BEAUMONT, Texas — Four freshmen will be joining the Lamar University volleyball team next season.

Ariel Apolinario, who enters his third season next fall, led the Cardinals to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009.

LU finished fifth in the Southland Conference standings with a 17-15 overall record and 10-6 mark in league play.

The Cardinals qualified for the conference tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011.

Katelyn Hughes, Gabrielle St. Louis, Rihanna Bryant and Leila Ceaser are the new additions to the program.

Gabrielle St. Louis, 5-foot-11, OPP, Houston, Texas / Fort Bend Dulles HS

During her senior year, St. Louis played in 95 sets tallying 291 kills (3.1 kills per set) while she also had 28 service aces, 49 total blocks, 38 block assists, 11 solo blocks, 236 digs and 12 assists.

The standout numbers earned her District 21-6A first team honors for the second straight season.

Starring as both an outside and right-side hitter, St. Louis played club volleyball at Absolute Volleyball Academy and the Houston Stellar Volleyball Club.

She most recently appeared in the Fort Bend Independent School District all-star game being recognized as the offensive player of the game.

Apolinario on St. Louis: "Known for her athletic gifts, reach and lefthanded hitting, Gabby has the makings of a promising student-athlete with the upside to excel at the collegiate level."

Katelyn Hughes, 5-foot-7, S, Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park HS

Hughes, a standout four-year letterman, wrapped up her career with 1,723 assists.

She finished her senior year with 823 assists (5.6 assists per set) in 146 sets played while on the defensive end she tallied 443 digs.

Hughes also added 59 service aces, 54 kills and six total blocks this past season.

She finished her career with 918 digs.

Hughes led Cedar Park to a Class 5A Division II state championship as the team swept Argyle in the finale to post a 39-12 overall record while riding a 20-game winning streak.

Wrapping up district play with a perfect 14-0 record, Hughes was named District 25-5A's Setter of the Year and to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-Region team.

Academically, she earned a spot on the AVCA's Best and Brightest list, garnering first team honors for sporting a weighted grade point average of 4.15 or above.

During her junior season, Cedar Park finished as the Class 5A Division II state runner-up.

Hughes competed with the Texas Fury Volleyball Club during the offseason.

Apolinario on Hughes: "Highly skilled setter with a proven track record in high school and club volleyball. Katelyn brings a championship DNA with her to boomtown. One of the top athletes in the Austin area, Katelyn is poised for continued success at the collegiate level."

Leila Ceaser, 5-foot-11, OH, Conroe, Texas / Oak Ridge HS

A four-year letterman at Oak Ridge, Ceaser finished her career with 894 kills, 136 service aces, 147 total blocks and 811 digs.

Oak Ridge advanced to the area round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs as it posted a 27-11 overall record, finishing third in District 13-6A with a 12-4 mark.

Ceaser played in 112 sets during her senior year tallying 320 kills, 56 service aces, 48 total blocks, 46 block assists, 305 digs and 27 assists.

Leading the team in kills, digs and aces, Ceaser earned first-team All-District 13-6A honors for the second straight season.

Ceaser competes with the Texas Legacy Volleyball Club.

Apolinario on Ceaser: "Leila is expected to strengthen the Cardinals lineup while adding great depth to the outside position that has produced multiple all-conference performances the last two seasons. Leila is ready to step in and push for valuable minutes early in her collegiate career."

Rihanna Bryant, 6-foot-0, MB, Pflugerville, Texas / Weiss HS

Bryant tallied 917 career kills as a four-year letterman at the middle blocker and outside hitter positions.

Defensively, she posted 166 total blocks, 136 solo blocks and 172 digs in her career.

In 129 sets played during her senior season, Bryant tallied 370 kills, four service aces, 56 total blocks, 42 solo blocks, 74 digs and seven assists.

Bryant earned AVCA All-Region honors in addition to being named District 23-5A's Hitter of the Year and to the All-Central Texas team.

Weiss made an appearance in the Class 5A Division II regional semifinals, posting an overall record of 39-9 while going 10-2 in district play.

Bryant is a member of the Austin Junior Volleyball club team.

Apolinario on Bryant: "Recognized as a rising talent in Texas volleyball, Rihanna is a gifted athlete with a physical presence. Rihanna is a competitor with the makings of a foundational piece for years to come."