LUBBOCK, Texas (July 16, 2019) – Lubbock Christian University volleyball interim head coach Mandy Polk has announced her incoming class for the 2019 season will include seven players, with six true freshman and a junior college transfer. Ranger College transfer Hannah Brink joins freshmen Sage Chain, Hailey Cournoyer, Katy Giusti, Mady McCully, Kaylee Waddle and Sloan Williams looking forward to their first season with the Lady Chaparrals.
 
Brink is the lone transfer joining the 2019 roster, joining the Lady Chaps from Ranger College (Ranger, Texas), where she spent her sophomore season. She compiled 233 kills (2.04 per set) and a team-leading 118 blocks (1.04 per set), along with a .295 attack percentage in 33 matches last season. The 6'0" middle hitter was both a Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference All-Conference and All-Academic Team selection, helping Ranger to a season-best 23-win campaign in 2018. The Aurora, Ill. native spent her freshman season at Navarro College (Navarro, Texas), where she had 47 kills and 39 blocks in 23 matches. Prior to college, Brink prepped at Metea Valley High School (Aurora, Ill.) and competed in club play with Great Lakes Volleyball (Sports Performance Volleyball).
 
Chain is a native of Schertz, Texas, where she played middle blocker and right side for Clemens High School. Last season, as a 6'2" senior, Chain appeared in 132 sets and produced 110 kills and 73 total blocks (66 solo). Clemens marched through District 26-6A play with a 14-0 mark en route to a 37-7 overall record, having their season end in the second round of the UIL playoffs. She was an Academic All-State selection and a Samuel Clemens Athletic Booster Club Scholarship recipient. Chain also competed in club play with Alamo 18 Premier of the Alamo Volleyball Association.
 
Cournoyer joins the Lady Chaps from Hallettsville, Texas, where she attended Hallettsville High School. The middle blocker produced over 700 kills and 250 blocks over three seasons on the varsity, accumulating 338 kills and 104 blocks in 103 sets played as a senior en route to claiming All-District and Victoria Advocate All-Area Team honors. Hallettsville went and reached the UIL 3A Regional Quarterfinals, where they fell to Blanco to conclude a 26-16 season. Cournoyer claimed 2016 District Newcomer of the Year honors and 2017 District Defensive Player of the Year honors with 256 kills and 102 blocks. She also has claimed academic honors and competes at the club level for Weimar, Texas based TEXSTAR Sports.
 
Giusti is a native of League City, Texas, where she attended Clear Falls High School. The 5'10" outside hitter produced 473 kills (3.6 per set) and 377 digs (2.9 per set) her senior season, which concluded with a berth to the UIL 6A Regional Quarterfinals. Giusti claimed First Team All-District 24-6A honors last season. She also competed in club play with Houston Juniors VBC.
 
McCully follows a family trail to LCU. She is the daughter of Jennifer McCully (Jasso) and the niece of Tracie Jasso, who each are former LCU volleyball student-athletes. Mady spent her freshman season at Frenship High School, where her mom served as head coach, before transferring to Shallowater High School. She produced 586 assists 334 digs, 117 kills and 89 aces in her senior season at Shallowater. The defensive specialist and setter from Lubbock was the 2016 District 2-3A Newcomer of the Year and progressed to claiming TAVC First Team All-State honors in 2017 and TGCA First Team All-State accolades in 2018. After 194 kills and 101 aces her junior season, she went into her 2018 senior season as a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Lone Star Varsity Preseason Super Team selection. Her senior year came to an end with Shallowater going 28-12 and garnering a berth to the UIL Class 3A Regional Semifinals. McCully played in the TGCA All-Star Game in the 1A-4A feature game and has played club-volleyball with Lubbock based Next Level.
 
Waddle is a libero from New Waverly, Texas. She competed at the club scene with TAV Houston Volleyball Club. Waddle was home schooled and competed for CHSM (Christian Homeschool Sports Ministries) Crimson Knights, which is a homeschool organization based in Spring, Texas. She was a NCHVC 2015-2018 All-Tournament member and claimed NCHVC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2018 and HomeSchool Volleyball All-Region Team accolades in 2017.
 
Williams comes to LCU by way of Dumas, Texas, where she was a three-time All-District selection at Dumas High School. The 5'11" outside hitter was the District 4-4A MVP as a senior in 2018 and served as the Team Captain for the UIL Class 4A Regional Quarterfinalists. She claimed Academic All-State honors and was selected to the TSWA Class 4A All-State Team. Williams competed at the club level for Amarillo Xtreme.
 
The seven new members join nine returning members from the 2018 rosters, which helped claim the Heartland Conference regular season. Three All-Heartland Conference selections return for the 2019 season, including Setter of the Year, Bradi Marshall. Volleyball student-athletes report for their first workouts August 19 and they open their regular season in Golden, Colo. Sept. 6 facing Colorado Mesa at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic hosted by Colorado School of Mines. This season marks LCU's first in the Lone Star Conference and the first with Coach Polk at the helm.