LUBBOCK, Texas (Aug. 25, 2026) – When Tyler Neal arrived at Lubbock Christian University in February, part of his first recruiting class was already waiting for him.
Four future Lady Chaparrals had signed or committed to the program before Neal and assistant coach Levi Savage took over. Rather than starting from scratch, the new coaching staff began by getting to know the players they had inherited in the recruiting process.
What they found gave them little reason to reconsider.
"We had four athletes who were signed and committed before Coach Savage and I got to LCU," Neal said. "So, when we first got here, we reached out to them and just got to know them. And we were really excited about who they were and how they could play the game. And we were so excited to have them already on board."
Then came the second part of the process.
Neal and Savage spent the spring evaluating the roster they inherited, identifying positional needs and determining what additional pieces could complement a team coming off a 25-8 season, a Lone Star Conference regular-season championship and the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.
Their search eventually added
Kristyn Grantham,
Chloe Crider and
Leigh Jespersen.
The result is a seven-player newcomer class featuring six freshmen and one transfer as LCU prepares to open its 2026 season Friday at the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational in Gunnison, Colorado.
LCU faces New Mexico Highlands at 10 a.m. CT inside Western Colorado's Paul Wright Gym in the first opportunity to see how those newcomers fit alongside the 10 players returning from last season.
For Neal, identifying that group went beyond filling spots on a depth chart.
"Really, I just was trusting the Lord that God was bringing us the right people and that God was speaking to them about LCU being the right fit for them," Neal said. "Certainly there were some position needs that we were looking at addressing. Most of all, it was the quality of athlete and the quality of people that we were really hoping to add to the program, and being, not only great fits on the volleyball court, but a great part of the locker room, a great part of our culture and what we're trying to build here."
A Class From Two Recruiting Processes
There is an unusual dynamic surrounding Neal's first group of newcomers.
It is his first class at LCU, but not entirely a class he recruited.
Four players initially committed to a different coaching staff. Three joined after Neal and Savage arrived. All seven now represent the first group of newcomers charged with helping shape what LCU volleyball will become under Neal.
For the players already committed, Neal believed the transition required transparency from both sides.
"Four of the incoming recruits were signed and recruited before Coach Savage and I arrived," Neal said. "Really, we just wanted to connect with them and try and build a relationship with them and give them clarity about where the program was headed and what our vision was for moving forward. We were able to do that with them early on. And they all, to their credit, decided that they wanted to honor their commitment, and we felt like it was the right thing for us to do to honor the commitment that they had made as well."
What initially could have represented uncertainty instead became part of the foundation of Neal's first roster.
"Fortunately, it was a win-win because they turned out to be fantastic young ladies and fantastic volleyball players," Neal said. "So we're just thrilled to have them here."
The seven come from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. Crider arrives from Eaton, Colorado. Grantham comes from Gilbert, Arizona. Hanson played in Edinburg, Texas. Reeves comes from Searcy, Arkansas, while Stevens played at Celina High School and Wheeler at Boerne High School in Texas.
Jespersen, a Lorena, Texas, native, takes a different route to Lubbock after already spending three years in college programs, including two seasons on the court at Hardin-Simmons.
Yet Neal sees common traits among the group.
"The attributes that stood out to me from this incoming freshman and transfer group is, I would say, there's some confidence and there's some belief and competitive spirit that definitely stood out to me," Neal said. "Athletes that play with a lot of joy, a lot of fire and a lot of love. So that's really been great to add them to our gym this fall, and they have brought a lot of energy, a lot of fun and certainly a lot of skill."
Those characteristics matter to Neal because his recruiting philosophy at LCU begins with something broader than volleyball ability.
"I've told a lot of people and a lot of recruits that we've spoken to that we're looking for athletes that love volleyball and love Jesus," Neal said. "So, they want to join a program that gets to play volleyball for Jesus. And that's really our 'why' for why we're trying to be really-really good at volleyball, is to honor and glorify God. So yes, I would say this class reflects that. They love volleyball and they love Jesus, and they are athletes of character, good students. They're the type of people that will be able to contribute to the LCU community as well as to our volleyball program."
Jespersen Brings Experience to a Young Group
Six of the newcomers will experience collegiate volleyball for the first time this fall.
Jespersen will not.
That distinction gives the Hardin-Simmons transfer a different role within the class. Jespersen started all 27 matches at outside hitter for the Cowgirls in 2025, leading the team with 264 kills while averaging 2.84 kills per set. She also registered 49 service aces, 296 digs, 22 block assists and 327 points. Her season resulted in First Team All-American Southwest Conference honors and CSC Academic All-District recognition as she helped Hardin-Simmons finish 17-10 and advance to the ASC Championship match for the program's first appearance in the final since 2013. It followed a 2024 redshirt freshman season in which Jespersen appeared in 24 matches, made 19 starts, produced 140 kills and 218 digs and earned Second Team All-ASC honors. She originally spent the 2023 season redshirting at Dallas Baptist.
