Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Volleyball Introduces 2024 Newcomers
7/10/2024 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio – Head volleyball coach Dan Gwitt has announced the addition of seven newcomers to the 2024 roster. These RedHawks will join incoming freshmen Sophie Crawford and Lydia Michelin who were announced in the fall of 2023.
"We're thrilled to welcome our new additions to the Miami University volleyball team! We can't wait to see the energy and talent they bring to our gym and how they elevate our program," said Gwitt. "I have full confidence that we'll be highly competitive this season, aiming to make a strong push towards the conference tournament and contend for a spot in the NCAA Tournament."
Ava Francis, 6-1, Outside Hitter, Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder High School/Arizona/Virginia Tech:
Gwitt on Francis: "Ava is a point scorer and player who instantly brings us offense and the ability to side out. Ava has real experience playing against the best in the country, and I think she will be a real problem for everyone in the MAC. Several Power Five schools recruited her, and I am very grateful that she chose Miami. I expect Ava to have a big year and make an immediate impact."
Anna McClure, 5-8, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Champaign, Ill./The High School of St. Thomas/Ohio State:
Gwitt on McClure: "Anna transferring in from a Big Ten school brings a wealth of experience competing and training against the best in the country. Anna is extremely competitive and has a great skill set. I fully expect Anna to compete right away for the libero spot and have a major impact on our team and in our conference this season."
Tate Mercer, 5-5, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Notre Dame High School/University of New Orleans:
Gwitt on Mercer: "Tate, an experienced libero, is joining our team, bringing much-needed depth and expertise to our back row. Tate hails from Southern California, where she trained with one of the top clubs in the country during high school. I'm excited about Tate's addition to our roster and eager to see how she enhances our team's capabilities."
Ana Vetter, 5-11, Opposite Hitter, Kenilworth, Ill./New Trier High School:
Gwitt on Vetter: "Ana is a very special player who, as a left-hander, is a true six-rotation player that can play either on the left side or the right side of the court. With her versatility and skill level, I expect her to make a major contribution to our team this season and for years to come."
Sophie Crawford, 6-2, Setter, Kalamazoo, Mich./Gull Lake
High School:
Gwitt on Crawford: "Sophie is a taller setter with great hands. She has the size and athleticism to really give us options, but the thing I like the most about her is how competitive she is. She is a winner and has the fire inside of her that you want from a setter. I am excited to see her come in and compete and contribute this season and beyond."
Lydia Michelin, 6-1, Middle Blocker, Milford, Mich./Milford
High School:
Jess Walkenhorst, 6-2, Right-Side Hitter, West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West High School:
Gwitt on Walkenhorst: "Jessica is another left-hander who has great athletic range. She has the ability to do multiple things and develop into a six-rotation player. She is also a local kid, so I think that is great for our program and the community to have players from our backyard."
Karina May, 5-7, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg High School:
Gwitt on May: "Karina is a back row player out of Illinois who has played for a highly competitive club for years. Karina will add depth for us in the back row and push our roster to be more competitive."
Micah Wall, 5-6, Libero, Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami High School:
Gwitt on Wall: "Micah is another local player who is a back row player as well. Micah has a great skill set and presence, and she will add depth and push us competitively in that position."
"We're thrilled to welcome our new additions to the Miami University volleyball team! We can't wait to see the energy and talent they bring to our gym and how they elevate our program," said Gwitt. "I have full confidence that we'll be highly competitive this season, aiming to make a strong push towards the conference tournament and contend for a spot in the NCAA Tournament."
Ava Francis, 6-1, Outside Hitter, Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder High School/Arizona/Virginia Tech:
- In her redshirt freshman season at Virginia Tech, she played in 25 matches, totaling 179 kills (team-high), 48 digs and 23 blocks
- As a redshirt sophomore with the Hokies, Francis appeared in 25 matches, starting in 18 of them, recording 214 kills (third most on the team), 86 digs and 23 blocks
- 2023 ACC All-Academic Team
- 2022 ACC All-Academic Team
- Four-year varsity starter in high school
- Three-time first-team all-Central Buckeye Conference
- Two-time Central Buckeye Conference Player of the Year
- Ohio Central District Player of the Year
- Two-time first-team all-Ohioan
- Prep Volleyball Phenom List
- Prep Volleyball Top 100 Senior Aces
- AVCA all-region team
- AVCA All-American honorable mention
- Ranked the No. 2 recruit in the state of Ohio
- Ranked in the top 100 Prep Volleyball recruits
- Under Armour All-American
- All-time kills and digs leader at Jonathan Alder
Gwitt on Francis: "Ava is a point scorer and player who instantly brings us offense and the ability to side out. Ava has real experience playing against the best in the country, and I think she will be a real problem for everyone in the MAC. Several Power Five schools recruited her, and I am very grateful that she chose Miami. I expect Ava to have a big year and make an immediate impact."
