COACH DRAGAN ANNOUNCES 12 SIGNEES IN 2025 CLASS

Hartsville, SC - Coker Volleyball Head Coach Stephanie Dragan has announced 12 new signees for her 2025 squad! The team consists of nine freshmen and three transfers, which will add to the makeup of the current team as they look to have a breakout season on the court.

Pelin Aksoy - Senior - Ankara, Turkey / Western Colorado
Aksoy spent her prep career at Gazi Universitesi Vakfi. She helped her team notch a second-place finish in the U17 Turkish National Championship in 2018. She was also named the best hitter in the league in 2019 and named Opposite Hitter of the Week in the Turkish League. She then spent her first two collegiate seasons at DI UNC Asheville, bolstering a solid freshman campaign in 2022. She then transferred to DII Western Colorado, where she played her junior season. "Pelin Askoy is bringing a wealth of experience to our court," says Coach Dragan. "She's played in Division I and in the very competitive RMAC. She can play both pins, and I'm excited to add an experienced 6 rotation player to our team."

Cheyenne Bird - Freshman - Chesterbrook, PA / Conestoga HS
Bird prepped at Conestoga High School, where she was a star on the court. She had a host of volleyball honors, including 2nd-Team All-Central League her sophomore year, and 1st-Team All-Central League and 2nd-Team All-District her senior year. She was twice named the Girls' Varsity Volleyball MVP, was the Mainline Girls Athlete of the Week, and is her school's record holder for kills in one season. Off the court, she was an honor roll student and took honors-level courses. "Cheyenne Bird is an experienced setter who played at a very high level of club," says Coach Dragan. "Her high IQ, block, and tempo of offense make her a threat every time she touches the ball."

Addie Bittner - Freshman - Cassatt, SC / North Central HS
Bittner had quite a decorated high school career, prepping at North Central High School. Her high school team won the 2A State Title, and she was a huge piece of that run. She was a 4x All-Region honoree, 3x All-State honoree, a 2x Region Player of the Year, and the 2024 2A Volleyball State Player Of The Year. Aside from volleyball, she was also a great softball athlete. She was a 5x All-Region player, along with a 2x All-State player. She was very involved outside of sports, being a member of NTHS, NHS, and Beta Club. She graduated with distinguished honors and was awarded the Academic Honors Medal by her school. "Addie Bittner is an exceptional six-rotation OH," says Coach Dragan. "She has great ball control and is a threat attacking out of the back row. She knows how to win and is a fierce competitor."

Jayleigh Bullard - Freshman - Haxtun, CO / Haxtun HS
Bullard spent her prep career at Haxtun High School, where she was a multi-sport athlete. Along with volleyball, she competed in basketball and track, having successful stints in all three sports. She was Honorable Mention in basketball for her senior season, was All-State in Track & Field in 2023 and 2025, and holds her school's high jump record. She was just as impressive off the court/track as she was Academic All-State all four years of high school. She received an FBLA letter and FCCLA letter all four years, an FFA letter for two years, and was the first in her high school to receive an Associate's Degree before her high school graduation. "Jayleigh Bullard is our most versatile freshman," says Coach Dragan. "She can attack in all three front row positions and has great ball control. I'm excited to see how we'll use her athleticism."

Kamille Charles - Freshman - Bishopville, SC / Lugoff-Elgin HS
Charles prepped at Lugoff-Elgin High School before signing with the Cobras. She held consistent success, being named an All-Region player all four years of her high school career. She was a multi-sport athlete, competing in volleyball, basketball, and track & field. She was also active in her school as a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. "Kamille Charles is a raw and highly athletic middle hitter," says Coach Dragan. "She hangs so high when attacking the 31.  She has a big personality on and off the court that we currently do not have on the roster. She will push our two other middles for playing time."

Katie Clayton - Freshman - West Columbia HS / Airport HS
Clayton spent her prep career at Airport High School. She was the team captain of her volleyball team, as well as being nominated for an All-Region honor. Off the court, she was an honors student and a member of the HOSA. "Katie Clayton is also an incredibly versatile player," says Coach Dragan. "She played middle in club, and we plan to move her to a pin. She can play both pins and has a huge block. Her versatility also allows her to compete for playing time in the middle as well."

