Temple University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Three on 2023 Signing Day
11.9.22 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA – On Wednesday, head volleyball coach Linda Hampton-Keith announced the signing of Lexi Yoza, Ava Blascziek, and Brooklyn Stearns to the class of 2023, her first with the Owls program.
"Our coaching staff is eager to introduce our first freshman signing class since arriving on North Broad. Since our arrival in January, we have been fortunate to address our immediate needs through the transfer portal, but this group of freshman reflects our patience and determination to find the right athletes to continue our growth and forward momentum as a program." said Hampton-Keith.
She went on to comment, "We are enhancing our roster by bringing in two setters in Lexi and Ava, both who are technically and tactically stellar in their abilities. Brooklyn will add depth and height at the right side hitter position where we will be losing Peyton Boyd to graduation. Brooklyn is also a 6'3" lefty and will give us the unique ability to continue having a strong offensive option on the right side of the court."
Lexi Yoza is a 5'7" setter from Scottsdale, Ariz. and just this past season was named the 2022 Region Offensive Player of the Year, All-Region First Team, 2022 Nike Southwest Tournament of Champions Honorable Mention, and 2022 AVCA All-America Watchlist. In her three seasons at Notre Dame Prep, Yoza has racked up 1282 assists and 269 digs. Between her junior and sophomore seasons, Yoza was a 2022 Red Rock Rave and Salt Lake City Showdown All-Conference member, a 2021 Division 4A State Champion, Sports 360 AZ All-Academic Volleyball Honorable Mention, 2021 Regional Honorable mention, and on the 2020 and 2021 AVCA Phenom Watchlist.
Hampton-Keith on Yoza
"Lexi was one of the first athletes we identified and pursued as a setter we wanted to bring into the program. Her quickness, athleticism and precision in this position was exactly what we were looking for. She has the unique quality of making those around her better while also running the offense confidently yet humbly. Her decision making, leadership style and setting skills will add immediate value to our team. It is rare that a setter gets recognized as their Region's Offensive Player of the Year... but Lexi is a rare kind of athlete, and we are thrilled she is an Owl."
Ava Blascziek is a 5'10" setter from Lakeville, Minn. As a senior at Lakeville North High School,
Blacziek was named to the 2022 Minnesota All-State team, Pioneer Press Player of the Year, Mrs. Baden Finalist, a SEC section champion, All-Suburban conference, and conference champion. In her career, Ava played in 73 matches with 1,262 assists, 112 kills, 352 digs, and 25 blocks. In her senior season, her Lakeview squad went 27-4 and between her freshman and junior seasons, she guided her team to 54 wins, a Southern Suburban Conference Championship, a sectional championship and was named to the All-South Suburban Conference team.
Hampton-Keith on Blascziek
"We are ecstatic Ava decided to be an Owl. It can be unusual to bring in 2 setters in the same class, but we struck gold in this position twice with Ava and Lexi. Ava brings in so much high-level experience along with a drive to be better and better each day. Her ability to run an offense that maximizes her teams' success is the reason she is recognized as one of the top volleyball players in Minnesota. I have watched her time and time again find ways to compel her team to win and the fight she plays with embodies our Temple Tuff motto. She is a fiery competitor who will impact us on and off the court. "
Brooklyn Stearns is a 6'3" right-side hitter from Westlake Village, Calif.,and has numerous accolades under her belt. Her club team, Lava West finished in third place in the 17 USA at the Red Rock Rave National Qualifier, third place in the 16 USA Spokane National Qualifier, earned second place in the PVL Championship in 2021, and individually she was ranked as a top five blocker in Southern California in 2021-22. This past high school season, Stearns was named to the 2022 All-Region team that includes Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona., a 2022 High School All-American, and was second on the team with blocks and third for kills per set. She led Oaks Christian High School to a 28-5 season mark and the 2022 Marmonte League Championship. Oaks Christian was also 2022 CIF Division 3 Runner-up, ranked No. 21 overall in California, ranked 11 in the SoCal Southern Section, and was ranked No. 2 in the Division 3 Southern Section.
Hampton-Keith on Stearns
Brooklyn and Temple Volleyball are just a great match together. Brooklyn will be a powerful and unique addition to our team, bringing much needed height and depth at our pin hitting positions. She is a talented lefty that will provide us with continued offensive options at a time where we will lose an experienced lefty to graduation. Brooklyn works hard and hits harder. She will expand our offensive options and will help us continue to move this program forward.
Hampton-Keith summarized, "All three of these future Owls are leading their high school programs deep into their respective State Championship Tournaments and are being recognized for their success on the court. Their collective championship experience and mindset will impact our program immediately and we cannot wait for this stellar class to join us on this journey."