Anna McClure, 5-8, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Champaign, Ill./The High School of St. Thomas/Ohio State:
- Last season at Ohio State, McClure played in 43 sets
- OSU Scholar Athlete (2022, 23)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2023)
- Four-year letterwinner at the High School of St. Thomas as an outside and right side
- Led her team to a state championship as a senior in 2021
- Played in the USA HP Championships in both 2017 and 2019
- Named to Prep Volleyball's Frosh 59 and Soph 79 as well as the 2019 Defensive Dandy
- Lettered one year each in track and swimming
- Broke the school's swimming record in the 50 free and was named to the All-Area First Team in 2020
- Played club volleyball for the Illini Elite from 2018-22
Gwitt on McClure: "Anna transferring in from a Big Ten school brings a wealth of experience competing and training against the best in the country. Anna is extremely competitive and has a great skill set. I fully expect Anna to compete right away for the libero spot and have a major impact on our team and in our conference this season."
Tate Mercer, 5-5, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Notre Dame High School/University of New Orleans:
- As a freshman at New Orleans, she played 73 sets over 26 matches, recording 173 digs and 16 service aces
- Three-year letter winner at Notre Dame High School
- Earned Defensive MVP as a freshman
- Finished with 128 digs in senior season
Gwitt on Mercer: "Tate, an experienced libero, is joining our team, bringing much-needed depth and expertise to our back row. Tate hails from Southern California, where she trained with one of the top clubs in the country during high school. I'm excited about Tate's addition to our roster and eager to see how she enhances our team's capabilities."
Ana Vetter, 5-11, Opposite Hitter, Kenilworth, Ill./New Trier High School:
- Team Captain as a junior and a senior
- Sectional Champion as a senior
- Earned CSL Conference Player of the Year in her senior season
- Discovery Tournament MVP as a junior
- Played for Adversity Volleyball Club 18 Adidas
Gwitt on Vetter: "Ana is a very special player who, as a left-hander, is a true six-rotation player that can play either on the left side or the right side of the court. With her versatility and skill level, I expect her to make a major contribution to our team this season and for years to come."
Sophie Crawford, 6-2, Setter, Kalamazoo, Mich./Gull Lake
High School:
- Graduated from Gull Lake High School
- Coached by Eric Belz
- Two-time team captain
- Nominated for Miss Michigan as senior
- SMAC All Conference, All-District, All-Region, All-State, All-Battle Creek Area Team as a junior
- Helped team win district and regional titles and advance to state quarterfinals in her junior year
- Named to Prep Volleyball All-American Watch List and invited to Under Armour All-American Camp
- Named team's most valuable player after recording 879 assists and 232 kills in 2022 as a junior
- Recorded 548 assists and 153 kills as a senior
Gwitt on Crawford: "Sophie is a taller setter with great hands. She has the size and athleticism to really give us options, but the thing I like the most about her is how competitive she is. She is a winner and has the fire inside of her that you want from a setter. I am excited to see her come in and compete and contribute this season and beyond."
Lydia Michelin, 6-1, Middle Blocker, Milford, Mich./Milford
High School:
- Graduated from Milford High School
- Coached by Annie Malburg
- Served as team captain senior year
- All-region in her senior season
- First team all-conference as a senior
- Recorded the sixth most blocks in the state of Michigan as a senior
- First team all-conference as a junior
- Received Scholar-Athlete Award in junior season
- National Honor Society member
- Academic All-State (and All-State Track) honoree
- Three-sport varsity athlete
- Finished as the team leader in hitting percentage and conference leader in blocks
Jess Walkenhorst, 6-2, Right-Side Hitter, West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West High School:
- Team Captain junior and senior seasons
- First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-District as a senior
- First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-District as a junior
- Played for Ohio Premier Volleyball Club 18 Gill
Gwitt on Walkenhorst: "Jessica is another left-hander who has great athletic range. She has the ability to do multiple things and develop into a six-rotation player. She is also a local kid, so I think that is great for our program and the community to have players from our backyard."
Karina May, 5-7, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg High School:
- Conference and regional champion as a senior
- Regional champion as a junior
- Played for Adversity Volleyball Club
Gwitt on May: "Karina is a back row player out of Illinois who has played for a highly competitive club for years. Karina will add depth for us in the back row and push our roster to be more competitive."
Micah Wall, 5-6, Libero, Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami High School:
- Served as a team captain as a senior
- Three-year varsity letterwinner
- Named second-team all-ECC as junior
- Totaled 305 assists and 329 digs as a senior
- Recorded 259 assists and 249 digs as a junior
- Two-time All-Conference Academic Award
- Received Little Miami High School Academic Award and honor roll in her junior and senior year
- Named to 2023 JVA watch list for class of 2024 and 2023 prep dig ranking #6 DS in Ohio.
Gwitt on Wall: "Micah is another local player who is a back row player as well. Micah has a great skill set and presence, and she will add depth and push us competitively in that position."
Players Mentioned
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero/Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero/Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero/Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero
/ Women's VolleyballMiami Tennis MAC Semifinal Celebration
Saturday, April 25
Miami Football 2026 Spring Showcase - Head Coach Chuck Martin
Saturday, April 25
Highlights: Miami Baseball vs Michigan 4/21
Thursday, April 23
RedHawk Rewind Episode 28: Maria Luisa Oliveira
Tuesday, April 21