Garlacy inks three in Class of 2021

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy is pleased to announce the incoming Class of 2021.

The trio of signees include a pair of high school teammates, two captains and a quartet of all-state selections spanning three different positions, as next fall's rookie class is poised to make an impact as the Bulldogs go for their third postseason berth in as many years.

Introducing the Bryant University volleyball Class of 2021:

Alisi Motu'apuaka | 5-5 | Setter | Fort Benning, Ga./Columbus
Motu'apuaka was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year starter, spending her first three years at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Va., before transferring to Columbus High School as a senior … Helped lead the Blue Devils to a postseason appearance and run to the state semifinals in 2016 ... Also helped Ocean Lakes to back-to-back postseason berths in 2014 and 2015, with a state semifinal appearance as a sophomore ... Named all-state honorable mention selection as a sophomore (Virginia) and senior (Georgia) … First team all-conference selection at Ocean Lakes (2015) and Columbus (2016) … Senior all-star nod … 2016 All-Bi-City First Team honoree … Also earned two varsity letters in soccer and two in track & field … Named a 2015 all-conference honorable mention in soccer … Played club for A5 South.

Erika Ward | 5-1 | Libero | Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek
Ward was a three-year varsity letterwinner and two-year starter at Stoney Creek High School … Helped the program earn its first-ever Oakland Athletic Association (OAA) Red Division title and first appearance in the district finals in 2015 … Team returned to the district finals in 2016 … Led the Cougars to 2016 Rochester City Cup Championship … Holds school records for digs in a career (1,312) and digs in a season (741) … Named an all-state second team selection as a senior … All-state honorable mention as a junior … Two-time all-region pick (2015, 2016) … 2015 and 2016 All-OAA Red Division nod … Earned MVP award as a senior … Two-time captain … Four-time OAA Scholar-Athlete … National Honor Society member … Played club for Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy, where she helped her team finish ninth at the 2014 AAU Nationals … Current teammate of Mackenzie Wild (below).

Mackenzie Wild | 6-0 | Right Side | Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek
Wild was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year starter at Stoney Creek High School … Helped the program earn its first-ever Oakland Athletic Association (OAA) Red Division title and first appearance in the district finals in 2015 … Team returned to the district finals in 2016 … Led the Cougars to three Rochester City Cup Championships (2013, 2014, 2016) … 2016 first team all-league and first team all-region selection … Senior captain … Named to the 2015 AVCA Phenom List … Earned 2014 Most Improved Player award … Two-time OAA Red Scholar-Athlete (2013, 2014) … Played club for Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy, where she helped her team finish ninth at the 2014 AAU Nationals … Current teammate of Erika Ward (above).