Women's Volleyball Announces Class of 2020 Recruiting Class

BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham women's volleyball team will add four newcomers to its roster beginning in 2016, it was announced Wednesday by head coach Gini Ullery. Joining the Rams next season will be Elise Benjamin, Olivia Fairchild, Paige Hudgin and Kaitlin Morley.

"We are excited to welcome Elise, Liv, Paige and Kaitlin to our Ramily," Ullery said. "They are all hard working, competitive individuals that will come in and have a big impact on our program."
 

Benjamin is a 6-0 middle blocker from Desoto, Texas, who has played four years of varsity volleyball at Desoto High School while earning First and Second Team All-District and All-Academic honors. She also plays club volleyball for ACE Smack Black and helped them to the NTR Tournament championship. Benjamin plans to major in Business Merchandising at Fordham.       

"Elise is an athlete," Ullery said. "She is a big jumper and is constantly improving her game. She has the potential to do great things on the court and will transition well here at Fordham."

Fairchild is a 6-0 multi-position player from Phoenix, Ariz. and constructed a celebrated four-year career at Desert Vista High School, the Max Preps #1 Team in the Nation. She is coming off a senior season that saw her named First Team All-State by the Arizona Republic while leading Desert Vista to back-to-back state championships. The Team MVP smashed 405 kills – the third most in single-season Desert Vista history – en route to being an Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year finalist, after being placed on the Prep Volleyball Preseason High School All-American Watch list. Fairchild was also the 2014 & 2015 AIA Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Award recipient as well as the 2015 Tempe All-City Award winner. She was also named to the Nfinity SOCIAL Volleyball Tournament All-Tournament team, the Nike Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team and the Westwood All-Tournament Team. Fairchild, who was also a Rockin' Refuel All-Academic Team Candidate, was the Arizona Republic Athlete of the Week once and the Athlete of the Month runner-up. She was also Second Team All-State by the Arizona Republic as a junior.

"Liv is a go getter," Ullery said. "Her energy, spunk and determination to be the best is why she will come in and make an immediate impact on this program."

Fairchild also plays club volleyball for Club One 18 Platinum and has been selected for the USAVA A1 National Training team, after playing for the A1 Youth National Training Team. Fairchild is a strong student and plans to major in business at Fordham. She is a member of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society as well as an honor student. Fairchild also volunteers to coach volleyball at the Club One U Clinic at Club One Volleyball and volunteers at the Senior Center in downtown Phoenix.

 

Hudgin is a 5-8 setter from Petersburg, Mich. and played four years of varsity volleyball at Ida High School in Ida, Mich., where she has been a four-year captain as well. Hudgin has already been All-State three times, All-Region four times and All-League four years. She is a two-time Michigan Player of the Week and broke the kill record while compiling the best attack percentage. Hudgin also plays club volleyball for TVC 18 Elite and has been named the league's MVP while helping her squad to a runner-up finish in the national championship. The English Three Student of the Year is undecided on a major at Fordham.

"Paige is a competitor and leader on the court," Ullery said. "Her speed helps her get to any ball and her fast release gets her attackers in good positions."

 
Morley is a 5-10 outside hitter from Westlake Village, Calif. and played four years of varsity volleyball at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills Calif., where she will have her jersey retired and hung in the school pavilion. This past season she was the team captain for the second straight year as she helped her team to the 2015 Sunshine League championship while being named the MVP of the Sunshine League D2A, the All-CIF Southern Section Division 2A Player of the Year and team MVP for the second year in a row. Morley was also named the Foothill Tournament MVP and to the All-Tournament Team at the Royal Simi Tournament. As a junior, she was the MVP of her team and of the Sunshine League as well while earning All-Tournament accolades at the Foot Hill Tournament and Royal Simi Tournament. Morley also played club volleyball for the LAVA 15-1, LAVA 16-1 and LAVA 17 Adidas, leading LAVA 17 Adidas to the Spokane Qualifier Tournament championship. Morley, who is undecided on a major at Fordham, is an honor roll student, a recipient of the Religion Department Award and a member of S.T.E.M.

"Kaitlin is a solid six rotation outside hitter," Ullery said. "Her focus and work ethic is a strong quality to bring into this program."