Volleyball Announces Incoming 2019 Class
2/20/2019 2:11:00 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse Volleyball has announced its five-member incoming 2019 class. The 2019 class looks to pick up right where the Orange left off in 2018, following one of the most successful seasons in program history. Outside Hitter's Viktoriia Lokmanchuk and Marina Markova are joined by libero Berkley Hayes and middle blockers Isabella Plummer and Abigail Casiano.
Lokmanchuk and Markova have arrived on campus and will participate in team activities during the spring 2019 semester in preparation for the fall season.
The Orange are set to return a stacked roster from last season, including 2018 AVCA All-American and East Region Freshman of the Year Polina Shemanova. Last season, Syracuse made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament advancing to the second round after a 3-0 sweep over Yale. The Orange fell, 3-0, to No. 8 Penn State, ending their season with a 19-9 record. The team's 14 conference wins tied the most in program history and helped them to a fourth place finish in the ACC.
Isabella Plummer, Middle Blocker, Fairport, N.Y.
New York native, Isabella Plummer heads to Syracuse following a standout senior season where she set Fairport High School records in kills and blocks. Plummer is the third Under Armor High School All-American to join the Orange, the last two being Santita Ebangwese and Aliah Bowllan. Her All-American senior season was highlighted by a .398 hitting percentage, 358 kills, 230 digs, 60 service aces and 34 blocks. Plummer is a two-time All-Greater Rochester team and two-time Monroe County All-League. Her older brother, Isiah, also attends Syracuse.
Berkley Hayes, Libero, San Diego, Calif.
After helping lead Francis Parker High School to the CIF Division II playoffs last fall, Hayes was honored with the CIF Fall Spirit of Sport San Diego Section Award. The award recognizes student-athletes who live the ideals of pursuing victory with honor in their lives and athletic endeavors, and who are positive role models within their community and school. She compiled 284 digs in her senior season with 82 kills, 49 service aces and two blocks. Hayes' cousins Sarah and Max Bartig both attended Syracuse. Sarah was a member of the volleyball team from 2007-11, while Max played lacrosse from 2006-10.
Abigail Casiano, Middle Blocker, Riverview, Fla.
A four-year player for the Tampa Bay HEAT team in high school, Casiano helped the HEAT compile a 76-27 record. The Riverview, Fla. native hit .335 in her senior season, ending her high school career with a .456 hitting percentage, 949 kills and 239 blocks. She is a two-time All-Tampa Bay honoree and looks poised to step into a dominant front line that has been marquee for the Orange.
Viktoriia Lokmanchuk, Outside Hitter, Zaporizhia, Ukraine
Lokmanchuk joins the Orange after spending a year on the U18 Ukrainian National Team. Lokmanchuk helped Ukraine qualify for the 2018 World Championships where they won first place at the EVZA Qualifier Tournament and helped them qualify for the European Championships. She also helped her club team to a fourth place finish in the Ukrainian league and is interested in studying business at Syracuse.
Marina Markova, Outside Hitter, St. Petersburg, Russia
Competed with the Leningrdka club team for two seasons on their youth development team where she helped them finish seventh and eighth the last two seasons in the Russian Super League championships. She attended high school at the College of Olympic Reserve where she also trained for volleyball. Markova was a member of the National Team of St. Petersburg, where she played with current Syracuse player, Shemanova. She helped the National Team of St. Petersburg take first place, twice, at the Russian Championships. Markova is interested in studying business management while at Syracuse.
Lokmanchuk and Markova have arrived on campus and will participate in team activities during the spring 2019 semester in preparation for the fall season.
The Orange are set to return a stacked roster from last season, including 2018 AVCA All-American and East Region Freshman of the Year Polina Shemanova. Last season, Syracuse made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament advancing to the second round after a 3-0 sweep over Yale. The Orange fell, 3-0, to No. 8 Penn State, ending their season with a 19-9 record. The team's 14 conference wins tied the most in program history and helped them to a fourth place finish in the ACC.
Isabella Plummer, Middle Blocker, Fairport, N.Y.
New York native, Isabella Plummer heads to Syracuse following a standout senior season where she set Fairport High School records in kills and blocks. Plummer is the third Under Armor High School All-American to join the Orange, the last two being Santita Ebangwese and Aliah Bowllan. Her All-American senior season was highlighted by a .398 hitting percentage, 358 kills, 230 digs, 60 service aces and 34 blocks. Plummer is a two-time All-Greater Rochester team and two-time Monroe County All-League. Her older brother, Isiah, also attends Syracuse.
Berkley Hayes, Libero, San Diego, Calif.
After helping lead Francis Parker High School to the CIF Division II playoffs last fall, Hayes was honored with the CIF Fall Spirit of Sport San Diego Section Award. The award recognizes student-athletes who live the ideals of pursuing victory with honor in their lives and athletic endeavors, and who are positive role models within their community and school. She compiled 284 digs in her senior season with 82 kills, 49 service aces and two blocks. Hayes' cousins Sarah and Max Bartig both attended Syracuse. Sarah was a member of the volleyball team from 2007-11, while Max played lacrosse from 2006-10.
Abigail Casiano, Middle Blocker, Riverview, Fla.
A four-year player for the Tampa Bay HEAT team in high school, Casiano helped the HEAT compile a 76-27 record. The Riverview, Fla. native hit .335 in her senior season, ending her high school career with a .456 hitting percentage, 949 kills and 239 blocks. She is a two-time All-Tampa Bay honoree and looks poised to step into a dominant front line that has been marquee for the Orange.
Viktoriia Lokmanchuk, Outside Hitter, Zaporizhia, Ukraine
Lokmanchuk joins the Orange after spending a year on the U18 Ukrainian National Team. Lokmanchuk helped Ukraine qualify for the 2018 World Championships where they won first place at the EVZA Qualifier Tournament and helped them qualify for the European Championships. She also helped her club team to a fourth place finish in the Ukrainian league and is interested in studying business at Syracuse.
Marina Markova, Outside Hitter, St. Petersburg, Russia
Competed with the Leningrdka club team for two seasons on their youth development team where she helped them finish seventh and eighth the last two seasons in the Russian Super League championships. She attended high school at the College of Olympic Reserve where she also trained for volleyball. Markova was a member of the National Team of St. Petersburg, where she played with current Syracuse player, Shemanova. She helped the National Team of St. Petersburg take first place, twice, at the Russian Championships. Markova is interested in studying business management while at Syracuse.
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