George Washington University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Five for 2023 Season
5/30/2023 11:55:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
WASHINGTON – GW volleyball Head Coach Katie Reifert has announced the addition of five student-athletes to the 2023 roster.
Haylee Brown, NiMya Marukska, Loukia Papadakos, Kelsey Watkins and Grace Wiczek will join the Buff & Blue this fall, joining a program that features 12 letterwinners from the 2022 season, which saw GW make an Atlantic 10 Championship appearance for the first time since 2019.
"Our coaches have done an incredible job identifying players that will move our program toward an A-10 Championship," Reifert said. "This class will bring depth and physicality to our offense, adding weapons across the net. In addition to their physical gifts, these student-athletes are incredible people who collectively embody what it means to be a great competitor and a great teammate."
Haylee Brown | OH | 6-2 | Maricopa, Ariz. | Maricopa High School
Named to 6A All-Conference First Team in 2022. Named Regional Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and Regional Player of the Year in 2023. 6A volleyball All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2021. Played for Spiral, EVJ and Club One club teams.Â
Reifert on Brown: "Haylee is a phenomenal athlete with an incredibly high ceiling. Her explosiveness, court vision and ability to play high above the net make for a lethal attack on the outside. She thrives under pressure and has a drive and intensity which pulls the best out of those playing around her."
NiMya Maruska | OH/DS | 5-8 | Houston, Texas | St. Agnes AcademyÂ
Named 2020 TAPPS 6A State runner-up and played club volleyball for the Houston Skyline Juniors. Member of the National Honor Society, earned the African American Recognition Award and named a 2022 Academic All-State recipient.Â
Reifert on Maruska: "NiMya is an energetic hard worker of high character with a great overall game. As an attacker, she has a fast arm and savviness to frustrate opponents and produce kills. She is also a fierce defender and will help push our back-row defense and serve receive to the next level.Â
Loukia Papadakos | MB | 6-3 | Richmond Hill, ON, Canada | Cardinal Gibbons High SchoolÂ
2022 JVA watchlist for Class of 2024, won the Spirit Award in 2022 and was named an All-County Honorable Mention in 2022. Junior Varsity captain from 2019-20 and a member of Tribe Volleyball Club. Completed 150+ hours of community service and earned the French Award of Excellence.Â
Reifert on Papadakos: "Loukia is long, dynamic and has the potential to compete with the best middles in the A-10. She is all smiles and has a fun, competitive personality that will bring joy and fire to the middle position. We can't wait to get her in the gym to see what role she carves for herself this season."
Kelsey Watkins | MB | 5-11 | Chicago, Ill. | Latin School of Chicago | Furman UniversityÂ
Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice while at Furman, tied the school record of six solo blocks in a single match in 2022, led the team in blocks per set and solo blocks in 2022, led team in blocks in 2021. Named to SoCon Academic Honor Roll in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Helped her team to a second-place finish at SoCon Tournament in 2022.Â
Led Latin School of Chicago to four-straight ISL Conference Championships as a four-year varsity player. Three-time ISL All-Conference Athlete and named to AVCA Phenom List and MICDS Invitational All-Tournament team as a junior. Played for Michio Chicago Volleyball Academy and won USAV 17 National Championship in 2018.Â
Reifert on Watkins: "As a graduate transfer, Kelsey brings considerable experience at Furman University as a dominant middle blocker in the SoCon. She has a high volleyball IQ and a hunger to stop the play at the net. I look forward to seeing how her experience and athleticism elevate our blocking as a team."
Grace Wiczek | OH | 6-2 | Park City, Utah | Park City High School | Dartmouth CollegeÂ
Appeared in 23 matches and 57 sets as a senior at Dartmouth after returning to the court for the first time since the 2019 season. Second on the team with 2.12 kills/set and recorded a career-high 13 kills in a win over Lehigh.Â
Before Dartmouth, 2017 4A state champion and 2018 runner-up, as well as Park City Volleyball MVP. Competed at USA Open Nationals and was president of the National Honor Society.Â
Reifert on Wiczek: "Grace will add some veteran experience to our team as a graduate transfer. She is strong, physical and can play on either pin. I have been incredibly impressed with her resilience through injury in undergrad at Dartmouth and her determination to continue her athletic career at GW. Her passion for the game is contagious and I am confident she will boost the competitiveness in our game."Â
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Haylee Brown, NiMya Marukska, Loukia Papadakos, Kelsey Watkins and Grace Wiczek will join the Buff & Blue this fall, joining a program that features 12 letterwinners from the 2022 season, which saw GW make an Atlantic 10 Championship appearance for the first time since 2019.