That experience makes Jespersen more than another newcomer in Neal's eyes.
"Having freshmen come into college and join our program is always fantastic," Neal said. "But having a transfer is also really helpful because Leigh has really two years of college volleyball experience behind her. That tends to give you a level of maybe just wisdom and maturity that can really help our team. We're definitely looking for her to come in and lead right off the bat."
For the six freshmen, merely adjusting to college presents challenges before volleyball is even considered. Jespersen has already navigated that transition.
"Freshmen usually take a little while to kind of just get used to the college life and to get acclimated to college volleyball," Neal said. "Our freshmen are doing a tremendous job with that. So, it's nice to have a mixture of some younger ones, but then also a veteran who could come in and kind of shepherd the younger ones along."
Her experience has not been the only thing standing out during preseason.
Neal specifically identified Jespersen and Grantham among the additions providing options on the outside.
"On the outside,
Kristyn Grantham and
Leigh Jespersen have just been great additions there," Neal said.
For Grantham, that follows a prolific senior season at American Leadership Academy Gilbert North in Arizona.
She finished her prep career with 1,124 kills, including 574 during her senior season. Grantham hit .333 while adding 219 digs, 50 blocks and 36 service aces over 112 sets.
Her 574 kills led Arizona in total single-season kills, and she was named the 4A East Sky Region Offensive Player of the Year while earning First Team All-Region honors.
Grantham had already received All-Arizona Honorable Mention recognition from The Arizona Republic as a junior before completing her high school career as a 1,000-kill performer.
Now those numbers become part of a much larger competition for opportunities at LCU.
Reeves and Stevens Add Options in the Middle
If Neal entered preseason wondering how quickly his freshman class could translate its high school success into his gym, two newcomers in the middle began supplying answers.
Kayson Reeves and
Shaylee Stevens both arrive with postseason experience from successful high school programs. Reeves helped Harding Academy advance to the 2025 Arkansas Class 3A state championship match. She recorded 12 kills and four digs in the final against Mansfield and completed her senior season with Class 3A All-State and All-Conference honors. Stevens was part of a Celina program that advanced to the Texas state semifinals in consecutive seasons in 2023 and 2024. She earned First Team All-District 11-4A honors as a senior in 2025 after receiving Second Team recognition as a junior and was selected to the 2025 Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Team.
Their transition has caught Neal's attention.
"I would say
Kayson Reeves and
Shaylee Stevens in the middle have just come in and just showed that they can really play some really good volleyball," Neal said.
For Reeves, becoming a Lady Chap also represents the latest chapter in a family connection to LCU.
Her father, Tanyon Reeves, played baseball at Lubbock Christian and was a senior catcher for the Chaps in 2007 under head coach Nathan Blackwood. Her paternal grandfather, Bobby Reeves, is also an LCU graduate and former LCU assistant baseball coach. Her mother, Ashley Reeves, was a three-time All-Big 12 center fielder at Texas Tech and is the head softball coach at Harding University.
For Kayson, however, the LCU connection was more than family history.
"It's awesome that Kayson had the connection with LCU through her family in making her decision to come to LCU," Neal said. "I think that was a big factor. She told me that she always wanted to come to LCU. It's awesome that she's got that opportunity, and she's really come in to contribute right away. And she definitely can play and will contribute for us in the middle significantly this season."
Hanson Adds Another Setter to the Competition
Lauren Hanson had already provided Neal with something most freshmen could not when preseason began.
A head start.
Hanson enrolled early enough to work with LCU during the spring, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate her before the rest of the incoming freshmen arrived. What Neal saw matched a high school résumé centered on running an offense. Hanson was a four-year varsity starter at Robert Vela High School in Edinburg and completed her career as the program's all-time assists leader. She surpassed 2,000 career assists during her senior season while helping Vela capture district and bi-district championships and advance to the UIL area playoffs. She was unanimously selected as the District 31-5A Outstanding Setter of the Year in 2025 after beginning her varsity career as the district's Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.
"Lauren, it's not a surprise that she set her high school career assist record," Neal said. "She's just a phenomenal all-around player, really good hands and knows how to run an offense. She's just incredibly fundamental — setting, serving, playing defense. You can tell she has played a lot of volleyball and has a really high volleyball IQ, and she had great coaches in high school that really taught her to play well."
Her arrival adds another option at a position where sophomore
Camdyn Sears returns after earning AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors and becoming the first player in LSC history to earn Setter of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season.
For Neal, that is exactly what he wants.
The freshmen were not brought in merely to wait.
"The newcomers, like I said earlier, they're all competing for playing time at their position," Neal said. "Whether they end up earning a starting spot or they're pushing some of the veterans to hang on to their starting spot remains to be seen, but both of those roles are extremely valuable to our team, and every role is significant."
Crider and Wheeler Strengthen the Backcourt
Competition also extends to the defensive side of the floor, where Crider and
Haley Wheeler have made an early impression.
