TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Talladega College women's volleyball team continues to prepare for the 2023 season with the announcement of seven additions to the roster in the first year of new head coach LaShaunda Spurgeon.

Spurgeon says she looks forward to the progress her first Tornadoes team makes as the season progresses, following the team motto "Brick By Brick."

"I am excited to welcome my first signing class. I can't wait to get to work with this group," said Spurgeon. "After meeting the returners and working with them during the spring, I am aware of the areas that need improvement, and I am confident that each of the recruits will bring something to the team that will contribute to the success of the program and the foundation that I am striving to build here in Talladega." 

Nuria Bravo-Santos 

Bravo-Santos put her name in the ECC record book with her solid play in 2022, seeing action in all 30 of the Panthers' matches.  She ended her career third in single-season assists with 772 and fifth in assists per set at 6.95. The 5-foot-5 setter also served 46 aces which were third-most in a season for the Panthers. Bravo-Santos was named Second Team All-Region and Third Team All-Conference last season at ECC. She was named to the First Team Academic All-Region in both 2021 and 2022, NJCAA Academic All-American, and received ECC Female Student-Athlete of the Year 2022-2023 honors.


Kiana Polk 

Polk comes to Dega after spending her freshman season at NCAA Division I Coppin State, where the Buford, Georgia native saw action in ten matches. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter recorded kills in back-to-back contests at UNC Greensboro and against Bethune-Cookman, finished with two kills against South Carolina State, added kills against Morgan State and at South Carolina State. Before attending Copping State, Polk helped Buford HS to back-to-back 6A State Championships in junior and senior seasons. As a senior, she was named First Team All-Region and Second Team All-County and also received AVCA All-Region, AVCA Best and Brightest, and All-America Watch List recognition.


Giovanna Costarelli 

Santa Bárbara D' Oeste, Brazil
Costarelli posted 40 assists and 26 kills while adding 48 digs and 12 total blocks defensively last season for New Mexico Junior College. The 5-foot-10 setter was part of the WJCAC All-Academic team in 2021 in both the fall and spring seasons and has earned multiple most valuable player awards while playing for Brazilian clubs.


Dyani Steward 
Lincoln High School 

Steward comes to Talladega after a well-accomplished high school career. The 5-foot-6 outside hitter and defensive specialist earned a plethora of accolades during her senior year, including Tallahassee Democrat's Offensive Player of the Week; Big Bend Preps Athlete of the Week; 2022 AVCA High School All-American Recognition, FACA All-Star Classic Player; and the 2022 Keystone Athlete of Lincoln's Volleyball. She also received recognitions such as AAU Diamond Division Winner, March Mayhem Gold Medal, and 2022 JJVA River City Classic Silver Medal. In 2021, Steward was named Lincoln High School's Most Improved Player on Varsity and selected Elise Bush Invitational All-Tournament Team.


Kortni Johnson 

Johnson was a member of the Houston Juniors Volleyball Club for five years and earned an 18s National Championship Gold Medal. The 5-foot-10 middle blocker is a two-time First Team 6A All-District Player and was named to the 2023 Senior Houston Independent School District All-Star Team. She was also a three-time academic top ten at Lamar High School and a two-year member of AIM in community and volunteer groups.


Briyith Prado Echeverri

Cali, Colombia
Operating under her favorite quote, "Your only limit is your mind," Echeverri has not let international borders stop her volleyball development skills. The 5-foot-5 defensive specialist played in Brazil for three years in the selection of Rio Grande

do Norte. She has represented her native Columbia National Team in the Pant American Cup in Peru and Cuba and at the World Cup in Argentina.


Re'na Ashley 

Ashley played a significant role in the Indian River State College attack and finished second on the squad with 136 kills in 24 matches and 78 sets during her redshirt sophomore season. She also added 115 digs and 60 total blocks defensively. In her first sophomore season at IRSC, the 5-foot-10 right-side attacker posted 96 kills and added 32 total blocks and 29 digs during 17 matches and 52 total sets.

 

The new-look Tornadoes make their season premiere on August 19 against Reinhardt University at 11 a.m. CDT in Waleska, Georgia.