have known Tessa and her family for a long time and am excited for them to be a part of our volleyball family here at Troy. Tessa is a calm calculated decision maker, a resilient competitor and a selfless teammate."
Savannah Poling
6-1 | MH
Sharpsburg, Ga.
Trinity Christian School/Tsunami Volleyball Club
Poling, a 2016 Georgia state champion, comes to Troy from Trinity Christian School where she recorded 553 career kills on a .447 hitting percentage. The 2019 All-Region and two-time all-state selection also posted 215 total blocks throughout her career. Twice Poling was named an AVCA phenom and was named the student-athlete of the week three times during her career.
"Savannah was our final commitment in the 2020 class and a club teammate to Tessa Laney. She will continue to move our quickness and athleticism forward at the middle hitter position. Savannah is an extremely quick attacker, a passionate competitor and physical blocking presence at the net."
Tabitha Wheeler
5-11 | OH
Taylors, S.C.
Eastside High School/Upward Stars Volleyball Club
Wheeler joins the Trojans from Eastside High School where she finished her high school career with over 1,300 kills and digs. The four-time All-Region selection and two-time all-region player of the year also posted over 150 career aces and more than 100 blocks. Wheeler was named an all-state team member three times and to the South Carolina all-rookie team in 2016.
"Tabitha was our first commitment in the 2020 class and will continue build on our tradition of having true six rotation pins players in our program. Tabitha is an outstanding passer, a calm focused competitor and a deceptively athletic attacker."
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Quotable – Troy head coach Josh Lauer
"We are very excited about our 2020 class. Tabitha, Tori, Tessa and Savannah have been committed to be Trojans for quite some time and I'm happy that today we can official welcome them to the Troy Volleyball family. Our goal every year is to add people to our team that are high character, possess high volleyball skill and are high achieving academically. Each member of the 2020 class meets these criteria and will improve the depth and competition within our team to better prepare us as we challenge for a Sun Belt Championship during their tenure here at Troy."
Tori Hester5-9 | OH
Mount Ulla, N.C.
West Rowan High School/Carolina Union Volleyball Club
Hester joins the Trojans from West Rowan High School where she posted 1,643 kills, 1,443 digs and led her team to back-to-back conference championships in 2018 and 2019. The two-time conference player of the year also registered 213 service aces and 175 total blocks. Hester was named to the 2019 AVCA High School All-Region team and is a three-time all-county and all-conference selection.
"Tori is another tremendous addition to our outside hitter position group. Like the others, Tori is just as talented in the back row as she is in the front row. Tori is a skilled blocker, a fiery competitor and an explosive attacker."
Tessa Laney5-11 | S
Fayetteville, Ga.
Starr's Mill High School/Tsunami Volleyball Club
Laney joins the Trojans from Starr's Mill High School where she registered 2,577 career assists, 1,253 digs and led her team to the state finals and semi-finals in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The two-time first team all-state selection also tallied 309 service aces and 648 kills on .446 hitting throughout her career. Laney's name appears twice in the Georgia high school volleyball record books, recording the second and fourth-most assists in a single match in state history with 64 and 58, respectively. Laney is also an AVCA High School All-Region team selection.
"Tessa represents our future at the setter position. I have known Tessa and her family for a long time and am excited for them to be a part of our volleyball family here at Troy. Tessa is a calm calculated decision maker, a resilient competitor and a selfless teammate."
6-1 | MH
Sharpsburg, Ga.
Trinity Christian School/Tsunami Volleyball Club
Poling, a 2016 Georgia state champion, comes to Troy from Trinity Christian School where she recorded 553 career kills on a .447 hitting percentage. The 2019 All-Region and two-time all-state selection also posted 215 total blocks throughout her career. Twice Poling was named an AVCA phenom and was named the student-athlete of the week three times during her career.
"Savannah was our final commitment in the 2020 class and a club teammate to Tessa Laney. She will continue to move our quickness and athleticism forward at the middle hitter position. Savannah is an extremely quick attacker, a passionate competitor and physical blocking presence at the net."
5-11 | OH
Taylors, S.C.
Eastside High School/Upward Stars Volleyball Club
Wheeler joins the Trojans from Eastside High School where she finished her high school career with over 1,300 kills and digs. The four-time All-Region selection and two-time all-region player of the year also posted over 150 career aces and more than 100 blocks. Wheeler was named an all-state team member three times and to the South Carolina all-rookie team in 2016.
"Tabitha was our first commitment in the 2020 class and will continue build on our tradition of having true six rotation pins players in our program. Tabitha is an outstanding passer, a calm focused competitor and a deceptively athletic attacker."
Follow Troy Volleyball
Social: Twitter | Instagram
Join The Conversation: #BuildTheEmpire | #OneTROY
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