LOGAN, Utah – Head coach Rob Neilson has announced his first signing class at the helm of the Utah State volleyball program, as the team added seven players on National Signing Day. 

The 2021 signing class includes Katie Langford, Haley McUne, Adna Mehmedovic, Kaylie Ray, Beatriz Rodrigues, Kalia Thunstrom and Bella Wooden. The class features two players from Utah, two from Arizona and one each from California, North Carolina and Portugal. 

"The focus in this recruiting class is to add depth, talent, competitive drive and positional flexibility," Neilson said. "Our coaches have done amazing work to find players from all over the country and world that will move our program towards the vision we have for our future. These recruits are confident, capable, amazing women that will push our culture and training environment to the next level. Aggies are on the rise."

An international setter, Rodrigues comes to Logan from Lisbon, Portugal. She is set to graduate from Escola Secundária de Miraflores this spring. Rodrigues has spent the last three years playing volleyball with the Sporting Club of Portugal. 

"We are excited to add international flare to this class. Bia is an outstanding setter and athlete and has excelled at the highest level in Portugal. She knows the game and she knows how to run an offense," Neilson said. "As we continue to expand what we do offensively, Bia's skill set fits perfectly with the type of ball we want to play. She is ready to come to the USA to play great volleyball and get a valuable degree, and has big ambition in the game for her future."

Langford is a middle blocker out of Snow Canyon High School in Santa Clara, Utah. She finished her senior year by leading the Warriors to a runner-up finish at the Utah 4A state championships, hitting .267 and logging 511 kills on the season. Langford earned all-region and all-state honors her sophomore and junior years. She played five seasons of club volleyball with 435 Elite. Katie graduated early and will join the team January 2021.

"Katie is long and athletic and is just scratching the surface of her volleyball potential. She has lofty goals for what she wants to accomplish in the game and she combines the talent and work ethic to make it a reality," Neilson said. "We recruited her as a middle, but I won't be surprised if she ends up having an outstanding career at the pin. We can't wait for her to join us in January to start training."

An outside hitter, Ray joins the Aggies from Chandler, Ariz,. and Chandler High School. Thus far in her senior season, she has recorded 215 kills, hitting .255, in addition to 110 digs. Ray earned Under Armour All-American honorable mention accolades this year and was named the Offensive Player of the Year at Chandler HS in 2018. She has spent the last two club seasons playing for AZ Storm Elite. Being a USU student-athlete runs in Ray's family, as her father, Brennan Ray, played basketball for the Aggies from 2000-02.

"Kaylie is a powerful athlete, and her game has gone to another level this past season as she has worked diligently in the weight room. We recruited her as an opposite, but she has also shown great potential on the left side," Neilson said. "She has a fun-loving, competitive personality that will bring joy and fire to the gym. Kaylie comes from a family with deep Aggie roots, we are thrilled to have her represent our program."

A local player, McUne comes to USU from Amalga, Utah, and Sky View High School. She will play a libero role for the Aggies, but also has experience as an outside hitter and setter. McUne helped the Bobcats to the 4A Utah state title this season, hitting .228 on the year with 383 kills. She also added 425 digs while serving up 87 aces. McUne was a two-time first-time all-region honoree and the Sky View HS MVP twice. She also earned first-team all-state honors in 2019 and was the Herald Journal Player of the Year. She has spent the last 10 seasons playing with the Cache Valley Volleyball Club. McUne also ran track at Sky View HS. Her older sister, Ashlee, is a sophomore on the USU volleyball team.

"Haley brings a championship mentality to the Aggie gym. A two-time Utah State Champion playing as an outside hitter here in Cache Valley, Haley knows how to make plays in big moments," Neilson said. "She can read the game, she's an incredible athlete and she comes from a family that eats, sleeps and breathes volleyball. We can't wait to see what her career holds playing as a libero and defensive specialist for the Aggies."

Mehmedovic is an outside hitter out of Sunrise Mountain High School and Peoria, Ariz. Partway through her senior year, Mehmedovic has tallied 205 kills and is hitting .293. The Arizona state tournament will begin this weekend. She earned all-conference and all-region honors as a junior. Mehmedovic has spent the last six seasons playing club volleyball with AZ Sky.

"Adna is a talented outside hitter and is a fiery competitor. As the daughter of a coach, she understands what it takes to excel in the game," Neilson said. "She has led her team in big moments both in club and in high school and we can't wait to get her in the gym and weight room to start training with the Aggies."

Thunstrom is a setter out of Murrieta, Calif., where she plays at Murrieta Mesa High School. With her senior year canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she finished her high school career with 925 assists and 288 digs. She also added 33 kills and 72 service aces. Thunstrom holds the career, single-season and single-match aces records, as well as the single-season assists record at Murrieta Mesa HS. At the club level, she played the last five seasons with Forza 1.

"Kalia's continued improvement during the time we've recruited her has been dramatic. It's a testament to her competitive drive and her willingness to get to work," Neilson said. "This spring and summer, she will run the offense for one of the top club teams in the country. She is a wonderful teammate and leader, and we are thrilled with what she will contribute to our program."

Rounding out the signing class, Wooden is a middle blocker from Summerfield, N.C., and Northern Guilford High School. In her two seasons with the Nighthawks, Wooden has tallied 167 kills, 61 blocks and 74 aces. Wooden will begin her condensed senior season next week. She has played the last three club seasons with Piedmont.

"Bella is relatively new to the game, but like we look for in all our middle blockers, she can play big at the net both offensively and defensively," Neilson said. "Coming from family farm life in North Carolina, she knows how to work and she understands an Aggie mentality. She is an outstanding student and is dedicated to the process of being excellent in each area of her life."

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