MOREHEAD, Ky. – As Morehead State volleyball wraps up preparations for the 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Championships, the program has announced its signing class for the 2019 season.

The six newest members of the Eagle family are setter Bridget Bessler (Hebron, Ky.), defensive specialist Andrea Grimes (Lebanon, Ohio), outside hitter/middle blocker Abigail Hulsman (Cincinnati, Ohio), Peyton Kennedy (Cincinnati, Ohio), Kinsey McAfee (Westfield, Ind.), and McKenzee Wagener (Blue Ash, Ohio).

"I am extremely excited to finally share with the Eagle Empire the newest members of our Morehead State family," said head coach Jaime Gordon. "This is a noteworthy class for our program when you consider the quality, character, and quantity of this cohort. These women have all enjoyed both academic and athletic success at the highest levels and they understand the tradition that they are joining and embrace the culture of Morehead State Athletics.

"On the court, they are incredibly passionate and I know that our fans will enjoy cheering on their competitive nature. This group is quite talented and versatile, which will complement an incredible group of returners. The future for Morehead State volleyball is bright."

The newest class of Eagles brings a great deal of familiarity with the Morehead State program as newcomers Bessler and Hulsman are teammates with the Tri-State Elite club program—the same program that produced current Eagles Hannah Keating, Olivia Lohmeier, and Olivia Montelisciani. Grimes, Kennedy, and Wagner also join the Morehead State family from the same club team, all having competed for NKYVC.

Bessler comes from a prestigious St. Henry (Ky.) High School program that has won 18 straight KHSAA District 34 titles. Playing for head coach Maureen Kaiser, she aided the Crusaders' program to a pair of KHSAA All-"A" State Championships—a tournament designed for the smallest enrollment schools in the state of Kentucky—thrice being named to the All-Tournament Team. Bessler also helped St. Henry to KHSAA Region 9 Championships as a junior and senior, advancing to the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Elite Eight in 2017 before advancing to the Final Four in 2018.

As a senior, in leading her team to the KHSAA Final Four, Bessler dished out 945 assists en route to being named the Region 9 Most Valuable Player and the KHSAA All-State First Team. For her career, she passed out 2,517 helpers while also tallying 744 digs, 248 kills, and 143 aces during her four-year career.

"Bridget comes from a big family that values hard work, commitment, and high character," Gordon said. "She is an outstanding leader on the court and possesses so many intangible qualities necessary to be a great setter. It has been so much fun to watch her skills and athleticism develop her into one of the best setters around. I have all the confidence that she will continue the long tradition of special setters at Morehead State."

Grimes, who played for head coach Pam Coffin at Springboro (Ohio) High School, led the Panthers to three straight Greater Western Ohio Conference West Division Championships. She was named All-GWOC as a senior while also being named All-GWOC National League as a sophomore, junior, and senior and All-GWOC South Division as a freshman.

During her four-year career, Grimes scooped up 1,422 balls and landed 203 service aces while also dishing out 217 assists from her libero position. She averaged 355.5 digs per season, totaling 4.3 per set throughout her career, digging up a career-best 411 as a senior.

"Andrea is an absolute gym rat. She is so in love with volleyball and brings an unparalleled work ethic to the gym," added Gordon. She is a great teammate and embraces the role of making those around her better. She is a fearless defender with exceptional quickness and range while also possessing great flow and understanding for someone entering college. I can't wait for her to be a part of our defensive unit which has been an identity of this team. We look forward to Andrea being a significant part of that."

Hulsman, who competed for Oak Hills (Ohio) High School and head coach Jenny Meyer, is a two-time Greater Miami Conference First-Team honoree, earning the accolades following her junior and senior seasons. Additionally, she was named All-GMC Second-Team as a sophomore. During the 2018 season, Hulsman led the Highlanders to an OHSAA Division I Sectional Final Four appearance.