Crider arrives as a state champion.
The Eaton, Colorado, product helped the Reds finish 25-4 and capture the 2025 Colorado Class 3A state championship with a four-set victory over Alamosa in the state final. She followed the championship season by earning CHSAA Class 3A All-State First Team honors and participated in the 2026 Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State Volleyball event.
Wheeler comes to Lubbock from Boerne High School with AVCA recognition already on her résumé. She earned AVCA All-Region honors as a junior in 2024, was a Second Team All-District 26-5A selection in 2024 and 2025 and received AVCA Best & Brightest First Team recognition as a senior.
Both have quickly provided competition in the backcourt.
"Haley and Chloe are just tearing it up playing defense and passing really well, and both of them serve really well," Neal said. "They have definitely helped our backcourt game right off the bat."
Their performances have contributed to a larger development Neal has seen throughout the newcomer group.
Recruiting evaluation can show a coach how an athlete performs for a high school or club team. It cannot completely reveal how that player will look once placed inside a new system, alongside new teammates and against collegiate competition every day in practice.
That part only becomes clear once they arrive.
"Our freshmen have just stood out to me in many ways because they're all really good, and you kind of never know for sure what the recruits are going to look like until they get in your gym and you're able to have them for a team practice," Neal said. "All of them have really stood out."
No Waiting Period
Six freshmen might suggest a group being developed primarily for the future.
Neal does not see it that way.
There is development taking place. There is also an immediate competition for playing time.
"I would say it's on-the-job training for our freshmen," Neal said. "I kind of feel like I'm right there with them, with a steep learning curve, being new to coaching college volleyball this season. But, I feel like they're learning every day what college volleyball looks like and what LCU volleyball is."
That final point is particularly important.
Neal does not want the newcomers simply learning a fixed definition of LCU volleyball from the returning players and coaching staff. By joining the program at the beginning of a new coaching era, they also have a role in determining what that definition becomes.
"They're also a part of taking ownership and responsibility for what LCU volleyball is now," Neal said.
That ownership comes with opportunity.
"We tell our athletes that playing time is earned," Neal said. "It doesn't matter what class you are, what grade you are. If you can come in and you can produce in practice, that's the way to earning playing time in games. All the freshmen have a legitimate shot to see the court this season. It's really made our gym a great competitive as well as learning environment."
That competition connects the newcomers directly to LCU's returning core.
The Lady Chaps bring back 10 players from the team that won 25 matches last season, meaning the newcomers have entered a program containing players with championship and NCAA Tournament experience. Neal does not view a freshman pushing a returning starter as a problem to manage.
He views it as roster depth.
"The freshmen coming in especially have just allowed us to just be incredibly deep, where our practices are very competitive," Neal said. "At every position, we have several athletes that can play and can contribute, so it's making my job very difficult as head coach determining the lineup, which is as it should be."
More Than What Arrives Friday
Friday will provide the first public measurement of what the newcomers can contribute.
It will not provide the final one.
The temptation with any recruiting class is to measure its success through starts, kills, digs, assists or how quickly players find the floor. Those numbers will eventually become part of the story for LCU's seven newcomers.
Neal's definition of success extends further.
This class represents his first group of incoming players at LCU, even if it originated under two different coaching staffs. The six freshmen have an opportunity to become building blocks for multiple seasons, while Jespersen brings collegiate experience that can impact the program immediately. All seven have entered while Neal is establishing what he wants his version of LCU volleyball to represent.
"They don't take themselves too seriously and are fun-loving and are kind and are just people of strong character," Neal said. "They want to do the right thing in the right way for the right reasons, and so that's really what stands out to me about this group."
Those qualities also shape how Neal hopes he will evaluate the class months from now.
"Looking back six months to a year from now, I really hope that these incoming athletes will have learned what it means to really play volleyball for Jesus and to love each other really well and to play the game with joy and really on a mission to glorify God," Neal said.
The objective, in Neal's view, is growth measured in more than volleyball development.
"I hope that they will have just become stronger as a result of that experience — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually — and just drawn closer to the Lord through the experience of playing volleyball and doing it in a Christ-centered way."
There will be plenty of opportunities to measure the volleyball portion beginning Friday. Crider brings a state championship from Colorado. Grantham arrives after leading Arizona in kills. Hanson brings more than 2,000 career assists and a school record. Reeves and Stevens arrive with state-tournament experience. Wheeler adds another accomplished backcourt player. Jespersen brings two seasons of collegiate production and all-conference recognition.
They arrive through different paths, and some committed to LCU before Neal knew he would be their coach.
Now they enter the same gym, compete for the same opportunities and become part of the same question facing a program following its most successful NCAA-era season:
What comes next?
For LCU's seven newcomers, the answer is not simply that they have joined the future of the program.
They already have an opportunity to influence its present.
The 2026 LCU Volleyball New Additions
