Women's Volleyball . May 30, 2025

Gamecocks Finalize 2025 Squad

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 2025 Gamecocks volleyball roster is finalized, head coach Sarah Rumely Noble announced on Friday, May 30. South Carolina added six new members during the spring, four collegiate transfers and two high school prospects, to go along with six signed during the fall semester.

“I am really excited how our roster came together heading into the fall,” Noble said. “Our returners made huge strides in the gym in the short time we had together in the spring and they set the tone for our team this fall. They did a great job of creating and maintaining our culture every day. I’m excited to integrate our new players into our system and culture. They will collectively bring a great deal of athleticism, competitiveness, and desire to win.”

The newcomers join six letter winners from the 2024 roster, including starting setter Sarah Jordan (9.91 assists per set, 8^th in the SEC), SEC All-Freshman honoree Victoria Harris (4.04 digs/set, 6^th in the SEC) and senior Alayna Johnson (500 career kills).

The team’s 2025 spring signees are:

Ava Leahy

6-1 middle from Charlotte, N.C.
Spent two seasons at Appalachian State, appearing in 52 matches and 195 sets in Boone.
Named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2024.
Totaled 365 kills (1.87 k/s) with a hitting percentage of .243.
Defensively, had 150 total blocks.
Recorded double-figure kills in 11 matches as a sophomore, including a career high 22 kills against Marshall on Nov. 9, 2024.
Played for the Carolina Union Volleyball Club.
Daughter of Margaret and Brian.
Has three siblings: Grace, Will, and Violet.

“Ava is coming off of an All Conference season as a middle and we are excited she is Gamecock! She is an exceptionally hard worker with a great knack for blocking. Her ability to hit in front of the setter and behind the setter helps expand our offensive opportunities. She always finds ways to be available offensively and we look forward to seeing her block and kill a lot of balls as a Gamecock!”

Sarah Rumely-Noble

Elise Marchal

6-1 right side hitter from Kings Mill, Ohio.
Spent her freshman season with Appalachian State, earning the Sun Belt Conference’s Freshman of the Year Award and a Second-Team All-SBC spot.
Appeared in 28 matches and 112 sets, totaling 245 kills (2.19 k/s) and a hitting percentage of .254 along with 288 digs (2.57 d/s) and 75 total blocks.
Reached double-figure kills in 11 matches.
Helped the Mountaineers to their first appearance in the NIVC Tournament since 2018 and went for 11 kills, three blocks, and two aces against Northern Colorado in the first round (12/12).
Daughter of Stephanie and Phil Marchal.
Has three siblings: Mallory, PJ, and Nick.

“Elise is a winner and we are pumped she is a Gamecock! Coming off of a stellar freshman year, winning Freshman of the Year in the Sun Belt, she will make a huge impact on us. She is a complete player who can attack, block, pass and serve at a high level! She hits a heavy ball and I’m looking forward to seeing her in Garnet and Black!”

Sarah Rumely-Noble

Nia Hall

5-10 outside hitter Lorain, Ohio.
Spent two seasons at Cleveland State, playing in 58 matches for the Vikings.
Made a big jump in production as a sophomore, ranking second on the team in kills in 2024 while leading the Vikings to a Horizon League title and a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. She earned a spot on the Horizon League’s all-conference first team for her efforts.
Led the team with 10 kills in three sets against Kentucky in the first round of the 2024 tournament.
Earned a spot on the Horizon League Championship’s all-tournament team, after averaging 3.50 kills and 2.25 digs per set.
Finished her career at Cleveland State with 550 kills, 185 digs and 111 total blocks in 197 total sets played.
Daughter of Levell and Dorinda
Has one brother, Levell Hall Jr., and two sisters, Jayla and Saniyah
Majored in nursing at Cleveland State

“We are excited to add Nia to our program! She is coming in off a FIRst Team All-Conference season and her experience will have a great impact on our pin group. She is a great athlete, has a fast arm, and her best volleyball is in her future!”

Sarah Rumely-Noble

Claire Payne

6-1 middle blocker from Wakarusa, Ind.
Named an AVCA All-Region and Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association (IHSVCA) All-Region honoree for her efforts on the court during her high school career at NorthWood High School.
As a senior, she made the IHSVCA 1st team All-State and was an IHSCVA North All-Star.
Finished her high school career with 1,321 kills, 373 total blocks and a career hitting percentage of .396.
Competed for the Northern Indiana Volleyball Association (NIVA) club team, helping it to an AAU 18U Patriot Division National Championship in 2024 and a top-five finish at USA Volleyball’s 18s Junior National Championship in April 2025, earning her a spot on the all-tournament team.
Also played high school basketball and track and field for NorthWood in addition to volleyball. Payne was a member of her high school’s basketball team and led the team last season in points, rebounds, and blocks.
For her track and field team, she holds her school’s record in the high jump and was a two-time state meet qualifier for the event.
Daughter of John and Dawn
She has three siblings, two of which play collegiate volleyball and football.
Plans to major in exercise science at South Carolina

“Claire is a physical middle blocker with a fast arm and quick lateral movements. She is an elite attacker off of one foot who always finds ways to score. She is a hard worker, an all-around great athlete, and a winner. We couldn't we more thrilled that she is a Gamecock.”

