TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee volleyball head coach
Pamela Perkins announced the complete 2024 signing class for the upcoming season on Wednesday afternoon.
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The Golden Tigers unveiled the addition of seven student-athletes, including a trio of high school players in Taylor Coleman, Kaylyn Turner, and Kerrington Wilson, along with four transfers in Lauren Canady, Ziniah Hardy, Gabriella Jones, and Ma'Kayla Jones to the 2024-25 roster on Wednesday.
2024 Tuskegee Volleyball Recruiting Class
Lauren Canady l OH l 5-8 l Birmingham, Ala.
Taylor Coleman l OH l 5-11 l Menasha, Wis.
Ziniah Hardy l DS l 5-6 l Gadsden, Ala.
Gabriella Jones l MB l 5-10 l Baltimore, Md.
Ma'Kayla Jones l MB l 6-0 l Thomasville, Ala.
Kaylyn Turner l MB/OH l 5-7 l Munford, Ala.
Kerrington Wilson l RS/OH l McDonough, Ga.
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Lauren Canady l OH l 5-8 l Birmingham, Ala.
Canady is no stranger to the SIAC as she joins Tuskegee after a pair of seasons at LeMoyne-Owen. The junior brings on board 435 total kills over 189 sets played for the Magicians. She also tallied 405 digs, 64 assists, 19 aces, and led the team in kills over the past two seasons.
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The Birmingham native came out strong her freshman season, earning a team-high 249 kills and seeing career highs in a match in total points (24), kills (21), digs (17), assists (12), and aces (3) after graduating from Ramsay High School.
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Canady posted 186 kills during her sophomore on a 2.38 kill per set rate in 2023. She was the lone player on the roster with at least 100 kills and 100 digs, finishing the year with 144 digs. Canady also earned SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team honors in back-to-back years with the Magicians.
Taylor Coleman l OH l 5-11 l Menasha, Wis.
Coleman was an instrumental part of the program for De Pere High School since her sophomore season, recording career totals of 498 kills, 275 digs, and 105 service aces. She played in 263 total sets in the three varsity seasons, while also accounting for 80 blocks, 33 assists in her career.
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She played in 162 sets in her first two seasons, recording 203 kills and 1.25 kills per set. Coleman also amassed 75 digs (0.5 per set) and 59 total blocks, good for 0.36 blocks per set. The outside hitter followed that up with a stellar senior season, hitting .357 with 295 kills (2.9 per set) and 200 digs (2.0 per set).Â
Ziniah Hardy l DS l 5-6 l Gadsden, Ala.
A junior college transfer from Gadsden State, Hardy joins the program after a strong 2023 season with the Cardinals. The defensive specialist recorded 281 digs on the year, second on the roster and good for 2.40 per set. The junior also was responsible for 21 aces, 18 kills and 16 assists in 32 matches, starting 18.
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Hardy was honored as the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Player of the Week once last season, as well was being named to Alabama vs. Mississippi Crossover All-Tournament Team and the Fall Bash All-Tournament Team for her efforts during the tournaments.
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A standout player at Southside High School in Gadsden, Ala. before going to Gadsden State in 2022, Hardy recorded 361 digs, 185 kills, 60 aces, 29 blocks and 15 assists as a senior while helping the SHS volleyball team post a 45-15 record, win the county championship and qualify for the Super North Regional Tournament. Following the season, she was named to the All-Etowah County Schools team, All-Area Tournament team, the All-Messenger volleyball second team and the AVBCA first team. For her career, she finished with 607 digs, 302 kills, 122 aces, 33 blocks and 15 assists.
Gabriella Jones l MB l 5-10 l Baltimore, Md.
A transfer from Frostburg State, Jones appeared in 11 matches last season, starting in three, and playing in 23 sets. The middle blocker recorded 17 kills, two digs, and 11 blocks on the year while also being named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll in both seasons with the Bobcats. As a freshman, she appeared in 6 matches, playing in 11 sets, while recording 12 kills, four digs, and 10 blocks.
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Jones earned two varsity letters at The Catholic High School of Baltimore prior to her time at Frostburg State and was named All-Conference. She was also a recipient of the Character Coin, and on multiple Honor Roll lists.
Ma'Kayla Jones l MB l 6-0 l Thomasville, Ala.
Jones comes to the program after transferring from nearby Alabama State, where she played in 38 sets in 18 matches in her lone season with the Hornets. The middle blocker put up 25 kills, averaging 0.66 per set, finished the season hitting .240 on attacks, and recorded five digs and 15 blocks in 2023.
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Prior to her time at ASU, Jones played one year at Bishop State, where she was named ACCC Player of the Year. The Thomasville, Ala. native posted team-highs of 341 kills on a .353 hitting percentage, 397.5 total points, and 97 total blocks in 2022, helping the Wildcats to a 22-7 record and 19-5 mark in conference play.
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Jones played her prep ball at Thomasville High School where she was a three-sport athlete, also lettering in basketball and softball. She also played basketball at Bishop State.
Kaylyn Turner l MB/OH l 5-7 l Munford, Ala.
Turner joins the Tuskegee roster after playing her prep ball at Munford High School, where she earned a pair of varsity letters. Last season as a senior with the Lions, Turner had an all-state caliber season. The 5-foot-7 Turner had the best year in her career with 369 kills and 46 blocks on the year. The Munford native was also named the most valuable player in Talladega County.
Kerrington Wilson l RS/OH l McDonough, Ga.
Wilson is a native of McDonough, Ga., where she prepped at Union Grove High School. The outside hitter earned a pair of letters with the Wolverines, and accounted for 25 kills, good for 0.8 kills per set on 72 attacks. Wilson was also responsible for ten blocks, eight service aces, five digs, and two assists in 30 sets played as a junior in 2022.
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