This past spring saw an influx of talent come to Leeman Turner Arena at Grace Hall in an atypical way. In fact, last year's freshman class was six, bringing the total of underclassmen this fall to 11 of the 17 student-athletes on the roster.
This year's incoming freshman class includes two outside hitters, a middle blocker, a setter and a libero/defensive specialist, filling out all positional needs heading into the new campaign.
A variety of states are represented in this new class with players from Florida, Idaho, Maryland and a local from Bethlehem.
The Mountain Hawks finished 3-6 in the shortened spring season just a few months ago and missed out on the four-team Patriot League Tournament field after qualifying in 2019 for the first time in Keckler's tenure.
Kyleigh Brown – 5-6 – L/DS – Bethlehem, Pa. – Bethlehem Catholic
A local product of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by way of Bethlehem Catholic High School, Brown becomes head coach Alexa Keckler's first-ever recruit from the area. A libero by trade, she is one of the best in the state, earning All-State honors by the PIAA in 2019 and 2020, including All-EPC honors all four years with first team laurels in 2019 and 2020. As Becahi's captain, Brown led the Golden Hawks to a PIAA Class 3A State Championship in 2020-21, also leading her team to a District XI Championship and East Penn Conference title. She was named Lehigh Valley Live's Volleyball Player of the Year and Becahi's Athlete of the Year. In the classroom, Brown was a member of the National Honors Society, Student Athlete Character Council, Key Club and a representative of the Sophomore-Senior Year Student Council. Outside of her high school success, she belonged to club teams Synergy, AVA and East Coast Power during her volleyball career.
Gracie Kiser – 6-0 – OH – Tampa, Fla. – Tampa Prep
Kiser comes to Lehigh from Tampa, Florida out of Tampa Preparatory School, where she finished a dominant career leading her team to the District Semifinal. She tallied 259 kills with a .417 hitting percentage in 2020-21. This past season, Kiser earned a number of accolades for her performances, winning the Kirkwood Family Outstanding Volleyball Player award, as well as Tampa Prep's Female Athlete of the Year. In the classroom, Kiser made the honor roll in each year of schooling and won Tampa Prep's Music Accolade Award for the 2019-20 school year. On the club level, she has played for Tampa Elite, St. Pete Volleyball Club and was a member of OTVA's OT Dexter squad for AAU Nationals in 2021.
Megan Schulte – 6-2 – OH – Boise, Idaho -- Timberline
Schulte is an exciting addition to the fold for the Lehigh program, all the way from Boise, Idaho. On the court, she was a First Team All-Conference honoree this past season and had her breakout year in 2019-20, earning First Team All-State honors as well as Southern Idaho Conference Player of the Year. In that impressive junior season, Schulte tallied 480 kills, 206 digs, 49 blocks, 40 service aces and hit at a .266 rate, leading Timberline to state playoffs. In the classroom, she was a member of the National Honors Society and a four-year member of the honor roll. Schulte belonged to the Idaho Crush Volleyball Club in Boise.
Makena Smith – 6-0 – S – Annapolis, Md. – Broadneck
Full of accolades and accomplishments both on the court and off, Smith comes to Lehigh from Annapolis, Maryland by way of Broadneck High School. In her freshman season in 2017, Smith was named a Second Team All-County selection by Capital Gazette as starting setter. In 2018, she earned First Team All-County honors from Capital Gazette and Anne Arundel County including First Team All-Metro from the Baltimore Sun. Smith was Broadneck's captain as a sophomore, earning MVP honors and a spot on the AVCA Phenom list. Smith led her team to a Class 4A State Championship runner-up finish in 2019, receiving First Team All-County and First Team All-Metro honors for the second consecutive year. In 2021, she earned the four-year letter award. Smith finishes her high school career as Broadneck's all-time leader in assists and blocks, including the single-season record holder for assists and blocks. In the classroom, she was a three-year member of the Student Athletic Leadership Council.
Emily Stewart – 6-2 – MB – Fort Myers, Fla. – Fort Myers
Stewart enters her collegiate career hoping to become the next great middle blocker to come through the Lehigh program. She's off to a great start after an outstanding high school career at Fort Myers. For two straight years in 2019 and 2020, she was named News Press' Volleyball Player of the Year and a News Press First Team member. She also earned LCAC All-Conference honors in 2019 and 2020 and was recognized on the Under Armour All-American Watch List in 2020, earning AVCA All-Region accolades as well. She earned the Scholar Athlete Award and Unsung Hero Award in 2020 from Fort Myers and is the school record holder for most blocks in a match (12). A captain of her high school squad, Stewart was an eight-time MaxPreps Player of the Match, a member of the Prep Volleyball Watch List in 2021 and a AVCA Phenom list member. In the classroom, Steward graduated summa cum laude in the IB program, where she was a four-year honor roll member as well. A member of the National Honors Society, Stewart earned an AAU Academic All-American selection in 2019 and 2020.
Lehigh Volleyball Class of 2025
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Five Mountain Hawks make up Volleyball's incoming freshman class - Lehigh University Athletics
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