Volleyball Inks Four on National Signing Day
11/10/2021 10:52:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH – NC State volleyball has signed four incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday as announced by head coach Luka Slabe.
Joining the Wolfpack for the 2022 season are: Ava Brizard, Lily Cropper, Courtney Bryant and Elaisa Villar.
Ava Brizard
6-1 | OH | Novi, Mich.
Brizard will make the trek from Michigan to North Carolina as an outside hitter. She will bring a decorated career to NC State as she has been named to the Class A All-Region team three times while earning Class A First Team All-State honors in 2020. The three-year varsity captain had a stellar junior season as she was named the 2020 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year while also being tabbed as the 2020 PrepDig Michigan High School Player of the Year after winning the 2020 Class A State championship.
Additionally, Brizard has made the All-Catholic High School League Team all four years and earned a spot on the All-Catholic High School League All-Academic Team her past two seasons.
Luka Slabe on Ava…
"We are fired up to welcome outside hitter Ava Brizard to our Pack volleyball program. Ava is an extremely well rounded player and will bring a scrappy and winning mentality to our culture. The 2020 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year will immediately help to elevate the level of volleyball being played in our gym. We can't wait for Ava to arrive on campus."
Lily Cropper
6-3 | MB | Lebanon, Ohio
Cropper, hailing from Lebanon, Ohio, posted a solid high school career at Lebanon High School. After earning Second Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District honors her sophomore season, she improved her game to land on the First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District her junior and senior campaigns. The middle blocker also placed her name on the AVCA All-America Watchlist in her final season in Ohio.
Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society and has earned a scholar athlete award every year in high school.
Luka Slabe on Lily…
"We are fortunate to have Lily Cropper joining our Pack volleyball Team. The middle blocker from Lebanon, Ohio, will add some size and firepower to our middle blocker position. Lily has been an excellent performer on the court and in the classroom. She will be a great addition to our team, culturally and otherwise. We look forward to welcoming Lily on campus!"
Courtney Bryant
5-11 | OH | Hardy, Va.
Bryant will move one state down coming to the Pack as she is from Hardy, Va. She began her high school career at Franklin County High School on fire as she was named the Class 6 Region A Player of the Year, earned a spot on the First Team All-Piedmont District, First Team All-Class 6 Region A and Second Team All-State Class 6 as a freshman. Her sophomore season she landed on the First Team All-Class 6 Region A, Second Team All-State Class 6 while solidifying her place on the First Team All-Blue Ridge District both her sophomore and junior seasosn.
Additionally, in her junior season the outside hitter was named the Blue Ridge District Player of the Year. Bryant also put in a lot of work in the classroom as she was listed on the Principal's List all four years while being a member of the National Honor Society.
Luka Slabe on Courtney…
"Courtney Bryant from Hardy, Va., is an excellent addition to our young outside hitter lineup. High-flying Courtney is an outstanding athlete that is exciting to watch on the volleyball court. We can't wait to have her in the gym soon and see her progress. She will have an immediate positive impact on our program."
Elaisa Villar
5-8 | L | Hialeah, Fla.
Villar comes to Raleigh, N.C. from Hialeah, Fla., where she played for Mater Academy Charter High. Villar is no stranger to big games as she was on the third-place team at the AAU National Championships twice (2017, 2019) while winning the AAU National Title in 2018. All four years she has helped her team win the district championship and in 2020 she helped the team win the High School Florida 7A State Championship.
For her stellar play in 2020, Villar was named to the Miami Dade All-County First Team. Over the past three years, she has earned a spot on the Principal's Honor Roll while being a scholar athlete and a member of the National Honor Society.
Luka Slabe on Elaisa…
"Our volleyball program is excited to welcome libero Elaisa Villar to the Pack family. A fierce competitor and great all-around volleyball player is coming to Raleigh from Hialeah, Fla. She will give us depth and great competition in the libero position and she raises our team's collective 'volleyball IQ'. Elaisa has an excellent record on and off the volleyball court. Welcome to the Pack, Elaisa!"