Caylin Gecy - Freshman - Beaufort, SC / John Paul II Catholic School
Gecy prepped at John Paul II Catholic School, where she had a stellar senior season on the court. She was a varsity team captain, an All-Tournament player, a North/South All-Star in the SCISA 4A, and was named 1st-Team All-Region SCISA 4A. She also had a great final two years of her club volleyball career, being named a 2x All-Region Player in the Palmetto Region, and was twice named the Defensive Player of the Year. "Caylin (KK) Gecy unfortunately tore her ACL in May," says Coach Dragan. "She is kicking rehab's butt, and she will have a very positive presence as she continues to work her way back on the court."

Tatum Kemp - Freshman - Myrtle Beach, SC / Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach
Kemp spent her prep career at Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, where she was an All-Region honoree. She was a multi-sport athlete, competing in soccer along with volleyball. Academically, she graduated from high school with the designation of "Honors With Distinction". "Tatum Kemp is a solid athlete who can play at either pin," says Coach Dragan. "She is very strong for her age, and I can't wait to see how she develops in the college game. Tatum also has a personality that our roster needed."

Leah Pimentel - Junior - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic / Caldwell CC
Pimentel prepped at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC, before spending her first two collegiate seasons with Caldwell CC. During her two years, she was the only player in that span to play in every match (57) and every set (202). She recorded 198 kills in those two years while leading the team in solo blocks (39), block assists (124), and total blocks (163). Caldwell CC also won the DIII Region 10 title in her freshman season. "Leah Pimentel is a raw, athletic middle coming from a JUCO," says Coach Dragan. "She has a whip of an arm swing. She is going to be able to push our two other middles and compete for playing time."

Mia Snyder - Freshman - Morehead City, NC / Stuttgart HS
Snyder prepped at Stuttgart High School, where she had quite a decorated athletic career across multiple sports. On the volleyball court, she was a 2025 DODEA All-Tournament team honoree, a DODEA 1st and 2nd-Team honoree, a part of the 2024 and 2025 All-Star teams, and was DODEA's Female Volleyball Player of the Year last season. She also starred on the basketball court, earning DODEA All-Tournament honors in 2024 and 2025, a DODEA 1st and 2nd-team honor, and was named a DODEA All-Star in 2024 and 2025, with her team winning two titles in back-to-back seasons in 23-24 and 24-25. Other than volleyball and basketball, she also participated in soccer and track, earning her high school's Female Athlete of the Year in her senior year. She was also stellar in the classroom, graduating with honors and being on the honor roll all four years of high school. "Mia Snyder is a solid setter and DS," says Coach Dragan. "I'm not sure which role she will fill (maybe both), but I really like her versatility."

Keena Sosa - Freshman - DeWitt, MI / DeWitt HS
Sosa prepped at DeWitt High School, where both she and her team had great success. She was a part of three District Championship-winning teams, contributing over 1,000 career kills. She was a multi-sport athlete, competing in lacrosse along with volleyball. Off the court/field, she was Academic All-State in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. "Keena Sosa is an attacking force at both pins," says Coach Dragan. "She has a large block, and I can't wait to see what her future brings."

Ella Young - Junior - Denver, CO / University of Bridgeport
Young prepped at Prospect Ridge Academy, where she was an All-Conference honoree in all four of her seasons. In her senior season, she was First-Team All-Conference, All-State, and Academic All-State. Off the court, she was an honor roll student all four years. She then spent her first two collegiate seasons at the University of Bridgeport, where she appeared in 52 matches over her two years and tallied 208 digs and 40 service aces. She was also named to the CACC's Academic Honor Roll in both of her seasons at Bridgeport. "Ella Young comes to us from Bridgeport," says Coach Dragan. "She has been trained well the past two seasons and went to the NCAA East Regional. She has experience both as Libero and DS. She will come in and push our returning DSs."

When asked about her recruiting class as a whole, Coach Dragan said, "Bringing in 12 new teammates is going to immediately impact us. We had a great spring and lacked depth. With a roster of 21, we have depth in every position, and we are going to have a competitive environment in our gym every day. This recruiting class is highly athletic, talented, competitive, and motivated. and knows how to win. I can't wait to see who is in our starting lineup opening weekend."

Coker Volleyball will kick off its regular season on September 5th, when it will take on local rival Francis Marion as part of the Wingate Invitational. Their first contest in Hartsville will be on September 16th at 7:00 PM ET in the DeLoach Center against Newberry to open conference play. For the full 2025 Roster, click here. For the full 2025 Schedule, click here. Go Cobras!