"Our coaches have done an incredible job identifying players that will move our program toward an A-10 Championship," Reifert said. "This class will bring depth and physicality to our offense, adding weapons across the net. In addition to their physical gifts, these student-athletes are incredible people who collectively embody what it means to be a great competitor and a great teammate."
Haylee Brown | OH | 6-2 | Maricopa, Ariz. | Maricopa High School
Named to 6A All-Conference First Team in 2022. Named Regional Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and Regional Player of the Year in 2023. 6A volleyball All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2021. Played for Spiral, EVJ and Club One club teams.Â
Reifert on Brown: "Haylee is a phenomenal athlete with an incredibly high ceiling. Her explosiveness, court vision and ability to play high above the net make for a lethal attack on the outside. She thrives under pressure and has a drive and intensity which pulls the best out of those playing around her."
NiMya Maruska | OH/DS | 5-8 | Houston, Texas | St. Agnes AcademyÂ
Named 2020 TAPPS 6A State runner-up and played club volleyball for the Houston Skyline Juniors. Member of the National Honor Society, earned the African American Recognition Award and named a 2022 Academic All-State recipient.Â
Reifert on Maruska: "NiMya is an energetic hard worker of high character with a great overall game. As an attacker, she has a fast arm and savviness to frustrate opponents and produce kills. She is also a fierce defender and will help push our back-row defense and serve receive to the next level.Â
Loukia Papadakos | MB | 6-3 | Richmond Hill, ON, Canada | Cardinal Gibbons High SchoolÂ
2022 JVA watchlist for Class of 2024, won the Spirit Award in 2022 and was named an All-County Honorable Mention in 2022. Junior Varsity captain from 2019-20 and a member of Tribe Volleyball Club. Completed 150+ hours of community service and earned the French Award of Excellence.Â
Reifert on Papadakos: "Loukia is long, dynamic and has the potential to compete with the best middles in the A-10. She is all smiles and has a fun, competitive personality that will bring joy and fire to the middle position. We can't wait to get her in the gym to see what role she carves for herself this season."
Kelsey Watkins | MB | 5-11 | Chicago, Ill. | Latin School of Chicago | Furman UniversityÂ
Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice while at Furman, tied the school record of six solo blocks in a single match in 2022, led the team in blocks per set and solo blocks in 2022, led team in blocks in 2021. Named to SoCon Academic Honor Roll in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Helped her team to a second-place finish at SoCon Tournament in 2022.Â
Led Latin School of Chicago to four-straight ISL Conference Championships as a four-year varsity player. Three-time ISL All-Conference Athlete and named to AVCA Phenom List and MICDS Invitational All-Tournament team as a junior. Played for Michio Chicago Volleyball Academy and won USAV 17 National Championship in 2018.Â
Reifert on Watkins: "As a graduate transfer, Kelsey brings considerable experience at Furman University as a dominant middle blocker in the SoCon. She has a high volleyball IQ and a hunger to stop the play at the net. I look forward to seeing how her experience and athleticism elevate our blocking as a team."
Grace Wiczek | OH | 6-2 | Park City, Utah | Park City High School | Dartmouth CollegeÂ
Appeared in 23 matches and 57 sets as a senior at Dartmouth after returning to the court for the first time since the 2019 season. Second on the team with 2.12 kills/set and recorded a career-high 13 kills in a win over Lehigh.Â
Before Dartmouth, 2017 4A state champion and 2018 runner-up, as well as Park City Volleyball MVP. Competed at USA Open Nationals and was president of the National Honor Society.Â
Reifert on Wiczek: "Grace will add some veteran experience to our team as a graduate transfer. She is strong, physical and can play on either pin. I have been incredibly impressed with her resilience through injury in undergrad at Dartmouth and her determination to continue her athletic career at GW. Her passion for the game is contagious and I am confident she will boost the competitiveness in our game."Â
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