NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Coming off its most successful season in the Big Ten since joining the league in 2014, the Rutgers volleyball team has announced its newest Scarlet Knights set to join the program beginning in the fall of 2021.

Second-year head coach Caitlin Schweihofer's second recruiting class features six incoming Scarlet Knights, including three transfers and three freshmen. The newcomers will join 10 returning letterwinners competing in the nation's number one volleyball conference.

"As we look to build upon our success of this past spring season, I am beyond excited to welcome our new Scarlet Knights to the Rutgers Volleyball family," said Schweihofer. "Each of these amazing women brings a unique story and background, that will add to our team diversity and culture from around the world. Last season we competed with a rather small roster, therefore our newcomers will help us round out depth in most positions and create a more competitive practice environment."
 

MEET THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

SAMANTHA GRAVER - OUTSIDE HITTER - 5-10 - ALLENTOWN, PA./PARKLAND/LA SALLE



AT LA SALLE:  Earned 2019 First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors leading the team in kills (402) and points (439) while second in digs (406) as a junior … Fourth player in La Salle history to break the 400-kill mark in a season … Only player to collected a triple-double in the conference in 2019 with 14 kills, career-high 28 digs and 10 assists against Fordham (11/3/19) … Ranked third in conference kills and fourth in points … Totaled 18 double-doubles and 23 contests in double-digits … Career-high 22 kills against Liberty in the first round of the NIVC Tournament (12/7/19) … Led the team and second in the Atlantic 10 with 37 aces as a sophomore in 2018 … Second on the Explorers in digs (306) and digs per set (2.86) … Recorded five double-doubles … Logged career-high six aces at St. Louis (11/11/18) …  As a freshman in 2017, was a two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week … Fourth in the league with 3.22 kills per set … Second on the squad in digs (257) and digs per set (2.99) and ranked third in kills (277) and aces (28) … Led the Atlantic 10 with 0.33 aces per set … Collected 12 double-doubles her first collegiate season … Five-time member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll … Dean's list member …

HIGH SCHOOL: 2016-17 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year … LeighValleyLive.com Player of the Year … Led Parkland High School to two stat and three district titles … Totaled 617 kills, 243 digs, 38 blocks and 27 aces as a senior in 2016 … First Team All-EPC Skyline … Most Valuable Player in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference … District 11 MVP … Played club with East Coast Power Volleyball …

PERSONAL: Daughter of Robert and Kimberly … Has one brother, Kyle, and one sister, Savannah … Plans to major in school counseling.

GRAVER ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because I knew the master's degree I want to pursue and I was intrigued by the counseling program Rutgers offered. In addition to the academics at Rutgers, I was interested in being a part of the volleyball program. My former coach from La Salle has taken over the program and she knows how to grow and develop a program. I have a passion for taking part in that growth process as well. I take pride in the underdog mentality and the process and hard work a program requires to achieve such growth. Rutgers seemed like a perfect fit for what I wanted in my next steps in life." ALISSA KINKELA – OUTSIDE HITTER – 6-4 – WHEELERS HILL, AUSTRALIA/SACRED HEART GIRLS' COLLEGE


  
PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Won seven consecutive Australian Volleyball League Championships … Member of the U23 and U17 Australian Women's Volleyball Teams … Helped the Melbourne Vipers win gold in the Australian Volleyball League in 2020 … Awarded 2019 MVP at U23 Asian Championship … Named 2019 Rising Star Award honoree for Victorian Volleyball League … Earned 2019 League Most Improved Player with University Blues in the Australian Volleyball League … MVP of the U17 Australian Women's Volleyball Team in 2018  … Captured gold in 2018 and 2017 with University Blues in Australian Volleyball League … Vice Captain of the U16 School Sports Victorian State Team earning All-Australian Team honor …  Took home gold in 2017 in the Women's Premier Division at Victorian State League … Two-time MVP of the Secondary Catholic Sports Association Volley Tournament … 2015 Best First Year Player Award and 2016 Most Improved player with Monash University Volleyball Club …

PERSONAL: Daughter of Dean and Helen … Has one brother, Daniel, and one sister, Liana ... Major is undecided.

