UF VB | Gators Snag Trio of Spring Additions

Three incoming freshmen will join the Gators for the fall of 2022

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The nationally-ranked Florida volleyball program welcomed three additions to its 2022 signing class on Friday, as announced by Head Coach Mary Wise.

These signees are in addition to the two Gators that enrolled early<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2021_11_10_meet-2Dflorida-2Dvolleyballs-2D2022-2Dsigning-2Dclass.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=WXsd5H2qEbhtXQ56uuLyOgU–6bfl7KJxgI0ceK2HyS82uZXLe6LYQix2QSWxBsH&s=bcCvEOW1bpQZZntHU93KYv6nIDlLfs32q1176zcU9_8&e= > after signing in November – Carly Hendrickson and Alexis Stucky.

“This class has shown so many signs of the future impact they will have on our program,” said Wise. “They are a group of highly talented, highly motivated players who have won championships in both high school and club. This group will be a big part of our success moving forward.”

Below are the details of the three signees – Emily Canaan, Emerson Hoyle and Amaya Thomas – high school and club accolades.

Emily Canaan | 5-8 | L/DS | High School: Allen High School | Club: Dallas Skyline Juniors
Canaan’s High School Accolades

* 2021-22 TGCA All-State
* 2021-22 AVCA High School All-America First Team
* 2021-22 AVCA High School Senior Phenom
* 2021-22 AVCA High School All-Region
* 2021-22 AVCA High School Best and Brightest
* 2021-22 THSCA Academic All-State Honorable Mention
* 2021-22 District 5-6A Defensive Player of the Year
* 2021-22 District 5-6A First Team All-District
* 2021-22 District 5-6A All-Academic
* 2021-22 Allen Defensive MVP Award
* 2021-22 Allen Volleyball Player of the Year Award – MaxPreps
* 2021-22 Allen Texas Open All-Tournament Award
* 2021-22 Marcus Marauder All-Tournament Award
* 2021-22 Dallas Morning News First Team All-Area Volleyball Team
* 2021-22 VYPE DFW Pre-Season Libero of the Year
* 2021-22 Dallas Morning News First Team All-Area
* 2020-21 TGCA 6A All-State
* 2020-21 District 5-6A Defensive Player of the Year
* 2020-21 District 5-6A First Team All-District
* 2020-21 District 5-6A All-Academic
* 2020-21 Allen Defensive MVP Award
* 2019-20 District 9-6A First Team All-District
* 2019-20 District 9-6A All-Academic
* 2019-20 Allen Defensive MVP Award
* 2018-19 District 9-6A Allen High School Varsity as a Freshman
* 2018-19 District 9-6A All-District Academic
* 2018-19 District 9-6A All-District Honorable Mention

Canaan’s Club Accolades

* 2021-22 PrepVolleyball All-America
* 2021-22 Top 150 #32 in Nation, #1 Libero in Texas – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2021-22 UANext Under Armour All-America Game – Team Legends
* 2021 AAU National Championships 17 Open – All American Award
* 2021 Under Armour All-American Selection Camp, Orlando, FL
* 2021 Dallas Skyline Juniors – Defensive Player of the Year Award
* 2021 Tour of Texas – Stop #1 – 1st Place
* 2019-20 Top 150 #26 in Nation #2 Libero in Texas – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2019-20 Defensive Dandies TOP 30 Team Two – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2019-20 SOPH 79 High Honorable Mention – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2019-20 AVCA High School Phenom
* 2019 Dallas Skyline Juniors – Defensive Player of the Year Award
* 2019 MLK NTR Bid Tournament 15 Open Champions
* 2018-19 Defensive Dandies – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2018-19 AVCA High School Phenom
* 2018-19 Mid-Season All Americans Pick as Libero – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2018-19 FROSH 59! – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2018-19 Pre-Season All-Americans Pick as Libero – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2018-19 Impact High School Player – Prepvolleyball.com
* 2018 North Texas Home Opener 16 Open Champions
* 2018 MLK NTR Bid Tournament 14 Open Champions
* 2018 Nike NTR Bid Tournament 14 Open Champions
* 2018 North Texas Invitational 14 Open Champions
* 2018 Windy City Qualifier – Chicago – 14 Open Champions
* 2018 Northern Lights Qualifier – Minneapolis – 14 Open Champions
* 2017 Dallas Skyline Juniors – Defensive Player of the Year Award
* 2015 USAV GJNC 11 Patriot – 2nd Place

