HPU Volleyball Adds Nine to 2025 Roster

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball program has announced the new additions for the 2025 season. The Panthers have brought in nine additions to the eight returners, with three being transfers.
 
#1 Gia Padilla | Graduate Student | Apollo Beach, Fla. | Outside Hitter | Mercer
 
Padilla, the 5’9″ outside hitter joined the Panthers after spending two seasons at Mercer University. Over her two seasons with the bears, she appeared in 219 sets and totaled 461 kills, averaging 2.11 per set and 578 digs to average 2.64 per set. A season ago, she recorded eight games with a double-double in kills and digs and posted a season-high 15 kills against Wofford (Nov. 15, 2024). Prior to playing at Mercer, she played two seasons at Akron.
 
#7 Brooke Jeffery | Graduate Student | Austin, Texas | Outside Hitter | Texas A&M
 

Jeffery, the 6’1″ outside hitter transferred to High Point after two seasons at Texas A&M. In her two seasons, she appeared in 39 sets and totaled 33 kills with a season-high seven kills at No. 4 Florida. She picked up 12 digs and 13 blocks over the two seasons. Prior to her time at Texas A&M, she played her freshman season at Sacred Heart where she appeared in 31 matches and finished second on the team in kills per set (2.27), third in total kills (250), fourth in blocks (54.0), and fifth in digs (132). Jeffery tallied 12 matches with 10+ kills and posted a season-high 17 kills in a five-set win over LIU (10/28).
 
#8 Ryley Boyne | Senior | Destrehan, La. | Outside Hitter | Louisiana Monroe
 
Boyne, the 6’0″ senior from Destrehan, Louisiana joined the Panthers after spending the past season at the University of Louisiana Monroe and two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University. In her junior season, she appeared in 67 sets in 24 matches, making six starts. She was second on the team in kills and points with 179 kills and 193 points. She registered a career-high 24 kills against Marshall (Oct. 19,2024). She added 23 blocks and 38 digs on the season.
 
#9 Maya Bukovcan | Freshman | Ottawa, ON, Canada | Middle Blocker
 
Bukovcan is a 6’4″ middle blocker from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who recently graduated from All Saints Catholic High School. In high school, she was a member of the volleyball,  tennis, and track and field teams. She was voted the Jr Female Athlete of the Year during her sophomore season after being named the Jr Girls Volleyball MVP and Varsity Track MVP. During her junior year, she was named the Sr Female Athlete of the Year, Varsity Tennis MVP, Varsity Volleyball MVP and Varsity Track MVP. In track and field she participated in the OFSAA Track and Field Championships. Academically, Bukovcan was on the honor roll with distinction all four years and was awarded the Leadership Award her sophomore year and a Science Award her senior year. Bukovcan played club for the Maverick Broncos (2024-25) and Ottawa Fusion Purple (2021-2024) and is currently playing on the Team Canada U19’s team this summer.
 
#10 Remy Catojo | Freshman | Winnipeg, MN, Canada | Setter
 
Catojo is a 6’5″ setter from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who graduated from Sisler High School this past year. In high school she played volleyball, basketball and soccer and was named the Female Athlete of the Year in 2021 and 2023. She helped guide her team to three conference championships and was named the Volleyball Athlete of the Year in 2023. Academically, Catojo was an honor roll student. She played club for Jr Bisons Volleyball (2023) and Shock Volleyball Club (2023-2024) and is currently playing for the Team Canada U19’s league.
 
#12 Gabby Hill | Freshman | Happy Valley, Ore. | Outside Hitter
 
Hill, a 6’0″ outside hitter from Happy Valley, Oregon will join the Panthers for her freshman season after graduating from Adrienne C. Nelson High School. She was a member of the volleyball and track and field teams all four years. This past season Hill was named a First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference recipient in volleyball and was a First Team All-Conference honoree in the women’s high jump, Second Team All-Conference honoree in the women’s triple jump, and earned Honorable Mention in the women’s javelin. During her junior season, she was named to the First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State in volleyball and was a First Team All-Conference recipient in the women’s high jump. Hill helped guide her team to three state appearances in volleyball and made it to the high school states in track and field two times. Academically, Hill was an honor roll student and was a member of the athletic leadership club. She played club volleyball for PVC, OJVA, and Athena.

#13 Sydney McKay | Freshman | Bellville, Texas | Defensive Specialist

 

Mckay, a 5’7″ defensive specialist from Bellville, Texas graduated from Bellville High School this past May. She started all four years on the volleyball team and helped lead her team to three state tournament appearances and four district championships. During her time at Bellville she was named a 2x District MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year on the Super Elite Team in 2024, was on the TGCA All-Star team and TGCA Legacy All-Star team in 2023. She was a 3x All-State recipient, a 4x GHVCA post season team and a 2x State All-Tournament team honoree. She was named to the AVCA Phenom Watchlist selection three time and the AVCA All-Region two times. She was also named to the TWSA first team, the Greater Houston Area first team, and a District first team. Academically, McKay was a four-time Academic All-District award winner and was a member of the National Honor Society. She played club for the Houston Juniors (2021-2024).

 

#15 Talia Lardner | Freshman | Dallas, Texas | Middle Blocker/Opp. Hitter

 

Lardner, a 6’2″ middle blocker and opposite hitter from Dallas, Texas graduated from Highland Park High School. She was a member of the volleyball team all four years and was named Honorable Mention District 7-6A and to the Second Team All-District in district 12-5A. Lardner played club for Victory 15’s 4th team, Victory 16’s top team, drive nation 17’s top team, and excel red 17’s top team.

 

#17 Jasmin Oduro | Freshman | Centreville, Va. | Middle Blocker

 

Oduro is a 6’1″ middle blocker from Centerville, Virginia. A graduate of Westfield High School, Oduro played volleyball for three years and was named a Second Team All-District honoree. Academically she was an honor roll student and was a member of the History Honors Society, Black Student Union Club, Film Club, and Oceanography Club. She played club for Loudoun Elite (2022-2023) and Va Juniors (2023-2025).

 

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