Beach Volleyball Finalizes 2021 Signing Class

COLUMBIA, S.C – South Carolina beach volleyball finalized its 2021 recruiting class and will add five total newcomers to the program. Joining the team for the 2021-22 school year will be four incoming freshmen, and the fifth signee has been training with the team since the start of the spring semester as a graduate transfer from college indoor volleyball.
 
Joining the roster are…
 
Nicole Deobler | 5-11 | Granada Hills, Calif. | Granada Hills High School | Siena College Indoor
Pronounced Deb-ler

• Joined the team in time for the spring semester.
• Daughter of Dale and Soula Deobler.
• Has one older sister, Alyssa, who played volleyball at Seattle and Northern State universities.
• Earned her degree in business with a minor in psychology while at Siena. Will pursue a master’s degree in the Sport and Entertainment Management program at South Carolina.
• Played in 62 games while at Siena, totaling over 400 kills and 350 career digs.
• Co-captain of her varsity squad at Granada Hills Charter High School, recording 350 kills and leading her team to a division championship.
• Trained with the San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club. 

HEAD COACH MORITZ MORITZ
“She’s just that kid that you know you need to have in your program, regardless of anticipated starting spot or position on the team you know she’s going to come in, work her tail off and try to find her place in the team. From what she knows in her experience, whether it be growing up in California or playing indoor at Siena and really having that collegiate competitive experience, she knows she’s going to have to bring it to prove herself to herself and the rest of the group.”
 
Kristen Schenck | 5-9 | Cary, N.C. | Crossroads FLEX HS | Sinjin Beach

• Daughter of David and Wendy Schenck. Her dad swam for one season at Appalachian State University.
• Has four sisters – Victoria, Lindsay, Dare and Caroline.
• Plans to major in business at South Carolina, with the goal of running her a business that supports an athlete’s health and nutrition.
• Sits at the top of her class academically and is a member of the National Honors Society and earned AAU Academic All-America honors in 2018.
• Opted to focus on beach volleyball training for her final two years of high school, working with Sinjin Beach Volleyball Club.
• Has three tournament titles over the last five months; won an AVP America Open tournaments in July and won a second AVP Open even in October.
• Teamed up with current Gamecock Lizzie Thompson to win an AVP America Juniors tournament in Wilmington in late July 2020.

HEAD COACH MORITZ MORITZ
“She’s somebody that flew under the radar. Obviously we have great connections and great relationship with lots of student-athletes currently in our program from that area so she’s somebody that absolutely fits the same mold. She’s still developing, still finding her feet as a beach player, but you can see the rate at which she’s improving. By the time she gets here she’s going to be somebody that’s pushing us. She’s hungry to learn in a great environment, that will continue to elevate that level when she gets here.”
 
Chase Teal | 5-6 | Creedmoor, N.C. | Falls Lake Academy | Sinjin Beach

• Daughter of Jeff and Tracy Teal.
• Has one brother, Colson.
• Plans to major in nursing at South Carolina, with the career goal of being a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
• Won two state championships as a pin hitter for Falls Lake Academy’s indoor volleyball team; won MVP honors at the 2018 state tournament.
• Holds the North Carolina High School record for service aces in a single match, with 23.
• Trained with Sinjin Beach.
• Won the USAV 16u National Tournament and finished fifth at the AAU 16u Championship.
• Placed fifth at the Platform 1440 18u championship, and earned Best Defender honors.
• On the P1440 Class of 2021 Rising Stars list.

HEAD COACH MORITZ MORITZ
“Chase is definitely one of the kids that, through the recruiting process, spent a lot of time developing relationships with future teammates and current people that are in the program. She brings this element of passion to the program. She’s athletic, she’s fast, she’s a sponge and it’s exciting to bring someone like her in that can follow along from some of her predecessors that are of the same athleticism and stature and have had great success here.”
 
Kennedy Westendorff | 5-9 | Dallas, Texas | Highland Park HS | Beach 10K

• Daughter of Clarence and Mitsi Westendorff
• Her older sister, Jordan, is a senior on the TCU beach volleyball team.
• Plans to major in biological sciences at South Carolina, with a career goal of becoming a dermatologist.
• Played for her high school’s indoor team for four seasons, earning the captain’s role as a senior.
• Trained with the Beach 10K club. 
• Won the P1 Beach USAV/AVP/Rox Qualifier in the Texas Volleyball Tour Circuit in May 2019.
• Finished second in a P1440 Tournament during her club career as well. 

HEAD COACH MORITZ MORITZ
“The level that Kennedy brings in, and because of the competition that she’s grown up around, it really lends itself to what we love about having her with the program. I think that she’s unassuming but I think that’s deceptive, I think there’s a lot within the way that she competes and within her personality that you may not see right off the bat but that reveal itself. That’ll be a fun element to add to our program.”
 
Lauren Wilcock | Mendham, N.J. | West Morris Mendham HS | Sinjin Beach

• Daughter of John and Jane Wilcock.
• Has one younger sister, Sarah, who is her high school and club volleyball teammate.
• Plans to major in exercise science at South Carolina, with a goal of working as a doctor.
• All-State honoree for her high school’s indoor program, leading her team to a group championship and a spot in the finals of the New Jersey state Tournament of Champions.
• The only player from the state of New Jersey to make the AVCA All-Region team for her area, a list that only includes 14 players total from Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia.
• Enjoyed a career year on the national circuit representing her club, Sinjin Beach. Teamed up with current Gamecock Alyssa Keller and won the AVP America Junior Nationals tournament in July.
• She and Keller also won the Platform 1440 Southern Championship in June and was named the tournament’s offensive MVP award.
• Also topped the podium at the P1440 Mid-American Championship in July and earned the title of “Best Server” at the tournament.
• Recently teamed up with fellow 2021 newcomer Chase Teal to win the Myrtle Beach College Open in November.
• Boasts top-five finishes at the 16u AAU National tournament and 18u P1440 Nationals in 2019. 

HEAD COACH MORITZ MORITZ
“She’s somebody that we knew we were going to need to impact the program a couple years ago, but to see the progression and where she’s come in that time has been awesome. Collectively for this entire group, what we’ve seen is a dedication to playing with as many people in as many places as possible and really honing their skills and trying to bring their individual levels to the highest level that they could. I think Lauren embodies that by, having traveled across the country as much as she has to optimize her opportunities to train and compete.”
 
South Carolina beach volleyball currently stands at 5-3 for the season and is ranked 16^th in the country. The Gamecocks open their first home tournament since 2019 with the Carolina Challenge March 13-14 at Wheeler Beach. For more information on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on all social media platforms.