NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball program announced its 2021 recruiting class today. Three junior college transfers will be joined by five incoming freshmen in forming the eight-member class for the upcoming season.
 
Among the group are three middle blockers, two outside hitters, a pair of setters, and a libero. They will add to a program that returns nine players from last year's squad.
 
"We wanted to bring in players who know how to win and have that winning mindset," said head coach Kathy Bullock. "We have done exactly that while adding a lot of depth for this year. There are no more missing pieces to our team. Now we can work on putting those pieces together and moving forward as a program."
 
Below is more information on each recruit, in alphabetical order:
 
Caris Cross
5-11 Freshman Setter
Lambertville, Mich./Bedford HS
 
Prior to NSU: Four-year letterwinner on the varsity volleyball team at Bedford … Named first-team All-Southeastern Conference for the SEC-Red Division as a senior in 2020 … Led Bedford to the Division I Regional final that year, the regional championship her freshman year in 2017, and the district championship all four years.
Bullock Says: "Caris will compete right away for the starting role. She is a tall setter who is extremely skilled. She has played for great club and high school teams, and she is a great student as well."
 
 
Kylah Hunter
5-1 Freshman DS/Libero
Mesquite, Texas/Poteet HS
 
Prior to NSU: Competed on the varsity volleyball team her last three years at Poteet High School … Averaged 4.7 digs and 3.4 assists per set as a senior in 2020, finishing with 283 total digs and 23 aces … Was named second-team All-District 13-5A … Named the District 13-5A Libero of the Year during her junior season in 2019 … Averaged 2.9 digs and 1.9 assists that year.
Bullock Says: "Kylah is a very competitive player who is looking forward to challenging for the starting libero position. She comes from a great club program out of Texas. She's had plenty of success at the high school level too and brings that winning mentality to the program. We are excited to see her compete for the libero position."
 
 
Alexis Johnson
5-7 Freshman OH/DS
Gahanna, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales HS
 
Prior to NSU: Competed on the varsity volleyball team her last two years at St. Francis DeSales … Helped lead the team to the Ohio Division I State Championship as a junior in 2019 … Also ran track during her early high school career, qualifying for regionals her sophomore year in 2019.
Bullock Says: "Alexis will add depth at outside hitter. She may be slightly undersized but is very skilled. She is another player who knows how to compete and will come in and do exactly that at outside hitter."
 
 
Calyce Jones
5-7 Freshman Setter
Carson, Calif./Millikan HS
 
Prior to NSU: As a junior in 2019, was named second-team All-Moore League after compiling 685 assists, 287 digs and 89 service aces … Did not compete as a senior in 2020 due to COVID-19 … Instead, competed for Dream in Gold Volleyball Club, a program led by former Olympian Misty May-Trainor … Was named honorable mention All-Moore League as a sophomore in 2018 with 556 assists, 254 digs and 68 aces … Was named Most Outstanding Player at the 3^rd Degree Volleyball Tournament that year … Accomplished in the classroom, was named a 2019 AAU Volleyball Academic All-American.
Bullock Says: "Like Caris, Calyce will also compete for the starting setter position. She too is a very talented player who has played on some really good volleyball teams at both the club and high school level. She is also a great student, and we are excited to see how the competition at setter will play out with her in the mix."
 
 
Shachia Lamb
5-10 Freshman MB/Opposite
Yorktown, Va./Grafton HS
 
Prior to NSU: Competed on the varsity team at Grafton High School her final three years … Named first-team All-Tidewater by the Virginian Pilot as a senior in 2020 … Hit .460 that year with 145 kills and 51 blocks, 26 solo, in 55 sets … Led Grafton to a 16-1 record and its fourth straight Class 4 state final.
Bullock Says: "We focused a lot on middle blocking with this class, and Shachia is someone who can add depth to that area. She is of course a local product, which is always a plus. On the court, she is very good offensive player."
 
 
Kendra McRuffin
6-0 Junior MB/Opposite
Glenn Heights, Texas/Western Texas College
 
Prior to NSU: Averaged 1.44 kills and 0.68 blocks per set as a sophomore at Western Texas in 2020 … Had season highs of 14 kills and six blocks … Averaged 1.19 kills and 0.61 blocks as a freshman at New Mexico Junior College in 2019 … Had season highs of eight kills and seven blocks that year … Was named second-team All-District 14-5A as a senior at Red Oak High School in 2018.
Bullock Says: "Kendra brings great experience to the middle for us. She is a very good blocker who will compete right away for a spot in the rotation. We are excited about what she brings to the table."
 
 
Shonte Seale
5-10 Junior OH
Bridgetown, Barbados/Dakota College at Bottineau
 
Prior to NSU: Competed for two years at Dakota College … Named NJCAA Division II All-Region XIII and first-team All-Mon-Dak Conference as a sophomore in 2020 … Led the Mon-Dak and finished fifth in NJCAA D-II with 312 kills … Averaged 3.85 kills, 2.84 digs, 0.69 blocks and 0.43 service aces per set while hitting .252 … As a freshman in 2019, averaged 3.47 kills, 1.75 digs, 0.40 blocks and 0.37 aces per set while hitting .307 … Was twice named a Mon-Dak Player of the Week during her career … Had at least 20 kills nine times while at Dakota College, including 33 in a match her sophomore year … Also a member of the Mon-Dak All-Academic Team.
Bullock Says: "Shonte is just an amazing player who will have an immediate impact on the program. She is very humble but an exciting player to watch. We had to beat out four other conference schools to get her to sign with us. She offers a lot to the program."
 
 
Gracie Teeter
6-0 Junior MB
Knoxville, Tenn./Iowa Western CC
 
Prior to NSU: Averaged 1.50 kills and 0.71 blocks as a sophomore in 2020 at Iowa Western … Led the Reivers to the NJCAA Division I National Championship that year … The team finished 26-3 overall … As a freshman in 2019, averaged 1.48 kills and 0.88 blocks while hitting .195 as Iowa Western finished fifth at the NJCAA National Tournament and 31-10 overall … Named the District 3-2A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2018 at Alcoa High School … Finished with more than 1,000 career kills during her high school career.
Bullock Says: "Another very competitive player, Gracie is ready to fight for the middle blocker position. She brings that winning mentality from her time at junior college. She too has a lot to offer our program and is ready to hit the ground running."