DURANT, Okla. - Southeastern head coach Nicole Solum has announced the addition of 10 new members to the Savage Storm family for the upcoming volleyball season.
A total of eight of the team’s new additions are natives of Texas, while the Storm will welcome one each from Oklahoma and California.
The class id also split between true freshmen and junior college transfers, with six making the jump straight from high school while four started their careers at the JuCo level.
Madison Martinez, Crislynn Autry, Cameryn McDonough, and Jocelyn Grewing will each be transferring in to continue their college careers.
Ruthie Forson, Mya Afflerbach, Jessie Steele, Sky Lewis, Seerdyn James, and Averi Reeves will each begin their collegiate careers as freshmen at SE.
Autry, a libero/defensive specialist from Sherman, Texas, spent her first two seasons at North Central Texas College where she helped her team to a 2019 conference championship en route to earning third team All-Academic honors with the NJCAA. She was home schooled in high school where she played for a homeschool team, helping them to NCHVC National Championships in 2015 and 2017.
“I chose to play at SE,” said Autry, “Because it was the best fit for me athletically and academically. I’m so excited to start my journey there and I feel at home with the SE volleyball family.”
Grewing, an outside hitter from Lindsay, Texas, comes to Southeastern after a stint at North Central Texas as well where she was a first team all-conference pick in both of her seasons. While at Lindsay HS she was named the District MVP and Offensive MVP and was an honor roll student.
“I’m ready to take on my new Journey,” stated Grewing, “At a school that seems like the perfect fit for me.”
Martinez, an outside hitter/right side from Santa Clarita, Calif., transitions to Southeastern after two seasons at College of the Canyons. While there she was a two-time All-WSC selection. She started her playing career at Canyon HS in Santa Clarita.
“I chose SE volleyball,” said Martinez, “Because they’re one big family who cares so much about each other on and off the court and it instantly felt like home.”
McDonough, an outside hitter/right side from Tulsa, Okla., is the third member of the North Central Texas squad to continue their playing career at SE next season. She is a Phi Theta Kappa member who played high school at Edison HS in Tulsa, Okla.
“I am excited to be a part of a team.” Said McDonough, “With a coach that has the same goals and work ethic as I do to build a winning program.”
Afflerbach, an outside hitter from Sanger, Texas, comes to Southeastern after a high school career in which she helped her team to its first regional finals appearance in more than a decade. Meanwhile, off the court she served as the President of the National Science Honors Society.
“Southeastern has that feeling of home,” said Afflerbach. “And I could actually visualize myself studying and playing here rather than the other colleges.”
Forson, a setter/right side from Denton, Texas, comes to SE after a standout career with Lake Dallas HS where she was the Texas Christian Athlete of the Year, a two-time District Setter of the Year and a first team all-area selection. She was also a four-time academic all-district honoree.
“I chose SE and SE volleyball,” said Forson, “Because it is a place where I get to study what I enjoy the most while playing the sport I love the most. Southeastern is close to home and felt like a perfect fit for me.”
James, an outside hitter/right side from Houston, Texas, who was a two-time All-District selection at Cypress Ranch HS and was also awarded the Team Player Award with her team.
“I chose SE,” said James, “Because it felt like home away from home. SE volleyball made me feel welcomed, and I was confident that I could grow at SE not only as an athlete, but as an individual as well.”
Lewis, a libero/defensive specialist from Midlothian, Texas, earned team MVP honors at Midlothian HS where she also earned recognition for her leadership, while off the court she was named an Academic All-District honoree.
Reeves, an outside hitter/defensive specialist from Bonham, Texas, was named the District Offensive MVP in addition to a set of all-district honors as well as a Newcomer of the Year award while at Bonham HS. In the classroom she was a four-time academic All-District honoree as well as earning Texas Scholars and Academic Excellence.
“I chose this,” said Reeves, “Because I believe it is going to make me feel right at home. It’s not too far from my hometown, so I believe it is a good fit. I chose SE volleyball because it is a growing program and I can’t wait to be a part of the family they have built there.”
Steele, an outside hitter/middle from Brock, Texas, was a TGCA All-State selection in 2019 at Brock HS, earning District Co-MVP and was the District Outside Hitter of the Year as a junior while also earning Parker County Outside Hitter of the Year recognition. She is also a TGCA Academic All-State and Academic All-District pick.
“I choose SE and SE volleyball,” said Steele, “Because I loved Coach Solum and the girls. I loved how easy they were to approach and talk to, and they made me feel at home as well as the campus when I went on my tour.”