FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball and head coach Jane Sargent have announced the addition of nine new Lions who will join the program this fall.

The recruiting class features six freshmen and three transfers and includes outside hitter Taylor Damme, setter Brelee Mauldin, outside hitter Lyric Steward, defensive specialist Calista Miller, setter Scarlette Young, right-side hitter Morgan Creer, defensive specialist Brooke Rifkin, defensive specialist Summer Meyer and middle blocker Jacia Hayes.

"I'm really excited about this 2024 recruiting class," Sargent said. "Not only are we bringing in great athletes with really good technical skills, but just amazing humans that will enrich our team, the UAFS campus, and the community of Fort Smith. This is going to be an exciting year for us as we enter our MIAA era. We look forward to all the challenges ahead as we face new opponents, start some new rivalries, and embark on epic adventures together."

Taylor Damme

A 2024 graduate of Perry-Lecompton High School in Perry, Kansas, Damme finished her high school career with 1,257 kills, 850 digs and 479 total blocks. She was a four-time All-Conference and All-Area honoree as well as a two-time All-State team member. Damme also competed in basketball, softball and track & field, earning three top-five finishes at the state meet in the javelin and two regional championships.

Brelee Mauldin

A setter from Gunter High School in Gunter, Texas, Mauldin tallied over 1,500 career assists and was named to the 2023 All-State Tournament team. Additionally, Mauldin was a 2024 Texas Girls Coaches Association Legacy All-Star and a three-time TGCA All-State honoree.

Lyric Steward

Steward joins UAFS as a 2024 graduate from Birdville High School in North Richland Hills, Texas. She recorded 1,120 kills, 87 aces, 497 digs and 292 blocks. Steward was a four-time letterwinner, earning All-District Offensive and Utility Player of the Year honors as well as a three-time All-District honoree. She was also a four-time Academic All-District honoree.

Calista Miller

Miller is a 2024 graduate from Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Texas, earning first team All-District honors as a senior, a year in which she broke the school single season digs record with 568. She was a team captain and four-time Academic All-District honoree.

Scarlette Young

A 2024 graduate of Sachse High School in Sachse, Texas, Young recorded 2,580 career assists and was twice named the Setter of the Year. Additionally, Young racked up 284 kills, 160 aces, 590 digs and 98 blocks in her career.

Morgan Creer

A 2024 graduate of Hooks High School in Hooks, Texas, Creer finished her career with over 1,000 kills while also competing in basketball.

Brooke Rifkin

Rifkin played her first collegiate season at NCAA I Kent State, appearing in 75 sets over 24 matches, tallying 127 digs and 44 assists. A native of Dallas, Texas, Rifkin was the 2021 District 7-6A Defensive Player of the Year, a first team All-District honoree in 2022 and the 2022 All-City Libero of the Year. Rifkin was a member of the Dean's List at Kent State and a three-time Academic All-District honoree at Richardson High School.

Summer Meyer

Meyer was a three-time All-Conference selection, two-time All-District honoree and two-time Defensive Player of the Year at St. Pius X High School before playing two seasons at Mineral Area College. In two seasons at MAC, Meyer recorded 938 digs and 89 aces while earning All-Region honors and helping lead the team to the NJCAA Division I tournament last season. She posted 25 matches of double digit digs and six matches with more than 20 a season ago.

Jacia Hayes

Hayes is a transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College, playing two seasons for the Rangers. Hayes led the Rangers with 367 kills on a .296 attack percentage last season and was second on the team with 83 blocks. She had 16 matches of 10 or more kills. As a freshman in 2022, Hayes hit .303 with 166 kills and a team-high 81 blocks.