'Cuse Volleyball Announces Seven Newcomers For 2024

Syracuse University volleyball head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam has announced seven additional newcomers for the 2024 season. Anastasiia Nikolnikova, Emma Ortiz, Nikki Shimao, Pola Bujnarowska, Piper Willinger, Sydney Moore, and Ashlee Gnau will join Skylar George and Fiona Rigby who signed with the Orange this past winter.

"We are very happy about the recruiting class we have so far," said coach Ganesharatnam. "We paid close attention to bring in the best volleyball players, but also the best people and team players. This group will help us greatly in combination with the returning players to create a very competitive environment in our gym and put together a competitive squad for this upcoming fall season."

Anastasiia "Annie" Nikolnikova comes to Syracuse as a transfer from College of Southern Idaho (CSI). The Kyiv, Ukraine native spent her freshman and sophomore campaigns playing for the Golden Eagles, where she earned 2023 Region 18 Player of the Year. She helped her squad achieve a 25-8 record this past season, punching their ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament. The six-foot-three middle blocker totaled 108 blocks in her two years at CSI, accruing 148 kills in 58 sets played in her sophomore campaign.

"Annie is a very physical and skilled middle blocker," Ganesharatnam said. "She has proven herself by competing at a very high level at the College of Southern Idaho. She is an All-American and has a very compelling life story. We are very excited to have her with us. I believe she will be a great addition for us in the gym and to the team culture based on the values and morals she embodies."

Emma Ortiz, a defensive specialist/libero from Orlando, Florida, will play her first collegiate season of volleyball with the Orange. She was a part of the OTVA club volleyball team for eight years and captained the squad from 2022-23. Ortiz attended Winter Park High School, where she was the volleyball team's starting libero as a junior and senior, and served as captain in her senior season. She earned the Top Libero award and All-Tournament team at the VBall Recruiter event in 2022. She was awarded MLK All-Tournament Team honors in 2023 and finished her high school career with 514 digs, 685 receptions, 61 assists and 61 aces.

"Emma is an excellent defensive specialist who will bring strength to the squad on the defensive side," Ganesharatnam added. "She brings a competitive nature with her and is an impactful voice on the court. We are excited to add her to the team and look forward to her joining our program."

Nikki Shimao played her first four seasons of collegiate volleyball at Temple University, where coach Ganesharatnam was at the helm before taking over at Syracuse. The defensive specialist finished her four-year stint at Temple with 464 digs, 179 assists and 17 aces. Shimao is a three-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team member and was named to the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholarship Award Second Team in 2021. Before Temple, the Honolulu, Hawaii, native played for Ku'ikahi Volleyball Club for four years and was a two-time state champion for volleyball at the 'Iolani School.

"We are very happy to be able to add Nikki to our roster.," inputted Ganesharatnam. "Her and I worked together at my previous institution, we have known each other for a long time. She comes from a great family and is a fantastic player. She is incredibly hard working, very strong on defense and has a great volleyball IQ. Beside her as a player, she has great character, and we look forward to adding her leadership skills and contribution to team building off the court as well."

Pola Bujnarowska hails from Torun, Poland and is an incoming freshman on the volleyball team. The middle blocker/right side was invited for the summer of 2024 to participate in the Polish Junior National U20 Training Camp, where she will have a chance to earn a spot on the Polish Junior National U20 squad. Bujnarowska played club volleyball for Wiezyca 2011 Stezyca for three years. During her time on the team, she aided her club to place second in the Polish Junior Girls Championship in 2022 and third place in 2021.

"Coming in as a freshman, Pola is already a very talented and established player," Ganesharatnam mentioned. "She played at the highest level in Poland, working with the junior national team for her home country. She brings many skills as she can contribute for us as a middle and as an outside hitter. We are very excited about her joining our program and being able to contribute right away in the gym."

Piper Willinger comes to Syracuse as a junior transfer from Sacred Heart University. In the 2023 season, Willinger appeared in 10 matches as a setter. The New York, New York native played for three club volleyball teams, each for two-year spans. She was placed on the AVCA Phenom Watchlist in 2021 and earned Academic All-American honors in 2019. Prior to Sacred Heart, she was a captain on the varsity volleyball team for three seasons at The Hotchkiss School.

"Piper is going to help us add depth in the setting position," spoke Ganesharatnam. "She is well experienced, playing club in multiple states. She is determined and has worked hard to move up in her career to compete at the highest level possible. She is going to be a great team player and we are excited to add her to the squad."

Syndey Moore is set to play her first season on the Hill after a four-year collegiate career at Cornell as a middle blocker. In 2023, she was named one of the 2023 College Women of the Year for Glamour Magazine. The Abington, Pennsylvania native led the Big Red with 100 blocks in 2023, the most blocks for a Cornell player since 2013 and the third most in the Ivy League last year. Moore attended Immaculate Heart Academy in New Jersey before transferring to Cathedral Catholic HS in San Diego. At Immaculate Heart, she helped her team win back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017.

"Syndey is a great person and great volleyball player," said Ganesharatnam. "Her strength is in blocking, and she will be able to help in the middle position to add depth and be a great presence at the net for us. Her resume and life story are very impressive, and we are hoping for her to step in and immediately make an impact on the court. Even more importantly, she will be an impactful leader on and off the court for us and help build experience for this young squad."

Ashlee Gnau hails from Northville, Michigan and will be a defensive specialist/libero for the Orange. Prior to Syracuse, she played four years of volleyball for Northville High School and finished her high school career with 113 aces, 888 digs and 953 receptions. Her senior season, she produced 36 aces, 325 digs and 311 receptions. The five-foot-eight freshman earned KLAA All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2022 and was placed on the AVCA Phenom Watchlist from 2021-2023.

"Ashlee is a very talented player, and we are beyond excited to have her join us as a defensive specialist," Ganesharatnam added. "She comes from a very good club and is going to help us tremendously on serve and receive, and on defense. She brings the attributes of tenacity, competitiveness and being a great teammate."

The Syracuse women's volleyball team currently has 15 players on the roster for 2024. Aside from winter transfers George and Rigby, seven players will be new additions to the team in 2024, while six athletes are returning from the 2023 season.

For the latest news on the Syracuse volleyball program, follow /CuseVB on Facebook, @CuseVB on Instagram, and @CuseVB on Twitter.

Syracuse University Athletics

'Cuse Volleyball Announces Seven Newcomers For 2024

Players Mentioned

Pola Bujnarowska

Skylar George

Ashlee Gnau

Sydney Moore

Anastasiia Nikolnikova

Emma Ortiz

Fiona Rigby

Nikki Shimao

Piper Willinger

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