KINKELA ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because of the academically strong nature the school retains, as well as presenting me with amazing opportunities. Additionally, with Rutgers being in the Big Ten, it creates a competitive and intense atmosphere which will be absolutely amazing to play in." CARA NEWELL – LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST – 5-10 – CARY, N.C./CARDINAL GIBBONS



PRIOR TO RUTGERS: 2020 Under Armour All-American Watch List … Four-time NC4A Cap 7 Conference Champion … 2019 NC 4A State Quarterfinalist … 2019 Cap 7 All-Conference Team … 2019 Cardinal Gibbons Defensive Player of the Year … Two-time NC 4A State Semifinalist in 2017 and 2018 …  Played club for Triangle Volleyball … 2020 PrepVolleyball Defensive Dandies Honorable Mention … 2015 USAV GJNC National Runner-Up … Member of the AVCA Phenom List … Member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Kent and Lynn … Has one brother, Ryan … Major is undecided.

NEWELL ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because of the high academics and competitive volleyball. I'll be receiving a great education all while playing in the top conference in the country."
 

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JADEN RICE – OUTSIDE HITTER/RIGHT SIDE - 6-0 – NORTHVILLE, MICH./NORTHVILLE



PRIOR TO RUTGERS: AAU Junior National Volleyball Champion … 2020 NIT 17U Open Champion … Two-time KLAA All-Conference … Two-time MHSAA All-Region … Hit .316 with 377 kills, 116 aces and 45 blocks as a senior … 2018 MHSAA Final Four State Championship … 2018 All-Star Team … 2018 4Frenzy Spotlight: Fall Fan Choice Awards - Favorite Blocker … Played for Legacy Volleyball Club … KLAA Scholar Athlete … Northville High School Academic Award winner …

PERSONAL: Daughter of Michael and Debby … Has one brother, Mason, and one sister, Taryn … Plans to major in exercise science.

RICE ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers for their well-known academics. I know that Rutgers University has amazing programs for many different areas of study. I also chose Rutgers because of its location. I love how it has an urban feel in some areas, whereas nature-based in others. Additionally, I love how close the campus is to New York City, a huge place full of possibilities to explore. Lastly, I chose Rutgers because of their high level of volleyball; I could see myself grow and improve here. I also overall made a great connection with the coaching staff and agreed with their visions for a successful program."
 


PRIOR TO RUTGERS: Spent two seasons at Virginia Tech … Played in 11 matches with the Hokies … 2017 Courier News New Jersey Player of the Year at Ridge High School … 2017 Star Ledger First Team All-State … Led team to the 2017 state championship with a 26-0 record … Captured 1,143 career digs becoming the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000 career dig mark … Finished career with 123 assists and 107 aces … Two-time Star Ledger First Team Group 4 … Two-time NJ Skyland First-Team All-Conference … Played club volleyball for Atlantic Valley and Central Jersey … President of the National Honor Society and student council vice president …

PERSONAL: Daughter of Tony and Juanita … Has one brother, Jonathan, who played baseball at Villanova, and one sister, Kelsey, who played volleyball for Wesleyan ... Plans to major in marketing.

TAM ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because it offers me the opportunity to come home, pursue my academic goals and compete in the best volleyball conference in the country. The coaching staff and team are completely invested in the future of this program and I'm ready to get to work."
 

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AT KANSAS STATE: Member of the Wildcats for four seasons … Led team with 109 blocks and 1.04 blocks per set as a redshirt sophomore in 2019 … First Wildcat to record over 100 block assists since 2014 … Fourth in the Big 12 with 1.25 blocks per set in conference matches … Registered at least five blocks in 10 matches … Career-high eight blocks at TCU (9/28/19) and Baylor (10/5/19) … Hit .224 on the season, including four contests over .400 and six times over .300 …Logged 90 kills, including a career-high eight against Ohio (9/20/19) … 2019 Academic All-Big 12 First Team … Five-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time Female Athlete of the Year at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School … Team MVP as a junior … Two-time regional high jump champion in track and field …

PERSONAL: Daughter of Wyade and Christine ... Has one sister, Brittany ... Plans to major in biology.

VERNON ON CHOOSING RUTGERS: "I chose Rutgers because I think it is a competitive environment where I can prosper. The coaching staff has already made me feel at home. As a grad transfer, Rutgers is a great place for me to further pursue my master's degree while playing volleyball at a high level. Also New Jersey is closer to my hometown in Canada."
 

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The six new Scarlet Knights will be joining a program on the rise. In head coach Caitln Schweihofer's first season "On The Banks" in the spring of 2021, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights captured numerous program firsts including their first-ever All-Big Ten honoree, first-ever home-opening Big Ten victory, first-ever Big Ten series sweep, set victories over more than one Top 10 program along with the team's first-ever wins over Indiana and Michigan State. RU established new team, season and match records for aces and reset program Big Ten game bests in kills, attempts, attack percentage and assists and individual conference superlatives in attack percentage, assists and digs.

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