BEAUMONT – Versatile and winners. That is how Lamar University Volleyball head coach Alan Edwards would describe his three signees added during the early signing period for the 2017 squad, the program announced Friday afternoon.
 
"We're ecstatic about this class. This has been a process of culture change here, and we're trying to get in players who are used to fighting for and winning championships," said Edwards. "I think that is very important. We want players that are used to winning and holding up trophies. They come in chasing that feeling. Players who feel getting to college wasn't the final goal, but to win a championship there too.
 
"With (Iyaria) Walker and (Alexis) Wiley, we found two players who are outstanding middles. They can either play there or help us outside," he added. "It gives us options on how make the team better."
 
Iyaria Walker is a junior-transfer from Pensacola State College, where she led the Pirates to a 25-7 record in 2016 – which ended at the FCSAA Volleyball Championships. She is a two-time Panhandle Conference Champion, and finished her season ranked third in the state and eighth in the nation for hitting percentage.
 
"Walker is an outstanding Houston product who went to a junior college and is coming back. She is a dynamic fast-twitch athlete that can play in the middle and help us there," said Edwards. "If we want to move her to the right side, we can mover her to a pin. She hits the ball high and hard and will replace some of the offense we lost to graduation."
 
She was named as a first-team all-conference performer in 2016 and ranked second on her with 0.74 blocks per set.
 
Kaitlyn Nutt comes as a two-time District 19-4A Defensive Player of the Year at the libero position from Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS). She is also a Second-Team Texas Sports Writers All-State member and was on the third team of the East Texas Sports Network group in 2015.
 
"Kaitlyn hopefully will help us solve some of the issues we have defensively. We just don't dig enough balls per set, but more importantly we don't dig enough balls per opportunity," said Edwards. "We've raised our team efficiency offensively, but haven't limited our opponents' offensive efficiency.
 
"A great libero can help with that. Kaitlyn is a really solid, stable player in serve receive and can make some really fantastic defensive plays," he added. "Hopefully she can step in and take over the role of not just starting our offense but help us lower teams' offense efficiency as well."
 
Nutt has a career total of 1,819 digs, 63 aces and 69 assists. She and her team made a bid for the state championships with four wins in the UIL State Volleyball Championships, but fell in the regional finals. She had 36 digs in that final match of her career.
 
Alexis Wiley, of Longview, Texas (Pine Tree HS), was her district's Most Valuable Player and Hitter of the Year, and was voted to an all-state as a third-team member. She led her team to the UIL State Volleyball Championships a 22-15 record on the season.
 
"Alexis is someone who can play in the middle or move to the outside. She is a fast-twitch that's a lot like Cortney Moore. She's strong and physical even though she isn't a 6-1 or 6-2 middle," said Edwards. "She's fast, rangy and can cover ground. She's got a live arm and can put away balls from the outside. In this league, you win and lose at the pin – specifically the left pin."
 
She finished her career at Pine Tree with a remarkable .371 attack percentage and 2.50 kills per set. Over her four years, she totaled 301 sets, 754 kills, 318 blocks and 64 aces. She is also a well-rounded athlete that ran track (long and triple jumps) and played basketball.
 
This class will help replace the four players lost to graduation in 2015, two outside hitters – including first team All-Southland Player Chelsea Grant – a libero and setter.
 
Player Bios:
Kaitlyn Nutt | 5-5 | DS/L | Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS)
High School:
• Two-time District 19-4A Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15).
 • Second-Team Texas Sports Writers All-State and Third-Team All-State from East Texas Sports Network in 2015.
• Four-time academic all-district.
• Has a career total of 1,819 digs, 63 aces and 69 assists.
• Advanced to the regional finals her senior and helped her team to the playoffs all four varsity years.
• Coached by Leven Barker.
Personal:
• Daughter of Kristy and Heath Nutt.
• Two brothers, Tristan and Braden
•Born Kaitlyn Michele Nutt on Jan. 23, 1999.
• Wants to pursue a medical degree and work in dermatology.
 
Iyaria Walker | 5-11 | MB | Houston, Texas (Pensacola JC/Summer Creek HS)
Prior to Lamar:
• First-team all-conference in 2016.
• Ranked eighth in the state for hitting percentage in 2015, and upped that ranking to second in 2016.
• Helped Pensacola to a 25-7 overall record in 2016.
• Coached by Chris Laird.
• Recorded 1.42 kills a set for Pensacola on a .160 attack percentage in 2016.
• Finished the season with 0.74 blocks per set – second on her team - in 32 matches, 86 sets.
High School:
• Coached Tamika Newman.
• Earned team's Most Improved Award all four seasons.
Personal:
• Daughter of Inca and Ricky Wilson.
• Three sisters, Iyanna, Imari and Aniya.
• Born Dec. 25, 1996.
• Nicknamed IJ.
• Majoring in criminal justice.
• Wants to work in the FBI.
 
Alexis Wiley | 5-10 | MB | Longview, Texas (Pine Tree HS)
High School:
• 2016 District MVP and Hitter of the Year.
• Voted Third-Team All-State
• Academic All-District.
• Had a career 2.50 kills per set mark with a phenomenal .371 attack percentage.
• Finished with a career total of 301 sets, 754 kills, 318 total blocks and 64 aces in her varsity career. 
• Unbelievable hitting percentage of .506 her junior season with 400 total blocks (3.5 per set).
• In her senior season, she put up a 2.70 kills per set and had a .290 attack mark.
• Twice in her career she reached over 100 blocks, her junior and senior season – both gave her a per set mark over 1.0.
• Well-rounded athlete was also a track star in the long and triple jump and a basketball player.
• Coached by Carolee Musick.
Personal:
• Daughter of Monica Wiley.
• Born on Oct. 30, 1998.
• Undecided on a major.
• Her brother, Cardarious, plays on the Richland College Basketball Team.