University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Volleyball to Welcome Five in 2019
11/12/2018 9:54:00 AM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware volleyball program signed five to national letters of intent on Wednesday. Ezgi Başaranlar, Eileen Gex, Lani Mason, Lauryn Richardson and Ayala Plummer will all join the Blue Hens next season.
"Our coaching staff is really excited about this incoming class," head coach Sara Matthews said. "They come from great club backgrounds and have played at really high levels. We are lucky they are all culture kids who will fit in seamlessly with our team. They are all ultra competitive and we can't wait to see the impact they are going to have on our program."
EZGI BAŞARANLAR (Istanbul, Turkey/Terakki Foundation School)
- Setter
- Won bronze medal at the Turkish Championship as a senior
- Member of the U16 Turkish National Team
- Played for Eczacibasi Club in 2015 and won a silver medal
- Currently plays for Sariyer Belediyesi
MATTHEWS ON BAŞARANLAR: "Ezgi was a huge find for us. She has played and trained at a really high level and with some of the best athletes in the world. She has good size and is an effective blocker and attacker at the net. She can set any tempo and has great location. Her volleyball IQ is off the charts and we are excited for what she will bring to our gym."
EILEEN GEX (Houston, Texas/Stratford High School)
- LIbero
- Member of Houston Juniors Volleyball
- Four-year starter at Stratford High School
- Member of the Texas All-State team in 2017
- Named a 2018 PrepVolleyball "Defensive Dandy"
- Greater Houston Area All-Postseason Team in 2017
- National Honor Society member
- Three-time academic All-District
MATTHEWS ON GEX: "Eileen is the epitome of a team kid. She is always the hardest worker in the gym and would run through walls if you asked her to. She is a really solid serve receiver and exceptional defender. She should add great depth for our back row next season."
LANI MASON (Chester, Virginia/Matoaca High School)
- Outside Hitter
- Richmond Volleyball Club
- Virginia Region 5B Player of the Year as a senior
- Has 1,000 kills in high school career
- Four-time all-conference team member
- Second-team all-state as a junior
- Took Matoaca High School to the state tournament for first time in school history
- ACPL Tournament MVP in club
MATTHEWS ON MASON: "One of the first things I recognized about Lani was how great her ball control is. She is a 6 rotation outside who brings a lot to the court defensively. She is extremely quick and agile and even though she is a bit undersized, she is super springy and plays high above the net. She has strong court presence and will bring a lot the the table as an all around athlete."
AYALA PLUMMER (Arcadia, California/Arcadia High School)
- Middle blocker
- Played for San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club
- First-team all-conference as a senior (Pacific League)
- Won a national championship with Starlings Club in 2015
- Second-team all-conference as a junior
- Won the Pacific Northwest Qualifier Championship in club
MATTHEWS ON PLUMMER: "Ayala is a really dynamic athlete. She is a big jumper with a great arm. She also can be a dominating force at the net. We are excited to get in the gym and train her and are expecting her to make big contributions next year."
LAURYN RICHARDSON (Houston, Texas/Foster High School)
- Opposite
- Played for Houston Juniors Volleyball Club
- Member of the TAVC All-Texas team
- PrepVolleyball Top-100
- Texas Preseason Fab-50 list
- National Honor Society member
MATTHEWS ON RICHARDSON: "Lauryn is a very versatile athlete who can play any position. She was mostly trained as a middle but has also played opposite and outside. She has a really fast and heavy arm and we are looking forward to the versatility she will add to our offense."
"Our coaching staff is really excited about this incoming class," head coach Sara Matthews said. "They come from great club backgrounds and have played at really high levels. We are lucky they are all culture kids who will fit in seamlessly with our team. They are all ultra competitive and we can't wait to see the impact they are going to have on our program."
EZGI BAŞARANLAR (Istanbul, Turkey/Terakki Foundation School)
- Setter
- Won bronze medal at the Turkish Championship as a senior
- Member of the U16 Turkish National Team
- Played for Eczacibasi Club in 2015 and won a silver medal
- Currently plays for Sariyer Belediyesi
MATTHEWS ON BAŞARANLAR: "Ezgi was a huge find for us. She has played and trained at a really high level and with some of the best athletes in the world. She has good size and is an effective blocker and attacker at the net. She can set any tempo and has great location. Her volleyball IQ is off the charts and we are excited for what she will bring to our gym."
EILEEN GEX (Houston, Texas/Stratford High School)
- LIbero
- Member of Houston Juniors Volleyball
- Four-year starter at Stratford High School
- Member of the Texas All-State team in 2017
- Named a 2018 PrepVolleyball "Defensive Dandy"
- Greater Houston Area All-Postseason Team in 2017
- National Honor Society member
- Three-time academic All-District
MATTHEWS ON GEX: "Eileen is the epitome of a team kid. She is always the hardest worker in the gym and would run through walls if you asked her to. She is a really solid serve receiver and exceptional defender. She should add great depth for our back row next season."
LANI MASON (Chester, Virginia/Matoaca High School)
- Outside Hitter
- Richmond Volleyball Club
- Virginia Region 5B Player of the Year as a senior
- Has 1,000 kills in high school career
- Four-time all-conference team member
- Second-team all-state as a junior
- Took Matoaca High School to the state tournament for first time in school history
- ACPL Tournament MVP in club
MATTHEWS ON MASON: "One of the first things I recognized about Lani was how great her ball control is. She is a 6 rotation outside who brings a lot to the court defensively. She is extremely quick and agile and even though she is a bit undersized, she is super springy and plays high above the net. She has strong court presence and will bring a lot the the table as an all around athlete."
AYALA PLUMMER (Arcadia, California/Arcadia High School)
- Middle blocker
- Played for San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club
- First-team all-conference as a senior (Pacific League)
- Won a national championship with Starlings Club in 2015
- Second-team all-conference as a junior
- Won the Pacific Northwest Qualifier Championship in club
MATTHEWS ON PLUMMER: "Ayala is a really dynamic athlete. She is a big jumper with a great arm. She also can be a dominating force at the net. We are excited to get in the gym and train her and are expecting her to make big contributions next year."
LAURYN RICHARDSON (Houston, Texas/Foster High School)
- Opposite
- Played for Houston Juniors Volleyball Club
- Member of the TAVC All-Texas team
- PrepVolleyball Top-100
- Texas Preseason Fab-50 list
- National Honor Society member
MATTHEWS ON RICHARDSON: "Lauryn is a very versatile athlete who can play any position. She was mostly trained as a middle but has also played opposite and outside. She has a really fast and heavy arm and we are looking forward to the versatility she will add to our offense."
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