Volleyball Adds 7 For Fall 2022, including 5 Transfer

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Volleyball Adds Seven For Fall 2022

DALLAS (SMU) – On Friday, SMU volleyball head coach Sam Erger announced the addition of seven signees to the Mustang volleyball program.

The class consists of 2 incoming freshmen and 5 transfers. Setter Celia Cullen, from Michigan State, Texas A&M middle hitter London Austin-Roark, Arkansas outside hitter Natalie Perdue, Virginia defensive specialist Kristen Leland, and Arkansas State libero Tatum Ticknor. The two freshmen Casey Batenhorst (Houston Juniors) and Jentry Lamirand (Muscle VBC) hail from Seven Lakes High School and Decatur High School, respectively.

"I could not be more pleased with this first group that has bought into the vision of what SMU volleyball can be," said first-year head coach Sam Erger. "We went after high-level, proven competitors that want to do something special, and that's exactly what we got.

"We will go for it from day one," Erger said. "We have a hungry group in the gym right now who are incredible people that these seven want to join. SMU volleyball fans can look forward to watching exciting, dynamic volleyball from this gritty group.

"Most importantly, these are all high-quality individuals that will be exceptional teammates and top-tier ambassadors of both SMU and Dallas," Erger said. "I cannot wait to finally put this group together and see what they are capable of."

Celia Cullen - Setter, Michigan State
The 2021 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar appeared in all 15 matches and all 55 sets in her freshman season at Michigan State. Cullen led MSU with 7.98 assists per set, good for ninth in the Big Ten, while averaging 1.73 digs and 0.3 blocks per frame, while adding seven aces in her first collegiate season.

At the club level, Cullen Played for Jen and Ricky Cottrill at Legacy, where she helped guide the team to eight open tournament titles in 2019. Cullen was named JVA Ultra Ankle All-American and Max Preps All-American in both 2018-19, and AAU Open All-American in 2019. In 2019, AAU 18 Open National Champion in 2019 and attained the No. 1 Prep Volleyball national club team ranking. Legacy was named AAU 18 Open National Champions in 2019, and attained the No. 1 Prep Volleyball national club team ranking. In 2018, Cullen was a member of the USA Girls National Youth National Team.

In high school, Cullen was named No. 24 Senior Ace (and No. 6 among setters) as ranked by Prep Volleyball, was a second-team Under Armour All-America Selection, and Michigan Miss Volleyball finalist. Cullen earned Brighton MVP and Livingston County Player of the Year honors in all four of her high school seasons.

London Austin-Roark: Middle Blocker, Texas A&M
Senior middle blocker London Austin-Roark concluded her fourth season at Texas A&M possessing the third-highest career hitting percentage in program history (.312) since the start of the 25-point rally scoring era in 2008. Austin-Roark also holds three top-22 program performances in total blocks during a five-set match, notching a career-high nine blocks against Georgia in 2021 and 2018, and seven against Alabama in 2018. Austin-Roark owns the tenth-highest blocks-per-set career average (.77) since 2008, and the 14th-highest mark in total blocks for a single season (93).

In her final season at Texas A&M, Austin-Roark made appearances in 26 matches and started 25 at the middle blocker and right-side positions. The senior ranked second on the team in blocks (60.0) and placed fourth in points (206.0). Austin-Roark had eight kills on a match-high .438 hitting percentage against Cal Poly, while also contributing a season-high six total blocks (9/1). Austin-Roark put up a career performance against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sept. 6, finishing with career highs in hitting percentage (.667), service aces (4) and points (17.5), while adding 12 kills, three blocks and a dig. Two weeks following on Sept. 17, Austin-Roark proved an offensive force against No. 1 Texas, logging 13 kills on .455 hitting with two service aces and two blocks. The Weatherford native was part of a 2018 roster which finished the season with a 23-8 record and made a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament.

Natalie Perdue: Outside Hitter, Arkansas
A four-time academic all-district selection, Perdue was a four-year letter winner at Richardson High School, where she set the school record for total kills and digs in her time there, and currently remains the program leader in digs (1,176). Through her scholastic career, Perdue recorded 1,018 kills, 179 aces, and 125 blocks. In club play, Perdue reached nationals with the Summit Volleyball Club and earned a third-place finish in her sophomore year.

Tatum Ticknor: Libero, Arkansas State
2021 Sun Belt Conference Libero of the Year Tatum Ticknor led the conference in digs (625) and digs per set (5.48), while leading Arkansas State in digs each year she played. In her Red Wolf career, Ticknor notched two All-Conference selections, being named as an automatic first-team selection in 2021, and an All-Sun Belt second team selection as a freshman in 2017.

As a redshirt junior in the 2021 season, Ticknor played in all 18 matches at the libero spot, leading Arkansas State in digs (356) and digs per set (5.39). Tatum closed the season fifth nationally in total digs, a league-high mark, while her digs-per-set average was seventh-best in the nation, also setting a benchmark for the Sun Belt.

A Grapevine, Texas native and Colleyville-Heritage alum, Ticknor was a four-year letter winner for her alma mater. As a senior in 2016, Ticknor was named a Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches (TAVC) All-State Libero and TAVC All-Star Team selection, and was named District Defensive MVP and First-Team All-District. Ticknor was also named a Fort Worth Star Telegram and Dallas Morning News All-Area Libero in 2016, after leading the district in digs on the way to a regional quarterfinal appearance in the 5A state tournament.

Kristen Leland: Transfer DS/Libero, Virginia
In 2021, Leland led UVA in digs (273) and digs per set (3.00), while appearing in 27 matches with three starts. Leland posted a career-high 24 digs in her senior season against Clemson (Oct. 10), while recording multiple service aces in three matches on the season. In 2020, Leland led Virginia in serve receive, going 36-36 with 0 reception errors.

Leland played high school volleyball for The Episcopal School of Dallas where she was a setter. As a senior, Leland helped ESD to a 23-9 mark, averaging 8.5 assists per set. Leland was a four-year starter for the Eagles and captured numerous awards including a spot on the 2015 American Volleyball Coaches Association Phenom list. She was also named the 2014 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and later earned All-Southwest Preparatory Conference in 2016. In 2017, she was named to the AVCA Under Armour High School All-America Watch List and was ranked among the top 25 players in the recruiting class in Texas by FloVolleyball. Leland ended the year by earning a spot on Prep Volleyball's Dandelions list.

[PonyPride]

Perdue is the daughter of former SMU men's basketball forward Vernon Perdue

[Otto]

Perdue is the daughter of former SMU men's basketball forward Vernon Perdue

Does Dad have any basketball eligibility left?