For complete coverage of Temple volleyball, follow the Owls on social media @Temple_VB (Twitter), facebook.com/TempleOwls (Facebook), @temple.vb (Instagram), or visit the official home of Temple University Athletics at owlsports.com.
"Our coaching staff is eager to introduce our first freshman signing class since arriving on North Broad. Since our arrival in January, we have been fortunate to address our immediate needs through the transfer portal, but this group of freshman reflects our patience and determination to find the right athletes to continue our growth and forward momentum as a program." said Hampton-Keith.
She went on to comment, "We are enhancing our roster by bringing in two setters in Lexi and Ava, both who are technically and tactically stellar in their abilities. Brooklyn will add depth and height at the right side hitter position where we will be losing Peyton Boyd to graduation. Brooklyn is also a 6'3" lefty and will give us the unique ability to continue having a strong offensive option on the right side of the court."
Lexi Yoza is a 5'7" setter from Scottsdale, Ariz. and just this past season was named the 2022 Region Offensive Player of the Year, All-Region First Team, 2022 Nike Southwest Tournament of Champions Honorable Mention, and 2022 AVCA All-America Watchlist. In her three seasons at Notre Dame Prep, Yoza has racked up 1282 assists and 269 digs. Between her junior and sophomore seasons, Yoza was a 2022 Red Rock Rave and Salt Lake City Showdown All-Conference member, a 2021 Division 4A State Champion, Sports 360 AZ All-Academic Volleyball Honorable Mention, 2021 Regional Honorable mention, and on the 2020 and 2021 AVCA Phenom Watchlist.Hampton-Keith on Yoza
"Lexi was one of the first athletes we identified and pursued as a setter we wanted to bring into the program. Her quickness, athleticism and precision in this position was exactly what we were looking for. She has the unique quality of making those around her better while also running the offense confidently yet humbly. Her decision making, leadership style and setting skills will add immediate value to our team. It is rare that a setter gets recognized as their Region's Offensive Player of the Year... but Lexi is a rare kind of athlete, and we are thrilled she is an Owl."
Ava Blascziek is a 5'10" setter from Lakeville, Minn. As a senior at Lakeville North High School,
Blacziek was named to the 2022 Minnesota All-State team, Pioneer Press Player of the Year, Mrs. Baden Finalist, a SEC section champion, All-Suburban conference, and conference champion. In her career, Ava played in 73 matches with 1,262 assists, 112 kills, 352 digs, and 25 blocks. In her senior season, her Lakeview squad went 27-4 and between her freshman and junior seasons, she guided her team to 54 wins, a Southern Suburban Conference Championship, a sectional championship and was named to the All-South Suburban Conference team.Hampton-Keith on Blascziek
"We are ecstatic Ava decided to be an Owl. It can be unusual to bring in 2 setters in the same class, but we struck gold in this position twice with Ava and Lexi. Ava brings in so much high-level experience along with a drive to be better and better each day. Her ability to run an offense that maximizes her teams' success is the reason she is recognized as one of the top volleyball players in Minnesota. I have watched her time and time again find ways to compel her team to win and the fight she plays with embodies our Temple Tuff motto. She is a fiery competitor who will impact us on and off the court. "
Brooklyn Stearns is a 6'3" right-side hitter from Westlake Village, Calif.,and has numerous accolades under her belt. Her club team, Lava West finished in third place in the 17 USA at the Red Rock Rave National Qualifier, third place in the 16 USA Spokane National Qualifier, earned second place in the PVL Championship in 2021, and individually she was ranked as a top five blocker in Southern California in 2021-22. This past high school season, Stearns was named to the 2022 All-Region team that includes Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona., a 2022 High School All-American, and was second on the team with blocks and third for kills per set. She led Oaks Christian High School to a 28-5 season mark and the 2022 Marmonte League Championship. Oaks Christian was also 2022 CIF Division 3 Runner-up, ranked No. 21 overall in California, ranked 11 in the SoCal Southern Section, and was ranked No. 2 in the Division 3 Southern Section.
Hampton-Keith on StearnsBrooklyn and Temple Volleyball are just a great match together. Brooklyn will be a powerful and unique addition to our team, bringing much needed height and depth at our pin hitting positions. She is a talented lefty that will provide us with continued offensive options at a time where we will lose an experienced lefty to graduation. Brooklyn works hard and hits harder. She will expand our offensive options and will help us continue to move this program forward.
Hampton-Keith summarized, "All three of these future Owls are leading their high school programs deep into their respective State Championship Tournaments and are being recognized for their success on the court. Their collective championship experience and mindset will impact our program immediately and we cannot wait for this stellar class to join us on this journey."
For complete coverage of Temple volleyball, follow the Owls on social media @Temple_VB (Twitter), facebook.com/TempleOwls (Facebook), @temple.vb (Instagram), or visit the official home of Temple University Athletics at owlsports.com.
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