Canaan’s National Team Accolades

* 2021 19U USAV NTDP Summer Training Series, Anaheim, CA
* 2019 USAV High Performance A1 Youth Training / HP Championships
* 2017 USAV High Performance Youth Holiday Training
* 2017 USAV High Performance A2 Youth Training Program
* 2016 USAV High Performance Continental Team / HP Championships
* 2015 USAV High Performance Future Select
“To know Emily is to love her, both as a player and a person. Emily is one of the most competitive and passionate volleyball players that is out there. She not only is competitive herself but raises the level of her teammates and gets the best out of each and every one of them. Emily brings an intense athleticism to the defense position and creates an environment where no ball is too hard to get up on defense. Off the court, Emily’s teammates love her because she is extremely loyal and the best teammate I have been around. Florida is getting a player that will raise the level of competition in the gym and an athlete that teammates will love to be around” – Ryan Mitchell, Skyline Juniors 18 Royal Head Coach

Emerson Hoyle | 5-10 | L | High School: T.C. Roberson High School | Club: Xcel Volleyball Performance
Hoyle’s Club Accolades

* 2019 AAU 16U Club National Champions
* 2019 AAU MVP at Nationals
* 2020 AAU 17U Open Third Place
* 2020 AAU All-Star
Hoyle’s National Accolades

* 2021 USAV NTDP U19
* Attended the USAV Fall Training sessions
Hoyle’s Off-the-Court Accolades

* Also competed in softball and basketball
“Emerson is a phenomenal defensive volleyball player, but more so, a true all-around athlete. She is the type of player that any coach would be lucky enough to have on their team. She puts in the time and effort, on and off the court, and is always working to continuously hone her skills. She is one of the most competitive players I have coached and is always striving for better. Emerson wants to constantly improve her skills to challenge herself but most importantly she does it for her team. She is a great floor-reader and the ball that she does not read immediately, she will chase down. With her speed and skill set, there are not many balls that she cannot get to. The energy and level of play she brings to a match is the same energy she brings to practice. She consistently sacrifices her body to keep the ball off the ground. Her knowledge of the game and her exceptional work ethic has propelled her to be successful on the court and will continue to push her to new heights. She is a top-tier athlete that I know will fit seamlessly into a program like Florida’s” – Michelle Wagaman, T.C. Roberson High School Head Coach

Amaya Thomas | 6-3 | MB | High School: University High School | Club: Orlando Tampa Volleyball Academy
Thomas’s High School Accolades

* Two-time University High School MVP
* Served as team captain
* Played varsity all four seasons of high school
Thomas’s Club Accolades

* Finished first at the USAV GJNC 14U Tournament
* Finished second at AAU Nationals 14U
* Finished second at AAU Nationals 16U
* Finished third at USAV GJNC 15U
* USAV GJNC 15U All-Tournament Team
* Under Armour All-American
* AVCA Best and Brightest First Team
Thomas’s National Team Accolades

* 2018 USA Indoor High Performance, AI Select, Red Team
* 2019 USA Indoor High Performance, Holiday Camp
* 2020 USA Indoor High Performance, A1 Youth
* 2021 USA Youth National Training Team
Thomas’s Off-the-Court Accolades

* Also competed in track, basketball, tennis, cheer and ballet
* Was a member of the Nina Yoakum Campaign, Athletes Connections Foundation, Color of Change and worked with the Salvation Army
* Earned honor roll all four years of high school, was an IB Program inductee and earned an unweighted 4.0 GPA
“It’s been an absolute pleasure coaching Amaya and watching her grow into the woman and athlete she is today. Amaya showed a lot of potential from a young age and has made an impact on every team she’s been on. We consider Amaya to be a wonderful role model for our young athletes for her dedication and caring personality on
and off the court. We look forward to seeing at the next level and will miss her dearly” – Felix Viera, Technical Director Orlando Tampa Volleyball Academy

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