Bronx, N.Y. – Head coach
Gini Ullery-Shrift and the Fordham volleyball program announced its 2018 recruiting class on Monday afternoon, comprised of two players: outside hitter Joey Landeros and setter Makaela Tanaka.
"We are excited to add Mak and Joey to the program next Fall," Ullery-Shrift said, "They are wonderful young women from supportive families, and I am looking forward to them adding competitiveness to our program."
Landeros Signs Her NLI
Landeros, a 6'1 outside hitter from Fishers, Ind., earned three letters with Cathedral High School, playing a total of 10 years with the program. With her help, the Fighting Irish were back-to-back state champions during her sophomore and junior campaigns, and a Max Preps and Prep Volleyball national champion in 2015. Landeros was named to the junior all-star team a season ago and is a four-time city champion. She was named to the AVCA Class of 2018 Watch List last year for her accomplishments on the court. At the club level, Landeros has competed with Pandas, where she tied for fifth at AAU nationals in 2015, and the Aztecs, where she tied for third at nationals a year later. Off the court, she's been a four-year Cathedral Honor/High Honor student and is a National Honor Society
Ullery-Shrift on Landeros: "Joey has shown so much growth through her recruiting process and we are excited to have her become part of the program. She is working no getting stronger and faster, which will help her come in and make a difference here on the outside."
Tanaka, a 5'10 setter from Saratoga, Calif., played four four years and earned three varisty letters at Archbishop Mitty High School in San
Tanaka Signs Her NLI
Jose. She played on a Monarchs team that was ranked #1 in the country in 2015 and 2016, but truly broke out as a junior, earning Max Preps All-State honors, PrepVolleyball.com All-American special mention, West Catholic Athletic League All-League, and Mercury News Bay Area Third Team honors. She was also named to the Durango Classic Second Team and All-Tournament team, a feat she bested a year later as a senior, earned First Team accolades. She was named Max Preps/AVCA California Athlete of the Week during week six in mid-September as both a junior and a senior. She was also recently named 2017-18 Under Armour/AVCA All-American honorable mention. The Monarchs just won their CCS Sectional Championship over the weekend and will now compete in the upcoming Northern California Regionals. Plays her club volleyball with Vision Volleyball the past four years, where she helped them win one gold medal, three silver medals, and a bronze medal at various Open Division competitions during her first three seasons. This past year, Vision earned silver at the Far Westerns Qualifier USA Division. Off the court, Tanaka is a four-year member of the Principal's Honor Roll and the National Honor Society.
Ullery-Shrift on Tanaka: "Mak is a competitor. She plays for a great high school program, she is a very smart athlete with a high volleyball IQ, and she'll be able to come in and make an immediate impact."
