Volleyball Adds Five In Class of 2025

NEW YORK — Following time spent on the recruiting trail, Columbia Volleyball head coach Allison Keeley has announced the Class of 2025, as a collection of five new Lions, coming from not only across the country but from across the Atlantic Ocean as well, will be joining the squad as the Lions begin to focus on the upcoming 2021 season.

Four of the five Lions plan on enrolling in Columbia College, with one of the incoming Lions having plans to enroll in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Geographically, the class is chalk full of a diverse group of Lions with three coming from the West Coast (two from California and one from Oregon), another hailing from right up the road in the Bronx, New York and the class is completed with another European addition to the squad, this time coming from Greece.

Positionally, the Lions will be adding a pair of middle blockers and outside hitters and one additional setter.

"In our recruiting process, we look for student-athletes who model our values of love and excellence," said Keeley. "And we hit a home run with this class. They truly love the game, love to compete, are willing to put in the work and are fun to have around.

"Athletically, this class adds new dimensions to move our program forward. Outside hitters, Anna Gioranidi and Hailee Watts will bring firepower and a well-round passing game. Middle blockers, Harper Justema and Kylie Berg run strong behind the setter and they both possess the versatility to play the right side. As for our incoming setter, Ayana Santos, she adds a lefty attack and a strong block.

"We are excited to get this class in the gym with the rest of the team and see what they can do over the next four years."

Kylie Berg, 6'1", MB, Columbia College (Temecula Valley, Temecula, California): Played four years of volleyball at Temecula Valley High School in Temecula, California and was a member of a pair of League Championships. She was named to the All-League Academic team following her junior season and the GJNC National Division All-Tournament Team after her sophomore season. During club play she spent time with the Forza1 Club and was a key member of the 2019 Forza1 15UA second place finish in the National Division.

Berg's father, Robin Berg, won a silver medal at the World Championships in freestyle skydiving and was a stuntman for Vin Diesel on the 2002 film "XXX", while her Great grandfather flew in World War II and was a part of the "Berlin Airlift" campaign. She received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs, Dartmouth, Princeton and Yale, along with WashU St. Louis, UC Davis, MIT and John Hopkins, but went with Columbia because "I fell in love with the campus, New York City and the program."

Anna Gioranidi, 5'11", OH, Columbia College (Hellenic College of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece): Spent time playing club volleyball for the Votsis Volleyball Club and played a key part in the U21 fourth place finishing side at the 2017-18 National Championships. She was twice a member of the U16 2016-18 Thessaloniki Championship teams and in beach volleyball, Gioranidi was a member of the 2020 U19 National Championship winning team and the 2018 U17 Thessaloniki Championship winning side.

Gioranidi's mother, Magda Awad, was the 1982-83 Eastern Mediterranean Athletic Conference MVP in volleyball and basketball for Pinewood American International School, and her father, Anastasios Gioranidis, served as a basketball referee in the Second Division Championship. She received recruiting attention from Virginia Tech, the College of William & Marry and New Hampshire, but went with Columbia "because the academic and athletic programs are competitive, and the education Columbia provides will be an incredible benefit."

Harper Justema, 6'2", MB, Columbia College (Summit, Bend, Oregon): Earned three letters in volleyball and two letters in track at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, while being named First Team All-Conference in 2018 and 2019. Justema was apart of the back-to-back 6A Conference Championship (2018, 2019) teams and played a key part of helping those 2018 and 2019 squads finish fifth in the state. She spent four seasons of club action with the NPJ Club.

Justema was a part of the 2018 Oregon State Championship track squad and she finished first (2018) in the district in the high jump. Along with her family, she has traveled to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rice, Croatia, Peru and Thailand to take part in community service outreach. Justema received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs, Brown and Dartmouth, along with Northeastern, Oregon State and Seattle, but went with Columbia "To gain valuable life experience from living in New York City and because Columbia provides the best opportunity to grow."

Ayana Santos, 5'11", S, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Bronx, New York): Played four seasons of volleyball at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx, New York, being named to the 2017 First Team All-Ivy (The Ivy Preparatory School League) and earning 2018 Second Team All-Ivy honors. She was named team captain for her junior and senior seasons and was a key member of the squad that finished third at the 2016 NYSAIS State Championships and second at the 2017 NYSAIS State Championships. Santos spent six seasons of club action playing for the All-Star Empire Volleyball Club (2014-20).

Santos' sister, Tabia Santos, graduated from Barnard College, Class of 2013 and her brother, Ajani Santos, played basketball at Hamilton College. She has a career goal of becoming a veterinarian and has a deep care for animals. Santos received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Dartmouth, along with UMBC, Georgetown, Hamilton College, Temple, Trinity, Tufts, Syracuse and Wesleyan, but went with Columbia "because the program at Columbia is full of a group of hard-working, high-performing and diverse collection of students thriving together."

Hailee Watts, 5'11", OH, Columbia College (Paraclete, Littlerock, California): Watts earned three letters in volleyball while at Paraclete High School in Lancaster, California and was named to the Gold Coast League All-League teams in 2018 and 2019. She earned the 2019 Eastside High Tournament MVP and was named to the 2018 Poly Invitational Girls Volleyball All-Tournament team.

Watts comes from an athletic background, with her mother, Teri Watts, having played volleyball at the College of the Canyons (1999-2001) and her father, Robert Watts, having played football at Utah State (2000-05). In her free time Watts raises chickens and is currently learning how to train horses. She received recruiting attention from East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Nevada, Notre Dame and San Jose State, but went with Columbia "because of the goal to pursue a desired level of excellence in both academics and athletics, while being surrounded by the New York City atmosphere"

FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Volleyball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsVB), Instagram (@culionsvb) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Kylie Berg

Anna Gioranidi

Harper Justema

Ayana Santos

Hailee Watts

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