George Washington University Athletics
Volleyball Welcomes Four Newcomers for 2017 Season
7/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
WASHINGTON - The George Washington volleyball team has announced the addition of four student-athletes to the roster for the 2017 season. The recruiting class includes a trio of incoming freshmen in Callie Fauntleroy (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier), Marianna Warren (Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney) and Sydney Welch (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) as well as a graduate transfer from Dartmouth in Stacey Benton (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Arcadia).
"I'd like to be the first to welcome our four newcomers to the George Washington volleyball team," said first-year head coach Sarah Bernson. "Along with our returning players, these new additions fit the mold of the ideal GW student-athlete. With such a solid core of the team returning and the added skill of these four athletes, I am excited about the depth and strength of the team. Stacey, Callie, Marianna, and Sydney are all committed to helping elevate this program to the next level and everyone is looking forward to getting to work in two weeks."
Stacey Benton
Graduate Student
Setter
5-7
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL/Arcadia/Dartmouth
Benton spent the previous four seasons at Dartmouth, playing three full seasons as a setter before being sidelined for the majority of her senior season with an injury. She totaled 1,861 assists (7.24/set) in her undergraduate career, including team-leading totals of 852 assists in 2013 and 492 helpers in 2014. She also totaled 508 digs over her tenure with the Big Green with 57 service aces and 22 career double-doubles. Benton played scholastically at both Arcadia High School (Phoenix, Arizona) and Snow Canyon High School (St. George, Utah). She also was a key member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2012 United States Junior National Volleyball Championship.
Callie Fauntleroy
Freshman
Middle Blocker
6-2
Wilmette, IL/New Trier
Fauntleroy wrapped an impressive scholastic career by being named the Central Suburban League (CBL) South Conference Co-Player of the Year as a senior at New Trier High School under head coach Hannah Hsieh. She helped her team to a 25-10 overall record and the CSL South Co-Championship as a senior after leading her team in kills, kill percentage (46.2 percent), kill efficiency (38.1 percent) and blocks. She was also an All-Area Team 22 selection as a senior. Fauntleroy competed for club teams Wildcat Jrs. VBC (2011-15) and First Alliance Volleyball Club (2015-17).
Marianna Warren
Freshman
Outside Hitter
6-1
Gaffney, SC/Gaffney
Warren was a two-time All-State performer and three-time All-Region selection at Gaffney High School. She capped her senior season by being named the Offensive Most Valuable Player and a 5A/4A North All-Star. In addition to All-Region and All-State honors, she recorded her 1,000th-career kill as a senior. In her junior season, she was the Offensive MVP and an All-Region selection. During her sophomore season, she helped Gaffney to the Region III-AAAA Championship while leading the region in service aces. Additional honors include being a High School Sports Report SCHSL All-State selection as a sophomore. She competed for Upward Stars Upstate Club for eight years where she was a three-time AAU All-Star/All-American and helped the squad to the 18U AAU National Championship.
Sydney Welch
Freshman
Defensive Specialist/Libero
5-4
Louisville, KY/Assumption
Welch joined the Colonials in the Spring 2017 semester and has been training with the team throughout the spring schedule while studying as an Exercise Science major. Prior to GW, she helped Assumption High School to the Kentucky State Championship as a senior while also playing for the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Association (KIVA) club team. She played a key role as KIVA won the National Championship in 2012 as well as a second-place finish in 2014 and a third-place finish in 2010. KIVA also won the JVA World Challenge Championships in both 2011 and 2014.
