LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Siena Volleyball program and first-year head coach Simone Asque have announced eight newcomers – four freshman and four transfers – to the program for the upcoming Fall of 2022. The Saints welcome in freshman Kate Heinrich, Rory McNerney, Zofia Serafinowska, and Emily Wood. Coming in via the transfer portal is Ece Emrullah, Monet Latunde, Anny Montano, and Jenna Szabelski.
 
"When I recruit and search for future Saints, I don't just look for who is athletic and skillful at volleyball," said Asque. "Of course, athleticism and skill are important, but those are nothing without ambition, work-ethic, enthusiasm, empathy, and the desire to be a part of something great. Each and every individual of this incoming class exemplifies what I look for in a future Siena Saint. This recruiting class is phenomenal and will blend beautifully with our outstanding group of returners and our team culture. The Siena Volleyball program already took huge strides over the spring semester and this incoming class is another exciting step forward!"
 
Emrullah comes to Loudonville as a transfer from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, appearing in 13 matches and 40 sets for the Islanders in 2021 as a freshman. She tallied 34 kills, averaging 1.24 points per set. The Istanbul, Turkey native also played tennis and ran track. The 6-3 middle blocker played club for Galatasaray.
 
Heinrich enters Siena from Westhill High School in Syracuse. She won back-to-back state championships in Class B in both 2018 and 2019. She was named to the 2021 AVCA Best and Brightest Award First Team. She was also tabbed for the 2020 National Phenom List, and was a Central New York Player of the Year Finalist in 2020 and 2021. The Syracuse native earned OHSL Player of the Year and First Team All-League honors in 2021, and was a three-time Section III All-CNY Team from 2019-2021. Among other All-League and All-Region accolades, she most recently was named to the Ultra Ankle JVA Watch List in 2022.
 
Matriculating from Pasadena City College, Latunde is a 5-10 middle blocker. As a freshman with the Lancers, she appeared in 25 matches, averaging 1.48 kills per set and 0.57 blocks per set in 2021. The Arcadia, California native twice collected double-digit kills, and was credited with a season-high seven blocks in a 3-0 win versus Cerritos. She earned First Team All-Conference honors. In high school at Arcadia, she would go on to earn First Team All-League honors in leading her team to a Pacific League championship. She played club for Forza 1 West.
 
Another Empire State add for the Saints, McNerney comes from Ardsley, New York. An All-State performer for the Panthers three years in a row, McNerney also earned All-League, All-Conference, and All-Section selections all three years as well – including the Section I Player of the Year in 2021. The outside hitter and libero also earned Lohud Player of the Year in 2021 as well. She played club volleyball for USANY VBC. In the classroom, McNerney is an honor roll student.
 
Transferring from Arizona Western College, Montano is an outside hitter from Cali, Columbia. In one season with the Matadors in 2020-21, she was named NJCAA All-American First Tea, and was ACCAC Co-Player of the Year. She appeared and played in all 19 matches, leading the conference in service aces (10), and was second in points (207). She led AWC with 175 kills, 19 total service aces, and was second with 137 digs.
 
Coming in as a freshman from Wielkopolska, Poland, Serafinowska is a 6-0 middle blocker with plenty of international experience. She has competed in multiple Polish National Championships, most recently in 2022 as a member of the U-19 squad that finished third in the Championships of Greater Poland and reached the semifinals in the National Championships. She would do the same in 2021, while putting up first place finishes in the high school regional championships and women's third league, helping the team earn promotion to second league. Despite multiple top three finishes in the Championships of Greater Poland, her team would win it in 2018 in the U-15 division.
 
The class's fourth and final transfer, Szabelski comes to Loudonville from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. As a freshman, she appeared in 20 matches with 19 starts. The setter tossed out a team-high 606 assists, averaging 8.78 assists per set. She added 101 digs and 14 blocks to her resume for the 2021 season, as the Livonia, Michigan native earned All-State, All-Region, All-Conference, and an MVP selection in high school at Livonia Stevenson.
 
Entering Siena all the way from Vancouver, Washington, Wood comes from Skyview High School where she earned an All-State honorable mention this past season. She also earned First Team All-Conference accolades, and the school's Defensive Player of the Year both her junior and senior seasons. She played club for NPJ Salem, while her prior club – NPJ VCB – earned a No. 1 ranking among club teams in the northwest.
 
Asque added, "The incoming freshmen, Kate, Rory, Zofia, and Emily, bring a lot of energy with their goals and excitement to compete at a Division I level. As a group they are outrageously coachable and eager to learn. I look forward to leading them through new skills and techniques as they grow and adapt to collegiate life. The incoming transfers, Monet, Ece, Jenna, and Anny, will add experience to our team and bolster our competitive dynamics. They are all exceptionally athletic and wield a fantastic knowledge of our sport. They each expressed a desire to be a part of a competitive but close-knit team and want to add to that supportive environment."