Volleyball Adds Three Players During NCAA Early Signing Period

CINCINNATI - Xavier volleyball coach Christy Pfeffenberger has announced the signing of three players to a national letter of intent during the NCAA's early signing period.

"All three of these players are hardworking and the definition of students of the game," said Pfeffenberger. "I am pumped to get them here and start mixing them into a great returning group. They have big shoes to fill, but I know with their competitive spirits, great things are in store for them and Xavier volleyball."

THE SIGNING CLASS

Name	Ht.	Pos.	Hometown (HS)
Nadia Dieudonne	5-8	S	Louisville, Ky. (Sacred Heart Academy)
Moriah Hopkins	6-1	RS	Mableton, Ga. (North Cobb HS)
Maya Krause	6-2	OH	Cincinnati, Ohio (Lakota West)

NADIA DIEDONNE

• Led her team to a 40-4 record in 2016 and a state title
• Was named to the Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention Team in 2016
• Was also tabbed to the Kentucky All-State First Team as a senior
• Earned regional and state all-tournament team honors in 2016
• Was a four-time academic all-state team selection
• Was tabbed the AVCA Player of the Week once in 2016
• Father, Carl, played football at Air Force; brother Danny played football at Air Force; brother Nathan played basketball at Boston University; sister, Kianna, plays volleyball at Rollins College

PFEFFENBERGER ON DIEDONNE

"Nadia is going to be a great addition to this program. She has a natural competitive demeanor on the floor and is a real student of the game. She has not only had great training, but also a lot of success at the club and high school level. She is going to be a great stimulus in helping this program move forward."

MORIAH HOPKINS

• Was tabbed to the Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention Team in 2016
• Was named to the GVCA All-State First Team as a senior… was also named to the GVCA Senior All-Star Team
• Was named to the 2016 Marietta Daily Journal All-County First Team
• Was named to the Area 3 AAAAAAA All-Area First Team
• Led her team to an Area 3 AAAAAAA Championship in 2016
• Finished her career ranked fourth all-time in school history in hitting percentage and seventh in kills
• Registered 354 kills as a senior, the ninth most in single-season school history
• Posted a .350 hitting percentage in 2016, the second best mark in single-season school history
• Led her team to state title in 2014 and an elite eight appearance in 2016
• Was named to the 2015 AVCA Phenom Watch List
• Her mother, Yvonne, played basketball at Drake; father, Art, competed in track and field at Maryland

PFEFFENBERGER ON HOPKINS

"Moriah comes from a very athletic family. When we first saw her she had a lot of raw athletic ability. In the past few years she has taken off with her skill level and really developed faster than I thought she would. She is constantly learning and pushing herself to the next level. I only see her continuing to grow in the game as she begins her career here at Xavier."

MAYA KRAUSE

• Was named to the Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention Team in 2016
• Also earned GMC Athlete of the Year honors as a senior and District 16 Player of the Year honors
• Earned All-Ohio Second Team honors
• Helped her team post a 58-38 overall record during her playing career
• Finished her career as the school record holder in kills per set
• Also set the single-season school record in kills per set in 2016

PFEFFENBERGER ON KRAUSE

"I couldn't be more excited for Maya to join the Musketeers. From our conversations you can tell she has bought into what we are doing here at Xavier. She has a lot of talent and will fit well into our system of play."

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