Sarah Rumely-Noble

Victoria Hill

A 5-10 outside hitter from Oviedo, Fla.
Three-time Girls Private School Athlete of the Year in Florida and was a three-time Varsity Volleyball Servant Leadership Award (MPV) selection.
Played on the Trinity Preparatory School’s varsity volleyball team for five years, earning all-area honors.
At the club level, Hill was part of the Gamepoint 18 Rox club and helped the team to a 2020 AAU Nationals title and runner-up finish in 2021. She was also named an AAU All-American in 2020 and 2021.
In addition to volleyball, Hill competed on the track and field team at Trinity Prep and recorded three podium finishes at the 2024 and 2025 Florida State Track Championships. She finished first in the triple jump in 2024 and first in the long jump and high jump in 2025. In her five years as a two-sport athlete, she made the top three at states 11 times.
Victoria is the daughter of Isaac and Sarah, both ran track at Arkansas State.
She has two older siblings; her sister, Samarah, played collegiate volleyball at LSU and Rice and her brother Isaac played basketball at Cardinal Stritch University.
Hill plans on studying business at South Carolina.

“Tori is a high-flyer with a lightning fast arm and a special athlete. She is a complete volleyball player who passes at a high-level, plays great defense and has every shot in the book. Her athleticism and offensive range is going to allow her to kill a lot of balls as a Gamecock.”

Sarah Rumely-Noble

Phoebe Reyes

6-1 outside hitter from San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
Comes to South Carolina after two seasons at Barton Community College.
Helped lead Barton back to the national tournament for the 24th time in program history, capturing consecutive KJCCC titles for the first time since 1998 in compiling a 28-4 league record and a 58-10 overall mark in her two seasons.
Enjoyed a decorated career at Barton, consisting of the 2023 KJCCC/Region 6 Freshman of the Year, a two-time KJCCC/Region 6 Most Valuable Player, a 2024 All-Tournament selection at nationals, and a two-time NJCAA All-America selection.
As a sophomore in 2024, she ranked fourth in the KJCCC with 3.51 kills per set on a .271 attack percentage. The team won 33 games and finished fourth at the Division I National Tournament.
After her two seasons, she owned a career hitting percentage of .264 and recorded 700 total kills, ranking 15th on Barton’s all-time list.
In June of 2024, she was named to Dominican Republic U21 NORCECA Continental Team. She played extensively for the team, which made the semifinal round before losing to Team USA.

The group joins four incoming freshmen that signed in the November period and two mid-year transfers that trained in Columbia during the spring semester:

Lina Merz

6-2 pin hitter from Dresden, Germany.
Played at the club level for VC Olympia Dresden since 2020-21.
Helped her team win the national U20 championship and Vice-Champion at the U18 level in 2022. Her team finished third at this year’s German U20 National Championship.
Intends to major in International Business.
Daughter of Gerit and Steffen.
Has one brother, Jonas.
Her grandfather was a member of the German National Team in rowing, winning Olympic gold medals at the 1968 and 1972 games.

Sydney Davis

6-0 middle from Orlando, Fla.
Played at the club level for Gamepoint Volleyball, helping the team to a top finish of 2nd place at the 2021 AAU Nationals.
Named to the 2023 Junior Volleyball Association’s World Challenge All-Tournament Team, a 2024 Triple Crown tournament Show Stopper and 2024 USA Volleyball Nationals Supernova.
Attending Timber Creek high school in Orlando, coming off a senior season where she hit .474 with 211 kills.
Set her high school record for blocks in a season in 2021.
Florida Athletic Coaches Association 2024 all-state honoree.
Intends to major in Public Health.
Daughter of Daryl and Cathy.
Has one brother, Daryl.
Her father Daryl is in the UCF athletics hall of fame for basketball, as is her cousin Jermaine Taylor, who also played in the NBA.

Anne Bradley Bing

5-8 defensive specialist from Gastonia, N.C. Played at the club level for Stars Volleyball Club, which were two-time Mideast Qualifier champions and two-time Southern Exposure tournament champions.
Stars made the USA Volleyball National tournament four years in a row and had multiple top finishes in the gold bracket at AAU Nationals. Most recently, her Stars team finished third in their division at USA Volleyball’s 18s Junior Nationals.
Helped Gaston Day School win the North Carolina 2A state championship as a senior, the second state title of her career.
Leaves her high school as one of the most well-rounded players in its volleyball program’s history, holding school records for career digs, single-season kills and single-season assists.
A four-time all-state honoree.
Intends to major in Public Health.
Daughter of Derek and Rebekah.
Has two sisters, Sidney and Emily Charles.

Kaia Pixler

6-0 setter from Phoenix, Ariz.
Played at the club level for Arizona Storm Elite VBC, winning five USA Volleyball nationals titles in a six-year span (13s, 14s, 16s, 17s and 18s).
While leading her club team to the open division title at USA Volleyball’s 18s Junior Nationals, she also made the division’s All-Tournament team.
Was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Sunnyslope High School, finishing her career with a number of major statistical milestones, most notably going over 2,500 assists and 100 service aces.
Daughter of Chris and Michael.
Has one brother, Kal.
Her mother Chris played volleyball at Texas Tech and her father Michael played volleyball at Arizona State and Long Beach State.

Emily Beeker

6-5 middle blocker from Hendersonville, N.C.
Spent four seasons at Tennessee, playing in 47 matches.
Played in 43 sets during the 2024 campaign, totaling 60 kills with a .396 hitting percentage.
Has one season of eligibility remaining.
Daughter of Angela and Thomas Beeker.
Her brother, Ben, played basketball at Carson-Newman and her father played basketball at Mars Hill.

Laiya Ebo

6-1 pin hitter from Washington, D.C.

Played for two seasons at Butler, highlighted by a 2024 season with 154 kills over 85 sets played.
Has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Majored in political science at Butler, recently earning a place on the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-District team.
Daughter of Milford and Lois Ebo.
Has two siblings, Mark and Lauren.
Her brother Mark played football at Holy Cross from 2016-19 and her sister Lauren played college basketball at Penn State, Texas and Notre Dame between 2018 and 2023.

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