#GoPack | @PackVBall
Joining the Wolfpack for the 2022 season are: Ava Brizard, Lily Cropper, Courtney Bryant and Elaisa Villar.
Ava Brizard
6-1 | OH | Novi, Mich.
Brizard will make the trek from Michigan to North Carolina as an outside hitter. She will bring a decorated career to NC State as she has been named to the Class A All-Region team three times while earning Class A First Team All-State honors in 2020. The three-year varsity captain had a stellar junior season as she was named the 2020 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year while also being tabbed as the 2020 PrepDig Michigan High School Player of the Year after winning the 2020 Class A State championship.
Additionally, Brizard has made the All-Catholic High School League Team all four years and earned a spot on the All-Catholic High School League All-Academic Team her past two seasons.
Luka Slabe on Ava…
"We are fired up to welcome outside hitter Ava Brizard to our Pack volleyball program. Ava is an extremely well rounded player and will bring a scrappy and winning mentality to our culture. The 2020 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year will immediately help to elevate the level of volleyball being played in our gym. We can't wait for Ava to arrive on campus."
Lily Cropper
6-3 | MB | Lebanon, Ohio
Cropper, hailing from Lebanon, Ohio, posted a solid high school career at Lebanon High School. After earning Second Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District honors her sophomore season, she improved her game to land on the First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District her junior and senior campaigns. The middle blocker also placed her name on the AVCA All-America Watchlist in her final season in Ohio.
Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society and has earned a scholar athlete award every year in high school.
Luka Slabe on Lily…
"We are fortunate to have Lily Cropper joining our Pack volleyball Team. The middle blocker from Lebanon, Ohio, will add some size and firepower to our middle blocker position. Lily has been an excellent performer on the court and in the classroom. She will be a great addition to our team, culturally and otherwise. We look forward to welcoming Lily on campus!"
Courtney Bryant
5-11 | OH | Hardy, Va.
Bryant will move one state down coming to the Pack as she is from Hardy, Va. She began her high school career at Franklin County High School on fire as she was named the Class 6 Region A Player of the Year, earned a spot on the First Team All-Piedmont District, First Team All-Class 6 Region A and Second Team All-State Class 6 as a freshman. Her sophomore season she landed on the First Team All-Class 6 Region A, Second Team All-State Class 6 while solidifying her place on the First Team All-Blue Ridge District both her sophomore and junior seasosn.
Additionally, in her junior season the outside hitter was named the Blue Ridge District Player of the Year. Bryant also put in a lot of work in the classroom as she was listed on the Principal's List all four years while being a member of the National Honor Society.
Luka Slabe on Courtney…
"Courtney Bryant from Hardy, Va., is an excellent addition to our young outside hitter lineup. High-flying Courtney is an outstanding athlete that is exciting to watch on the volleyball court. We can't wait to have her in the gym soon and see her progress. She will have an immediate positive impact on our program."
Elaisa Villar
5-8 | L | Hialeah, Fla.
Villar comes to Raleigh, N.C. from Hialeah, Fla., where she played for Mater Academy Charter High. Villar is no stranger to big games as she was on the third-place team at the AAU National Championships twice (2017, 2019) while winning the AAU National Title in 2018. All four years she has helped her team win the district championship and in 2020 she helped the team win the High School Florida 7A State Championship.
For her stellar play in 2020, Villar was named to the Miami Dade All-County First Team. Over the past three years, she has earned a spot on the Principal's Honor Roll while being a scholar athlete and a member of the National Honor Society.
Luka Slabe on Elaisa…
"Our volleyball program is excited to welcome libero Elaisa Villar to the Pack family. A fierce competitor and great all-around volleyball player is coming to Raleigh from Hialeah, Fla. She will give us depth and great competition in the libero position and she raises our team's collective 'volleyball IQ'. Elaisa has an excellent record on and off the volleyball court. Welcome to the Pack, Elaisa!"
#GoPack | @PackVBall
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