Potts introduces 1st GCU recruiting class

Grand Canyon women's volleyball signed eight players this week as future Lopes who will join the 2025 team.

The group marks GCU head coach Kendra Potts' first recruiting class as the Lopes enter the postseason of her first year at the helm.

MACEY HUGHES
Opposite - San Antonio, Texas - Cornerstone Christian School

Potts: "We are so excited about Macey joining our GCU volleyball family. She comes in with a wealth of high-level experience at the club level. Her high school team was also ranked in the top five in the country. She has experience playing in big matches and making big plays when they are most needed. Macey's energy is contagious, and we are so excited to get her in our gym every day."

Accolades: Four-year varsity player, Player of the Year as a freshman, American Volleyball Coaches Association's Phenom Watchlist ( three years), ranked as No. 2 right-side hitter in Texas.

Hughes: "I chose GCU because not only is the volleyball program amazing, but I truly could see myself going to GCU as just a regular student,.The first time being on campus, it felt like home and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

ANNA RUTER
Middle blocker - Arvada, Colo. - Northeastern Junior College

Potts: "Anna is going to be a player that will make an immediate impact in the middle. She is creative offensively and finds ways to score in all situations. She is also an amazing person and a vibrant personality. No doubt, the Havocs are going to have a great time celebrating Anna."

Accolades: All-Region IX Tournament team, 139 block assists for fifth-place national team, 192 kills, Al- Region IX second team, .495 conference hitting percentage, sixth for blocks in Northeastern Junior College history.

Ruter: "I chose GCU for the excellent school and volleyball environments. The coaches are very relational and really care about their athletes. I was able to find a degree plan that will fit my academic goals and eventually lead into a professional career."

LOGAN STRONG
Libero/defensive specialist - Garden Ridge, Texas - Davenport High School

Potts: "Logan is an exciting player. Her determination to relentlessly pursue the volleyball is fun to watch. Logan's focus on training hard and growing every single day in the gym will allow her to make an immediate impact on our team."

Accolades: State champion 2023, first team all state-2023, All-state tournament team 2023, Dazzling dozen 3rd team 2023, Super elite team 2023, Defensive MVP 2023, All-area 2023, Team captain 2024, Academic all state- 2024, Academic all district 2021-2023,

Strong: "The positive, competitive environment at GCU, along with its vibrant culture, really stands out to me," Strong said. "Both the coaches and players were extremely personable and welcoming and helped me know that this is where I needed to be."

SHAY HEANEY
Outside hitter - Elkhorn, Neb. - Elkhorn North High School

Potts: "Shay comes in with deep roots in volleyball. Growing up in Nebraska and training with some of the best in the country has given Shay an extremely high volleyball IQ and the ability to contribute to many positions. She also brings a calming presence to any team she is on, playing with maturity beyond her years."

Accolades: Four-year starter, team captain for 2024 season, all-state and all-conference honorable mention for 2023 season.

Heaney: "I love the campus, and the coaches and players really made it feel like home."

ISABELLA NUNEZ
Setter - El Paso, Texas - Americas High School

Potts: "Isabella is a versatile player that can set a clean offense as well as terminate at the net. She makes the game look easy with her style of play and has an extremely high volleyball IQ. Isabella is a great teammate that is always finding ways to create scoring opportunities for her hitters. We are excited to add her versatility into the gym."

Accolades: Accumulated 951 kills and 812 assists, earned honorable mention as a freshman and was first team for the district in her junior season and the Most Valuable Player as a senior this year.

Nunez: "I chose GCU because of the environment and the people I will be surrounding myself with."

ASPYN REED
Outside hitter - Rockford, Wash. - Freeman High School

Potts: "Aspyn is an exciting player to watch. She is what you want in an outside when you need to get the ball to someone that needs to put it away. Aspyn is extremely explosive and dynamic. She will add to our offense tremendously. Her energy is infectious, and her style of play is fun to watch."

Accolades: Varsity starter for four years, league Most Valuable Player and varsity captain this year, all-league first team in 2022 and 2023, all-state first state in 2023, tallied more than 1,000 career kills.

Reed: "It felt like home. The community and support from all the people was something i wanted to be apart of."

AVALYNN ROUNDY
Middle blocker - Eugene, Ore. - Marist Catholic High School

Potts: "Avalynn brings us the size and physicality we need at the nets. As a middle, Avalynn understands the value of creating plays both by her block as well as her offense. Her ceiling of where she can go as a middle has not been touched, and we are so excited to see her development when she gets to GCU."

Accolades: - 3 year varsity starter volleyball, sophomore year second team all league, junior year second team team all-state, senior year first team all-league and all-state, junior year state champion.

Roundy: "I absolutely adore the coaches and the feel of campus. It was my dream school ever since I was little."

AUBREY BELLUS
Middle blocker - Mesa, Ariz. - Mountain View High School

Potts: "Aubrey is another versatile player that can produce in the middle and right side. She is quick laterally and very explosive off one foot. She will bring in different offensive options for us to allow more flexibility to our offense altogether. We are so excited that she gets to continue her college career right in front of her family here in Phoenix."

Accolades: Recorded 857 kills, 348 blocks and 70 aces as a four-year starter at Mountain View High School in nearby Mesa, served as team captain one year, named co-Most Valuable Player and Blocker of the Year.

Bellus: "I love the coaching staff. It is close to home because family is important to me."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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