Eagle Beach Volleyball Welcomes Trio of New Players for the '28 Season

Morehead, Ky. -- The Morehead State beach volleyball team has signed three high school seniors to join the program in the Spring 2028 season.
 
"I am incredibly excited to add LeeAnn, Avery, and Kylie to our beach volleyball program," said Morehead State head coach Kyrsten Becker-McBride. "All three are multi-sport athletes who have been part of winning programs and understand the commitment, discipline, and teamwork that go into being successful. Each of them brings a unique set of experiences and abilities, and I'm excited to see that translate to the beach game."
 
LeeAnn Knapp
 
A 6-0 blocker from Lexington, LeeAnn Knapp was a First Team All-City selection as a junior in 2025 after posting 278 kills and 33 total blocks for Tates Creek High School.
 
Committed to the Morehead State Beach Volleyball Program, Knapp's fall ended in the 11^th Region Tournament. Her Tates Creek squad finished the season 23-8.
 
"I am excited to add LeeAnn to our beach volleyball program," said Becker-McBride. "Most of our beach only athletes have traditionally been defenders, so it will be nice to add a blocker to the mix. While she has spent more time playing indoor volleyball than beach, I think a lot of that experience will translate well to the sand. In 2024 in her sophomore season, she notched 248 kills and 19 total blocks with 212 digs and was named to the All-City Second Team.
 
In her career at Tates Creek, Knapp posted 938 kills, 679 digs and 121 aces, and was a three-time Academic All-State selection.
 
"(Knapp) is a smart player who does a great job handling difficult situations, finding ways to score, and making good decisions under pressure. She is also a solid passer, which gives her a good foundation to be successful in the beach game.  As a three time academic all-state athlete, I know LeeAnn will be someone who makes our Eagle fans proud on and off the court," concluded Becker McBride.
 
Avery Bastien
 
Avery Bastien, a 5-7 defensive specialist, has piled up 86 career service aces and over 361 career digs for Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. 
 
"Avery is the type of athlete and teammate that coaches love to work with.  She is hardworking, positive, and understands that success comes from putting the team first," said Becker-McBride. "Avery has good ball control, sees the court well, and does a nice job making plays that put her partner in a good position to be successful.
 
Her Center Grove team advanced to the Indiana 4A state finals, where they were upended by Indiana volleyball powerhouse Carroll High School last weekend in Indianapolis.
 
Last season as a junior, she posted 48 aces and 283 digs in 119 sets played.

Formerly nearly exclusively an indoor player, Bastien transitioned to the beach a few years ago. A captain on her beach club, she has racked up 25 podiums on beach club scene.
 
"Her passion for beach volleyball is evident, and that is incredibly important in a program like ours where some of her teammates will be playing beach for the first time in college," added Becker McBride. "She understands what it takes to win, and I'm excited to have her compete in blue and gold!" 
 
Kylie Kinner
 
A two-sport star out of Paintsville High School in Paintsville, Kentucky, Kinner has signed to play basketball for coach Jackie Alexander and will also play beach volleyball in the Spring at Morehead State.
 
A six-year starter for the Tigers, Kinner was named Kentucky Miss Volleyball by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association for the 2026 season. She is the Kentucky high school record holder with 3,195 career kills.  This season, she led her Paintsville Tigers squad to a 35-7 record and a trip the state tournament quarter-finals and was named the 15^th Region Player of the Year for the third time in her career.
 
"Kylie is an incredibly talented athlete, and what she has accomplished on the indoor volleyball court is pretty remarkable," said Becker-McBride. "Being named 2026 Miss Kentucky Volleyball and surpassing 3,000 career kills speaks to both her ability and the work she puts into athletics."
 
Kinner posted 804 kills, averaging 6.81 kills per set with a .416 hitting percentage in 118 sets played. She also notched 86 service aces, giving her 308 for her career. She amassed 1,272 digs in her six years with the Tigers.
 
Last season in her junior campaign, she banged out 829 kills, averaging 6.88 kills per set with a .353 hitting percentage and was a First Team All-State selection and garnered her second KVCA 15^th Region Player of the Year Award. She added 77 service aces, 28 total blocks and 383 digs.
 
On the basketball court, she will begin the season with 3,042 career points, a Paintsville High School girls-program record and just 53 points shy of the all-time record at Paintsville, boys or girls.
 
'It takes a special person, with a tremendous amount of discipline and work ethic, to take on two completely different sports at the collegiate level. If anyone can do it, it's Kylie," added Becker McBride. "A lot of what has made her successful in indoor volleyball will translate really well to the beach game. She has the ability to pass, sees the court exceptionally well, and brings a physical presence that will be fun to develop in the sand."