AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn Volleyball head coach Brent Crouch has announced the addition of five dynamic athletes to the Tiger program on Wednesday.
Lauren Dreves, Kalei Edson, Bella Humphrey, Emma Moore and Baylor transfer Alexis Dacosta have all arrived this spring and will suit up in the Orange and Blue for the first time next fall.
Multiple All-American honors, state championships and numerous national recognitions highlight yet another stellar class for Crouch and his staff as the program continues to reach new milestones on the Plains.
ALEXIS DACOSTA
Hometown: Katy, Texas
High School: Fulshear High School
Club: Houston Skyline
Position: Defensive Specialist
Height: 5'11"
Highlights: Played in every match at Baylor since arriving on campus in 2022… Compiled the third-most digs on the team last season, averaging 1.72 digs per set… Has stacked up 10 or more digs 17 different times throughout her career… Arrives on the Plains with 412 career digs, averaging 1.78 digs per set… Also brings in 28 service aces… Was the No. 5 recruit in the nation coming out of high school according to PrepVolleyball.com… A 2021 Under Armour All-American, Offensive Player of the Year, MVP for her club team, AVCA Phenom, US Girls National Team Development Program player, First Team All-District and All-American ... In 2020, she was an All-American, First-Team All-District, All-State Team, 5A State Finalist, All-Tournament Team, Postseason Team for GHVCA, AVCA Phenom, Houston Chronicle Player of the Year, and MVP for her club ... As a sophomore in 2019, she was named an AVCA Phenom, All-American, First Team All-District, GHVCA Player of the Year, Houston Chronicle Player of the Week, MVP for her club, TGCA All-State Team, UIL State Tournament MVP, USAV Nationals MVP, All-Tournament Team, All-State Team and Offensive Player of the Year in addition to being named a Soph 79 after becoming state champion with her team ... As a freshman, she was club MVP, Frosh 59 and Newcomer of the Year.
Crouch on DACOSTA: "Alexis brings quickness and athleticism to the libero position that we haven't had in our gym before. She is, simply put, elite. As a two-year starter at Baylor, we expect her to compete to wear the libero jersey right away."
LAUREN DREVES
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
High School: Columbia River High School
Club: Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6'1"
Highlights: PrepVolleyball high school All-American Honorable Mention… PrepVolleyball top 150 class of 2024… AVCA Phenom Watch List class of 2024… USA Volleyball National Team Development Program… First Team All-District… 2021 State Champion… Ranked as the No. 1 outside hitter in the state of Washington, the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 46 nationally according to prepdig.com… Has compiled more than 500 kills in her varsity career, averaging 4.8 kills per set at a blistering .472 hitting percentage… Stacked up over 300 career digs.
Crouch on DREVES: "Lauren is a highly skilled six-rotation outside hitter. She can receive, block, pass, serve, dig and of course, attack. It's unusual to see someone with this skill set so early in their career. We need to improve in serve receive and she will help us immediately in that area. We are deep in the outside hitter position and yet I still expect her to compete to be on the court early in her career."
KALEI EDSON
Hometown: Centralia, Illinois
High School: Centralia High School
Club: STL High Performance
Position: Setter
Height: 5'10"
Highlights: USA Volleyball Junio National All-American… 2023 USAV GJNC All-Tournament Team… 3A All-State and All-South Region honoree… PrepVolleyball First Team All-State… Ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect in the state of Illinois, No. 3 setter and No. 120 in the country… Has racked up more than 800 kills in her varsity career, over 100 aces, 100 blocks, north of 500 kills and over 700 assists…
Crouch on EDSON: "Kalei might be the most athletic setter I have coached. She is an all-around player who can perform all the skills at a high level, including attacking. We expect her to compete for playing time as a freshman and to raise the level of our gym through her energy and desire to compete."
BELLA HUMPHREY
Hometown: Lafayette, Indiana
High School: McCutcheon High School
Club: The Academy Volleyball Club
Position: Defensive Specialist
Height: 5'9"
Highlights: A member of the 1,000 Kill Club and the 1,000 Dig Club at McCutcheon High School… Also piled up over 200 aces and more the 65 blocks in her high school career…AAU Volleyball Academic All-American… 2023 JVA Watch List… Ranked as the No. 33 recruit in the state of Indiana according to PrepDig and the No. 13 Outside hitter…
Crouch on HUMPHREY: "Bella is a fantastic volleyball player. She transitioned from being a six-rotation player to stepping into the libero position last year in club, and that's what she will do for us. She has great size, length, athleticism and skill. Her serve is already high level and I expect her to adapt quickly to the college game. She will compete for playing time as a freshman and will push our back row play forward another step."
EMMA MOORE
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
High School: McGill-Toolen High School
Club: Lower Alabama Volleyball
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6'3"
Highlights: First Team AVCA All-American… 2023 AVCA Girls Best and Brightest Award Winner… 2x 7A State Champion in Alabama… 7A State All-Tournament Team… Put down more than 900 kills, over 300 blocks and north of 80 aces throughout her high school career…
Crouch on MOORE: "Emma's best skill at this point Is blocking. She is extremely quick laterally and does an excellent job with her handwork. Always driven to master skills at a high level, she exhibits some of the most mindful attention I have seen in practice situations. I expect her to have a highly successful career here at Auburn."