MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State volleyball has added four newcomers for the 2018 season.
 
The newest Eagles are middle blocker Mia Swearingen (Floyds Knobs, Ind.), middle blocker/right-side hitter Hannah Keating (Liberty Township, Ohio), defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani (Edgewood, Ky.) and defensive specialist/outside hitter Allison Whitten (Simpsonville, S.C.).

"I am excited to share this 2018 recruiting class with our Eagle Family," said head coach Jaime Gordon. "They are an outstanding group of defensive players who will bring in a great deal of high level experience. They are each high character individuals with a commitment to excellence both on and off the court. They compete with a great deal of passion which is one of the reasons they have all enjoyed such great success. Combining this group with an already strong core will provide us with a defensive presence both in the front and back row that our fans will be excited about. "


 














Swearingen helped Floyd Central (Ind.) High school to three conference titles while being named First-Team All-Conference in 2016. Playing for head coach Bart Powell, she was also tabbed Second-Team All-State in 2016. She led FCHS in blocks for four consecutive seasons. Swearingen plays for the KIVA club program and coach Ron Kordes. KIVA finished second at the AAU Nationals in 2017 in the 17-open division. She was a high school teammate with current Eagle Taylor Hodges.

"Mia is a tremendous athlete that has great net presence," Gordon said. "Her strength and explosiveness make her one of the top blocking prospects in this class. She is incredibly quick off the ground, which will benefit her offensive game as it continues to develop. Her integrity and leadership have been a backbone for teams she has played on. I feel that her transition into our program will be seamless.  She is such a hard worker and does a great job of making those around her better."

















Keating, who played for head coach Grady Rogers at Lakota East (Ohio) High School, was tabbed Second-Team All-Conference in 2016 and 2017 and was also a district all-star match participant in 2017. Keating was named an AAU All-Star in 2015. She plays for the Tri-State Elite club where she helped the team finish 9^th in the 16-open division in 2016. She plays alongside fellow newcomer Montelisciani on her club team.

"Hannah is a very versatile and dynamic player. She is extremely good attacking off of one foot and will provide with a lot of exciting opportunities to utilize her both in the middle and on the right side," Gordon added. "Her experience as a beach player has really helped her all-around game, which has made her a really good offside defender. Hannah is also one of the most positive and grateful people I have had the pleasure to be around. Her excitement to be a part of this program is contagious, and I am anxious to work with her on a daily basis"

















Montelisciani, who played for head coach Buck McCoart and former Eagle defensive standout Leslie Schellhaas (assistant coach) at Notre Dame Academy (Ky.), was named all-region in 2017. Notre Dame is a three-time district champion and a two-time region title holder with Montelisciani on the roster. She also helped NDA to a third-place showing in the state tournament in 2015. She finished with 609 digs (5.6/set) in 2017. Montelisciani joined Keating and current Eagle Olivia Lohmeier on the Tri-State Elite club. She is also a three-time Academic All-State selection.

"I can't begin to explain how excited I am to have Monte as an Eagle," Gordon said. "She is extremely competitive, but I don't think I have ever seen her not smiling. She is a relentless defender, and I have been so impressed by her commitment to her responsibilities on the court and her teammates off the court. She has great platform integrity and some outstanding reach which provides her extended defensive range. She has made some very impressive strides over the past year, and I think will be turning a lot of heads during her final club season."

















Whitten won an unprecedented six state titles (2012 and 2013 at Hillcrest [S.C.] High School; 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 at St. Joseph's [S.C.] High School for head coach Jan Karino). She was recently named an Under Armor Honorable Mention High School All-American. Whitten was the South Carolina 1A Player of the Year in 2015 and the state's 2A Player of the Year in 2016. Whitten piled up more than 1,000 career kills and digs and was a finalist for PrepVolleyball.com's National Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Player of the Year. She is also a two-time South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. Playing for Axis Elite Club and head coach Mike Whitten (her father), she is a three-time AAU Academic All-American. Whitten helped Axis Elite to the 2015 16U national title.

"Allison has grown up around the game of volleyball, and it shows in her maturity and understanding of the game," Gordon said. "She has been playing up with older girls her entire career and has proven herself as great player in all areas of the game. Her focus, commitment, and passion make her an outstanding defensive prospect. One of the benefits of the early recruiting process is the opportunity to build a strong and real relationship with our incoming players and their families. I have enjoyed watching Allison grow into such a tremendous player, person, and teammate. I can't wait to help her continue her journey and finally have her here as an Eagle."