BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University second-year head volleyball coach Brandon Crisp announced his first official signing class Friday with 11 new players. The class consists of eight high school standouts and three transfers.
 
The class includes players at all four positions with seven outside hitters, two middle blockers, two setters and two liberos with two players listed at multiple positions. The recruiting class also extends beyond the Texas borders with nine players coming from the Lone Star State, one from Georgia and one from California.
 
The newest crop of Cardinals includes nine high standouts and three transfers with two of the transfers coming from an NCAA Division I institutions.
 
Below are bios for each of the Cardinal newcomers.
 
2023 Lamar University Newcomers
Gracie Cassidy (OH) – 6-1 - Woodstock, Ga. (Woodstock HS)
High School: A key factor in helping build her high school program, one that saw more wins each season culminating in a 27-win campaign as a senior leading her squad to the state playoffs … A 2022 honorable mention all-region selection.
 
Monique Gonzalez (L) – 5-2 – Corpus Christi, Texas (Calallen HS)
High School: A four-year starter for her prep squad … Finished her high school career having recorded 1,899 digs, 285 assists and 159 service aces … A four-time all-district selection, including a two-time first-team honoree … Was named district and THSCA Super Elite Team 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Received an All-South Texas first-team nod … An honorable mention TSWA All-State libero … Named to the VBCA All-Star team.
 
Sydnee Griffen (OH) – 6-0 - McKinney, Texas (McKinney HS)
High School: A four-year letterwinner who was named 2022 team captain … A three-time all-district selection who was named team MVP in 2020 … A 2022 AVCA Best and Brightest selection in 2022 … Named to the 2022 AVCA All-Region team … Also a standout in the classroom earning THSCA Academic All-State recognition … A four-time Academic All-District selection … Comes from a long line of collegiate athletes – father and cousin played college basketball, uncle played college football and cousin ran track.
 
Lyric Jordan (OH) – 6-2 – Manvel, Texas (Houston Skyline HS)
High School: Rated as the No. 18 player in the state of Texas and No. 7 player at her position according to PrepDig Texas … PrepDig also regarded Lyric as a top 200 player nationally … Named to the 2022 AVCA High School All-America Watch List … A two-time TSWA and TGCA All-State honoree … A candidate for VYPE Houston Volleyball Public Schools Player of the Year … Was the 2022 District 18-5A Offensive Player of the Year … Two-time first-team all-district selection … Ranked 11^th in the country in kills according to VYPE … Named to the 2021 AVCA Phenom Watch list … A 10-time MaxPreps Player of the Match selection … Also a standout in the classroom earning Academic All-District honors and being named to the National Honor Society.
 
Jordan Moffitt (S) – 5-8 - Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo HS)
High School: Set her high school single-season record with 1,441 assists as a junior which led to an all-state selection … Followed that up by being named District 3-5A MVP as a senior, living up to the hype after being named preseason player of the year … Recorded 1,054 assists, 72 aces, 281 digs, 137 kills and 51 blocks during her final prep season … Was named to the 2022 AVCA All-American Watch List … Guided her prep squad to back-to-back undefeated seasons in district play and was considered one of the top 250 high school programs nationally.
 
Emily Moon (OH) – 6-1 - Schertz, Texas (St. John Paul II Catholic HS)
High School: Recorded 463 kills (4.3 ps/13.6 pm) with a .355 attack percentage … Also ended the year with 43 total blocks and 284 digs (9.8 pm) … A three-time all-state selection and a two-time first-team all-state honoree … A four-time first-team all-district selection with three of those honors coming on the first team … Guided her prep squad to the 2021 state championship … Also lettered in golf.
 
Lauren Tishkoff (OH) – 6-2 – Culver City, Calif. (Culver City HS/Alcorn State)
Prior to LU: Transferred to LU from Alcorn State where she used her redshirt season … Signed with UL Lafayette out of high school where she spent her freshman season before transferring to Navarro College … As a Ragin' Cajun she played in 39 sets over 13 matches … Took over a starting role at outside hitter during conference play where she totaled 71 kills (2.4 ps) and 20 blocks.
 
High School: Helped guide her team to a CIF playoff appearance as a freshman and sophomore … Closed out her prep career with back-to-back All-Ocean League award … Was also recruited by Arizona State … Was selected to play in the 2019 Windy City National Qualifier in the Addidas Volleyball Experience.
 
Christina Dauster (MB/OH) – 6-2 – Blue Ridge, Texas (Blue Ridge HS)
High School: A three-year letterwinner … Named District 11-3A Newcomer of the Year in 2020 … Also a standout in the classroom being named Academic All-District … Finished her high school career having recorded more than 700 kills during her career with a .261 attack percentage … Also recorded 163 block solos and more than 200 total blocks during her high school career … A versatile athlete who also lettered in basketball.
 
Jodie Edmonds (S) – 5-8 – Frisco, Texas (Forney HS)
High School: A three-year letterwinner … Was a key figure in Forney winning 76 matches in her final two seasons … During that time FHS recorded an .809 win percentage and an area championship … Finished second in her district in assists … Averaged 5.2 assists per set.  
 
Jordan Gipson (MB/OH) – 5-10 – Baytown, Texas (Sterling HS/Sam Houston)
High School: A three-year letterwinner … Garnered first-team all-region honors following her freshman season … Also a standout in the classroom earning National Honor Society recognition as well as Academic All-State honors.
 
Freedom Stephenson (L) – 5-4 – La Marque, Texas (Santa Fe HS/Wharton JC)
Junior College: A Region XIV second-team selection … Named team MVP.
 
High School: Team captain … Ranked among the top 68 in the state of Texas for digs … Averaged nearly 6.0 digs per set … Also recorded 21 service aces on the season … Guided her prep squad to three 20-win seasons and two 30-win campaigns … Led Santa Fe to three Bi-District and Area titles … Named to the Under Armour All-American Watch List as a senior … Two-time TAVC All-State selection … Named to the Prep Volleyball Watch List … Three-time All-GHVCA, including two first-team honors … Three-time first-team all-district … Was named to the AVCA Phenom Watch list as junior after leading the league in total digs and digs per set … Named district defensive player of the year after leading the league in digs as a sophomore … A success in the classroom earning Academic All-State recognition.