BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball head coach Fernanda Nelson completed the Owls’ 2023 signing class this summer, bringing in a good blend of experience and talented freshmen. The Owls’ 2023 class includes five transfers and two freshmen signees.
“We are extremely excited to welcome these fantastic women and volleyball players to our family,” expressed Coach Nelson. “We believe that this is our strongest recruiting class we have signed. This class adds depth, talent, and competitive drive. These recruits are confident, capable, wonderful girls that will push our culture and training environment to the next level. We worked very hard to find players from all over that will impact our program and help lead us towards our vision. We can’t wait to start working with them!”
Ava Comacho
L/DS | So. | 5-9 | Lucas, Texas | UTSA
Ava Comacho, a native of Lucas, Texas, joins the Owls from American Athletic Conference rival UTSA. Prior to arriving in Paradise, Comacho had a standout freshman campaign for the Roadrunners, earning Conference USA All-Freshman team honors. As a true freshman, Comacho was the Roadrunners’ starting libero and appeared in all 100 sets during the 2022 season. She finished the season with 415 digs, ranking eighth in CUSA. Comacho averaged 4.37 digs per set, marking fifth-best in CUSA. She recorded a then season-high 39 digs vs. McNeese on Sept. 9, before surpassing that with a CUSA-leading 40-dig performance on Sept. 30 last season against the Owls. She held the CUSA benchmark for most digs in a four-set match, recording 31 against UIW on Sept. 17, while her outputs of 40 and 39 led all five-set match productions in 2022. In addition to her impressive performances, Comacho also finished the season with 75 assists and 13 service aces.
Comacho, a graduate of Lovejoy High School, is a two-time Class 5A Texas State Champion, as well as a 2021 Class 5A Texas Area Champion and 2019 Class 6A District Champion. She was named Varsity Player Freshman of the Year, second-team All-District, 2021 Lovejoy Varsity Volleyball Co-Captain, as well as being named a 2021 Under Armour All-American DS/L nominee, 2021 AVCA All-America Senior Watch List honoree, September 2021 PrepVolleyball Athlete of the Week, 2021 Prep Dig Libero All-State Award nominee, AVCA High School All-Region Team, and was twice named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Phenom List. In addition to her high school career, Comacho also played club for Skyline Royal.
Romina Cornelio
OH | Jr. | 6-0 | La Vega, Dominican Republic | Miami Dade College
Romina Cornelio, a native of La Vega, Dominican Republic, joins the Owls after playing the last two seasons with Miami-Dade College. In 2022, Cornelio played in 103 sets over 31 matches for the Sharks. She tallied a team-leading 359 kills, averaging 3.49 per set, and tied for second on the team with a .333 hitting percentage. Cornelio also ranked second on the team in digs with 258, averaging 2.50 per set, and posted a team second-best 27 service aces and added 51 total blocks, which ranked third on the team. During her freshman season, Cornelio helped lead the Sharks to a FCSAA State Championship and competed in 77 sets over 23 matches for MDC. She led the Sharks in kills with 306, averaging 3.97 per set, and service aces with 29, averaging 0.38 per set. She recorded a team second-best 246 digs, tallying 3.19 per set, and tied for fourth on the team in blocks with 34 on the season.
Madison Dyer
MB/RS | So. | 6-0 | Flower Mound, Texas | Sam Houston State
Madison Dyer arrives in Paradise following a prolific freshman campaign with the Sam Houston State Bearkats, earning her a spot on the 2022 WAC All-Freshman team. She was also named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3 and earned a spot on the K-State Invitational All-Tournament team.
Dyer graduated from Flower Mound Marcus High School and helped lead the Marauders to a district co-championship title and a Class 6A regional tournament appearance. She was named the team’s defensive player of the year and was an all-district first team selection. In 2021, she led District 6-6A in service aces. In 2020, she earned honorable mention all-district honors and helped lead her team to the state playoffs. She was also a captain of the MHS track team and in addition to her high school career, Dyer played club ball at Madfrog, where she was part of the 10-foot Jumpers Club.
