SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford volleyball head coach Lynze Roos has announced the addition of six new student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent or letters of commitment to join the Terriers in the fall.
 
"Recruiting the 2023 class has truly been a joy," said Roos. "They were the first class to return to a normal recruiting cycle after Covid, and I feel that each athlete had the chance to get to know Wofford so well. They are a group that combines outstanding club experience with some of the strongest high school careers in our history. They are wonderful young women who will also add to our campus community and have an impact on our program."
 
Name                          Pos.                 Hometown / High School
Natalie Arnold            MB                  Dripping Springs, Texas / Dripping Springs
Laney Klika                L                      Novelty, Ohio / Gilmour Academy
Brianna Mahoney       OH                  Aiken, S.C. / Aiken
Emily Normand          OH                  Greer, S.C. / St. Joseph's Catholic School
Taylor Pecht               S                      Woodstock, Ga. / Sequoyah
Ella Schomer              RS/OPPO        Lake Orion, Mich. / Marian
 
Natalie Arnold is a 5-11 middle blocker from Dripping Springs, Texas. Arnold has been named all-district, all-state and all-county in her career. She has helped guide her Dripping Springs High School squad to a district championship in 2019 and a state championship this past season, the school's first season at the 6A level. Arnold was instrumental in that championship, earning District Blocker MVP honors. The middle boasts over 640 kills, a .350 hitting percentage, more than 250 blocks and over 100 aces in her high school career. She also guided her club team, Club Austin Juniors, to a GJN national championship in 2020. Arnold has also earned academic all-district honors. From a sporting family, her father Jeff played professional basketball overseas for 10 years, and her sister also played collegiate volleyball in Spartanburg just down the road at USC Upstate.
 
"Natalie competes in one of the strongest areas of volleyball in the country," said Roos. "We are so impressed with her versatility and her athleticism on the court. She can play any front row position, and she has the ability to challenge so many different roles on our team. She is physical and strong, and we are really excited to see her impact on the floor."
 
Laney Klika is a 5-7 libero from Novelty, Ohio. Klika has helped guide her Gilmour Academy team to back-to-back state titles in 2020 and 2021. With 1,656 career digs and 227 aces, Klika has been named second-team all-Ohio alongside multiple all-district and all-News Herald selections. A two-time Cleveland.com area top player, Klika was deemed the 10^th-best high school player by the same outlet. Klika has received two invites to the USA NTDP and participated in the OHSVCA All-State All-Star Game. She has been named to multiple match lists, notably the AVCA All-American watch list. An honor student off the court, Klika has also refereed CYO basketball and aided with volleyball camps. On top of her volleyball success, she is her high school's record holder for steals in a softball season.
 
"Through the recruiting process with Laney, it was clear that her maturity and poise adds to her remarkable skill as a passer and defender," said Roos. "She is a player who doesn't get rattled and steps up in big moments for her teams. She has a solid platform with disciplined training that has positioned her to be a receiver servers try to avoid. Her instincts on defense are spot on, and she communicates well on the floor – all the pieces that will combine to make her a solid option in the back court."
 
Brianna Mahoney is a 5-11 outside hitter from Aiken, S.C. Mahoney is a four-time all-region player fresh off a 40-2 state championship season with her Aiken High School squad. She was named Region 4-AAAA Player of the Year in 2022 to follow her Region 5-AAAA Player of the Year honor in 2021. Mahoney was also a North/South All-Star in 2022. She owns 1,350 kills, 1,020 digs and a .325 hitting percentage for her high school career. Off the court, Mahoney has earned two Academic All-American selections alongside membership in multiple academic honor societies and groups while receiving the Cambridge International Merit Diploma. Mahoney has also been involved in numerous charitable works and organizations, including cooking and distributing food with a grace kitchen. Mahoney's grandfather, Albert Douroux, played football for Louisiana Monroe from 1964-65.
 
"Bri is one of the most dynamic players out of our state this year," said Roos. "She is fun to watch as an attacker, which sometimes overshadows what a complete player she really is. She has had to carry an offensive load on her teams in the past, and she plays with confidence and calmness. We will be looking for Bri to challenge blockers and defenders from day one."
 
Emily Normand is a 5-10 outside hitter from Greer, S.C. A five-year varsity starter for St. Joseph's Catholic School, Normand is a 4-time region and state champion. She has earned three all-region honors and an all-state selection her senior year to go along with Region Player of the Year. Also in 2022, Normand was a selection to the North/South All-Star Match. Named to the AVCA Phenom watch list in both 2021 and 2022, Normand boasts 1,584 kills in her career, reaching the 1,000-kill benchmark in her junior campaign. She also owns 192 blocks and 448 digs. With her club team, Axis Elite Volleyball, Normand played five seasons and was already a starter at 16 on a 17-1 squad that finished second in the nation at AAUs in Orlando in 2020. Her grandfather, Gene Haskins, played offensive tackle at Ole Miss and Troy State before being drafted by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1971.
 
"Emily is the type of player that we just fell in love with on the court," said Roos. "She is an outstanding teammate who works hard every point. She has contagious positivity and work ethic. She has filled roles on her teams in the past that have also made her versatile and tough to defend. She will also raise the level of our training and bring new energy to the floor."
 
Taylor Pecht is a 5-8 setter from Woodstock, Ga. Pecht is a first-team MaxPreps All-American and a back-to-back County Player of the Year in 2021 and '22. She was also 6A state and region player of the year in 2022. Pecht's Sequoyah High School squad claimed county and region titles all four of her seasons, and they finished as the state runners-up three times. She is also a two-time NIT champion with her club squad. Ranked No. 54 in the Prep Volleyball Top 150, Pecht has been named to the AVCA Phenom Watchlist. She led the state of Georgia in assists in 2021 and owns over 4,000 total in her career, a school record and second all-time in Georgia. Off the court, PEcht has been involved in numerous clubs and has earned a service letter after logging 100 of service in two years. A Scholar Athlete, she has earned an AP Capstone Diploma. Her brother Collier played two seasons of football at Austin Peay.
 
"We are so impressed with Taylor's abilities to run a high level offense," said Roos. "She has trained with outstanding mentorship and has learned to quarterback her team's attack. On top of that skill, she is an elite defender who teams struggle to score on, and she matches all of her skills with intensity and purpose on the court. Taylor will bring that moxie to the floor and complement the style of our offense with her skill set."
 
Ella Schomer is a 6-0 right-side/opposite hitter from Lake Orion, Mich. Schomer won back-to-back state titles with her Marian High School team from 2020-21. Schomer boasts a full awards cabinet with two all-state honors, three all-region selections, all-league and all-catholic honors. She was also a Miss Volleyball candidate alongside being a four-time AVCA Phenom and an AVCA All-American. She owns 703 kills in career on a .416 hitting clip with 99 aces, 158 block and 696 digs. Active off the court, Schomer is involved in various clubs including culinary club, disaster relief club and book club. Her father Lincoln played baseball at Yale for four seasons.
 
"Ella is a top level attacker and blocker," said Roos. "As a lefty, she brings something unique and challenging for our defense. She is also intense and competitive, which will translate well into our training. Ella has competed with and against some of the top talent in her region, so she will be prepared to contribute upon arrival this fall."
 
The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to Wofford College and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center.