Niagara University, N.Y.—Niagara volleyball head coach Ren Cefra has announced five incoming student-athletes to join the program in 2023. Cefra is entering his second season at Niagara.
"We are excited to welcome the newest Purple Eagles to our volleyball program. The five incoming players are student-athletes who will add depth and athleticism to our team. Most importantly they are all people of good character who will represent Niagara University with great pride." Cefra said of the newcomers.
Taylor Jenkins | Middle Blocker | 5'11'' | Dublin, Ohio | Elite Volleyball
Jenkins joins the Purple Eagles from Dublin, OH where she played club for Elite Volleyball. She suited up for Dublin Scioto High School and played three seasons of varsity volleyball while also competing in track & field. On the court, she was an Ohio Capital Conference honorable mention in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, she was named to the AVCA Phenom All-American Watch List. In 2023, she closed out her high school career by being named an All-Occ Special Mention. As a junior she helped lead her high school team to a district championship.
"Taylor is a versatile player who can play both middle and right-side. She is quick and agile and will help us in both positions" Cefra said.
Paisley Ka'ahanui | Setter | 5'7'' | Honolulu, Hawaii | Ka Ulukoa
Ka'ahanui comes to Monteagle Ridge from Honolulu where she played club for Ka Ulukoa and high school for the Punahou School. She also played basketball in high school. She played two seasons of varsity volleyball and was named an Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Second Team honoree. She also competed in the 2022 Global Challenge in Croatia and placed second. She joins her sister in the MAAC as her sister Chloe plays for Quinnipiac. The two matchup for the first time on Sept. 16 at Quinnipiac.
"Paisley is the first player from my home state of Hawai'i. She is going to bring a high volleyball IQ and will give us depth in the setter and defensive specialist positions."
Victoria Latino | Outside Hitter | 6'0'' | Mine Hill, New Jersey | Xtreme Volleyball
Latino hails from Mine Hill, N.J. where she played four seasons of varsity volleyball for Roxbury high school. In her sophomore season she was named to the NJAC American All-Conference Second Team while leading the team in kills. As a junior she helped lead her team to a Morris County Championship while also winning a sectional championship. Following her junior year, she was named First Team NJAC American All-Conference and was NJ.com Third Team All-State. She was also selected for the USA Volleyball GEVA High-Performance Youth Team. She closed out her high school career as a member of the NJAC American All-Conference Second Team. She was also named #7 in NJ State Power ranking and the Star-Ledger Players. She was also selected to the USA Volleyball GEVA High-Performance Junior Team.
"Victoria gives us size and heat on the outside but can also play on the right side as well."
Payton Lee | Right Side | 6'4'' | New Baltimore, Michigan |Legacy Volleyball Club
Lee joins the Purple Eagles following a successful high school career at Anchor Bay high school and club career at Legacy Volleyball Club. Along with playing volleyball she also played basketball and softball. During her time on the volleyball court she set a school record for blocks in a season with 109. During her time in high school at Anchor Bay High School she received multiple state and local honors in both basketball and volleyball. She hails from Legacy Volleyball Club which is the same former club of current Purple Eagle Laryssa Imbuzeiro.
"Payton will give us size and offense on the right-side. Played for Legacy Volleyball Club in Michigan which produces great players. She is also very energetic and has a personality to match."
Janiah Robinson | Middle Blocker | 5'10'' | Syracuse, New York | Volley FX
Robinson comes to Niagara following a high school career at Westhill high school. While playing two seasons of varsity volleyball she also played basketball. In her senior season she helped lead her team to a sectional championship and a regional championship. She notched 133 kills and 571 points as she was named All-CNY in volleyball and All-NYS in volleyball. She also earned All-CNY honors in basketball. While playing for Volley FX she helped lead the team to multiple championships in both 2022 and 2023.
"Janiah is an athletic middle blocker who is still very raw, but she will be exciting to watch. She is quick off the ground and her energy is infectious."
The Purple Eagles return 11 student-athletes from last season which includes Lexi Bapst, Casey Brown, and Cassie Seminoff as seniors. Kinga Wronska returns for her sophomore season after being named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team last season. Laryssa Imbuzeiro enters her junior season after leading the Purple Eagles in points and blocks. Niagara returns three of its top five leaders in sets played last season in Imburzeiro, Wronksa, and Bella Peroni.
Niagara opens its season on Aug. 26 by playing Loyola (MD) and Delaware before closing out the opening weekend against Robert Morris.
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