Victoria Hensley
S | So. | 5-11 | Clearwater, Fla. | Wofford
Victoria Hensley, a Clearwater, Florida native, joins the Owls after playing her freshman campaign at Wofford College. Hensley played in 104 sets over 29 matches and made 20 starts for the Terriers, earning Southern Conference All-Freshman Team honors and was twice named SoCon Setter of the Week on Oct. 3 and Nov. 14. She led the Terriers with 778 assists, averaging 7.48 per set, and 33 service aces, averaging 0.32 per set, while also adding 212 digs, tallying 2.04 per set. She recorded a team-leading seven double-doubles in 2022. Hensley garnered November SoCon Setter of the Month, becoming the first Terrier to earn the monthly recognition. She surpassed the 30 assists mark in 13 matches and recorded eight double-digit dig performances during the 2022 campaign.
Hensley, a graduate of Clearwater Central Catholic, secured back-to-back 3A District 14 Player of the Year honors in 2021 and 2020, while leading the Marauders to district runner-up and district champion finishes during her senior and junior year, respectively. Hensley eclipsed 3,000 assists for her career, earning a spot in the Florida All-Star game and was named the FACA All-Star MVP for Pinellas County. She was also recognized to the AVCA All-American All-Region team and AVCA Best & Brightest Award First Team in 2021. Hensley played every point over 290 sets through her four-year high school career, holding 3,006 assists, 872 digs, and 353 kills on a career .394 hitting, in addition to 174 aces and 184 total blocks. She won an AAU National Championship with OTVA 17 Jason and was named the MVP of the AAU Nationals 17 Open for the 2021 club season. In 2020, she was named Pinellas County Player of the Year – having led Florida with 12.2 assists per set on 756 total for the season and notching First Team All-State accolades in 2020 and 2019.
Hensley was also a member of numerous clubs, including the National English Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, and the National History Honor Society.
Ava Norris
L/DS | Fr. | 5-4 | Louisville, Ky. | Sacred Heart Academy
Ava Norris arrives in Paradise following her high school career at Sacred Heart Academy. Norris was recognized as a Volleyball Recruiter Top 2023 Player to Watch. In 2022, Norris was named to the District All-Tournament Team and received the Prep Dig Defensive Dandy Award. Norris helped lead the Valkryies to a regional championship and a semi-state final four runner-up finish in 2021. Norris also won her district championship all four years of her high school career and was selected to the Under Armour Selection Camp. Academically, Norris is a four-time honor roll honoree and was named to the Principal’s List in 2021. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Hearts for the Holy Spirit, and the RAK Club. In addition to her high school career, Norris also played club volleyball with KIVA.
Isabelle Northam
L/DS | Fr. | 5-9 | Thompson’s Station, Tenn. | Battle Ground Academy
Isabelle Northam, from Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, was a dual sport athlete, competing in volleyball and track and field at Battle Ground Academy. Northam helped lead the Wildcats to two TSSAA state championships, three regional championships, three state semifinals appearances, and four district championships. She collected 2,525 digs throughout her high school career, surpassing the 1,000 digs mark as a sophomore and 2,000 digs during her senior year. As a senior, Northam finished with 821 digs, 40 service aces, and a 2.42 percent passing average. Academically, she was a three-time honor roll honoree and was inducted into the National Honor Society. In addition to her high school career, Northam also played club with Tennessee Performance Volleyball (TPV).
Kaila Ru
MB | Jr. | 6-3 | Auckland, New Zealand | Polk State College
Kaila Ru, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, joins the Owls after playing two seasons at Polk State College. In 2021, Ru helped lead the Eagles to an NJCAA District B Champion and was named to the FCSAA All-Tournament Team. She appeared in 63 sets over 18 matches and led the team in blocks with 79, while also ranking fourth in kills with 125. Ru ranked 10th in the NJCAA in blocks per set, averaging 1.25. During her freshman campaign, Ru was named Second Team All-Suncoast Conference and FCSAA All-Academic Team. She led the Eagles with 51 blocks and ranked third on the team with 76 kills.
Ru graduated from Westlake Girls High School and helped lead Westlake to an appearance at nationals. She also played club volleyball with Raiders Volleyball Club and helped lead the team to a New Zealand Club National Championship title.
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