NEW YORK — Columbia volleyball head coach
Patric Santiago has announced his first class at the helm of Columbia volleyball, welcoming five new Lions to Morningside this fall as part of the Class of 2026.
Santiago's first class is a diverse one, with all five Lions coming from different states and locations, stretching from Washington to Florida. The class is also athletically diverse with two of the five incoming Lions lettering in another sport besides volleyball and all five Lions earning All-State honors at least once during their high school careers.
Eva Atkins, Opposite, Columbia College (Roosevelt, Seattle, Wash.): Atkins was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington, being named to the 2021 "30 Must-See Volleyball Players In Washington" list. She earned 2019 and 2020 first team All-Metro and 2019 honorable mention All-Washington State honors while being named the 2021 Division MVP.
A two-time team captain, Atkins recorded the most blocks in Washington state in the 3A Division during the 2019 season and she helped the team finish fourth in the state following the 2019 season. She plans on majoring in political science.
Amanda Holsen, Outside Hitter, Columbia College (Adlai E. Stevenson, Hawthorn Woods, Ill.): Won four letters in volleyball at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Holsen earned 2021 IHSA (Illinois High School Athletic Association) first team All-State honors and was named the first team AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Best and Brightest list. Following 2021 season she finished with the most kills in the state of Illinois and was named the 2021 Lake County News-Sun Player of the Year,
Holsen finished with over 1,000 kills in her career, the second-most in school history and owns the school record with 30 kills in a three-set match. A member of the National Honor Society, Holsen plans on majoring in business management.
Presley Liberty, Defensive Specialist/Libero, Columbia College (Bellevue West, Papillion, Neb.): Six-time letterwinner in both volleyball (three) and women's tennis (three) at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Nebraska, Liberty was a member of the 2020 Volleyball State Championship team, a three-time All-State honoree and a four-time Academic All-State honoree. Liberty qualified for 16U and 18U Beach National Championships and competed at the 2020 USAV Beach Nationals.
A three-time Academic All-State honoree in women's tennis, Liberty played mainly doubles in tennis and was a member of the two-time Nebraska State Women's Tennis Champions (2020-21). She plans on majoring in biology.
Ruby van der Heide, Setter, Columbia College (Northern Highlands Regional, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.): Winning four letters in volleyball at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey, van der Heide earned 2021 second team All-New Jersey State honors and was nominated for North Jersey HS Sports Awards Volleyball Player of the Year (2021). She was a two-time first team All-County and three-time first team All-League honoree, to go along with 2021 first team All-Group 3 and 2020 second team All-Group 3 honors.
Van der Heide played club for DIGS Volleyball Club and spent the summer of 2019 with the GEVA High Performance Regional Team. Van der Heide comes from a rich Columbia background, with five family members graduating from Columbia. Her aunt, Anne Armstrong-Coben '89PS is the current Senior Associate Dean of Admissions at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and her grandfather (John [Jack] Armstrong '55CC) played football for the Lions and was a coach for both Columbia football and wrestling. She plans on majoring in biology.
Juliana Williamson, Middle Blocker, Columbia College (Ransom Everglades School, Miami, Fla.): Williamson won six letters in both volleyball (three) and track & Field (three) at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Florida, earning 2020 first team All-Miami Dade County honors and being the named a 2020 Miami Herald Player of the Year nominee, the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year and the 2018 "Rookie of the Year". Williamson led the team in blocks and scoring during the 2020 season and she played her club ball for Tribe Volleyball Club helping them placed seventh at the 2020 AAU Nationals and first at the 2022 Sunshine Classic.
Williamson participated in both the high and triple jumps, winning the 2021 high jump District Championship and she qualified for the 2021 Florida Track & Field State Championships in the high jump. A member of the Spanish National Honor Society, she plans on majoring in sustainable development.
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