In her career, Hulsman represented a record-breaking attacker for Oak Hills, establishing the high school's kills record, accumulating 1,013 terminations. During her senior campaign, she recorded 354 kills, a total that marked the most in a single-season for the Highlanders. As an outside hitter, Hulsman connected at a .285 hitting percentage, posting a career-best .329 efficiency as a junior.

"Abby is such an exciting and dynamic athlete. I can't wait for her to get into our gym so that she can start her journey as she transitions into an outside hitter," Gordon added. "Her versatility and experience as a middle will give us the ability to be creative with her on the outside. She has a strong ball control and defensive foundation that we will be able to work on and her time as a middle will help her to contribute to our tradition of being a strong blocking team. I think that she has a very high ceiling on the outside and her positive attitude and drive will make it a fun process for me as a coach."

Kennedy, a two-time Eastern Cincinnati Conference First-Team honoree, joins the Eagle program from Turpin (Ohio) High School. Playing for head coach Kathy Carboy, she helped the Spartans to a pair of ECC Championships during her freshman and sophomore campaigns while also garnering a pair of ECC runner-up finishes in her junior and senior seasons.

Across her career, Kennedy registered 654 total kills while recording a .280 hitting efficiency. Her best season came as a junior when she posted 240 kills, connecting at a .349 clip. Kennedy also posted impressive numbers in a collection of categories, accumulating 380 digs, 184 total blocks, and 121 service aces during her high school career.

"Peyton is another versatile pin player who brings a great love for the game to the floor," Gordon said. "She has the ability to compete both on the left and right-side for us and has a strong net presence defensively. Peyton also brings a strong foundation in serve receive which allows us some six-rotation opportunities as well. She is a joy to be around and the type of person that makes the gym culture that much more positive."

McAfee, a member of the 2018 Under Armour All-America Watch List, comes to Morehead State program from Westfield (Ind.) High School. A three-time Shamrocks' team Most Valuable Player, playing for head coach Sandra Burks, she also claimed a spot on the Hoosier Crossroads Conference First Team as a senior. McAfee also helped Westfield to a championship at the Lawrence North Invitational during the 2018 season.

Splitting her career as a setter and outside hitter, McAfee posted 632 kills and 467 assists during her three seasons in a Shamrocks' uniform. As a freshman, competing as a setter, she dished out 423 total assists while also chipping in 73 kills of her own. During her final two campaigns, McAfee averaged 279.5 kills per season, wrapping her high school career recording 285 kills. She also registered 284 digs, 145 blocks, and 79 aces during her career.

"Kinsey has such a bright and passionate personality that will light up our gym. She is a high-flyer that is going to see her game grow in so many different ways," added Gordon. "She's incredibly coachable and genuinely committed to being the best she can be. I think that her career at Morehead State is going to be an exciting path to follow. She has the ability to play the game of volleyball at an extremely high level, both from the athletic context along with skill mastery. I can't wait to work with Kinsey on a daily basis and help her on this journey!"

Wagener joins the Morehead State program after competing for former Eagle volleyball standout setter Casie Garland—Morehead State's all-time assists leader—at Sycamore (Ohio) High School. As an Aviator, she was named to the Greater Miami Conference First Team as a senior after garnering Second Team honors during her junior year. As a sophomore, competing for Loveland (Ohio) High School, Wagner helped her team to a GMC conference and district championship while also finishing runner-up in the OHSAA Regionals.

Throughout her career, Wagener posted a .277 hitting efficiency, producing 460 kills during her three seasons of play. An accomplished middle blocker that stands 6-foot-5, she'll stand as the Eagles' tallest player since Alex Fitzmorris (6-foot-5) exhausted her eligibility following the 2013 season. As a blocker, Wagner deterred 192 total attacks during her career.

"McKenzee is so much fun to be around," said Gordon. "She will help fill some physical homes left by our graduating class at the net. She will be able to join a very strong core of returning middles which will provide a number of opportunities to grow as a player. The middle is a very demanding position at the collegiate level and I'm looking forward to her quick adjustment. I think that she is going to enjoy some great development next fall and her physicality will help that a great deal! McKenzee is a great person that I am looking forward to coach and train."