JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 11, 2025) – East Tennessee State University volleyball head coach Lindsey Devine announced the signings of five freshmen in the class of 2025 on Feb. 11.

Malia Brinkman, Sophie Davis, Emma MacFerran, Chloe Smith and Raegan Waller will all join ETSU volleyball in the fall.

"With the graduation of key players this past year, our staff recognized the need to find the right fit to join our team," Devine said. "From a development potential, this freshmen class has the opportunity to become elite players for our program. Collectively this group brings versatility, leadership, competitive spirit and a new dimension to our team's offense and defense. I am looking forward to their arrival on campus and integrating them into the ETSU Volleyball program's culture and community."

Malia Brinkman | 6'1 | RS | Mount Notre Dame HS | Elevation | Cincinnati, Ohio

Brinkman comes to ETSU from Mount Notre Dame HS in Cincinnati, Ohio. She played club for Elevation 18-1. Brinkman made the AVCA Phenom Watchlist three times and the JVA watchlist four times. She was ranked as the No. 2 right side in Ohio by Prep Dig, was a 2023 top 10 Stock Riser by Prep Dig, and was named in the top 5 Ohio Players to Watch at Triple Crown 2024 by Prep Dig. Brinkman was a captain at Mount Notre Dame and made the 2023 OVR USAV All-Star team.

While at Mount Notre Dame, she collected a bevy of academic honors, including receiving the Goldward Scholarship, MND President's Leadership Award and Lakota East Gold Presidential Award for a 4.6 GPA. She was a leader in the CFA Leadership Academy, a member of the Rho Kappa Honors Society, and spent all four years on the honor roll. 

Sophie Davis | 5'11| S/OPP/OH | Bellbrook HS | Elevation | Bellbrook, Ohio

Davis comes to ETSU from Bellbrook HS in Bellbrook, Ohio. She played club for Elevation 17-Chicas. A four year varsity letter winner and two year captain, Davis tallied 1,054 kills,  970 assists, 663 digs, 187 aces, and 90 blocks for Bellbrook. She was named the conference player of the year as a junior and senior, and to the first team all-conference, and all-District 15 both of those years. As a senior, she was the District 15 player of the year, senior player of the year and a senior all-star. She made second team all-state to round out her senior year accolades.

She also earned a pair of all-conference athlete of the week awards throughout high school and was second team all-conference as a sophomore. Throughout her career, she broke four school records for single season kills per match (4.77), single game kills (27), single season kills (444)  and career kills (1,054) as Bellbrook won a conference championship each year she was there (2021-2024). Her club team placed third in the open division at the USAV national championships in 2021 and 2022.

She was awarded as the Thad Camp State Farm Athlete of the Week, and notched the 2022 Purple and Gold Standard Award. Additionally, she collected numerous academic honors, including the highest honor roll, the 2024 Exemplary Scholar-Athlete Award, the 2021 and 2022 Principal Scholar-Athlete and was named to the 2024 District 15 All-Academic team with a 4.251 GPA.

Emma MacFerran | 6'2 | MB | Bartlett HS | Memphis Juniors | Bartlett, Tenn.

MacFerran comes to ETSU from Bartlett HS in Bartlett, Tenn. She played club for Memphis Juniors. A two year varsity letter winner, MacFerran led Bartlett her senior season in points, kills, blocks and aces with a .352 hitting percentage, 232 kills (3.4/set; 49.5 kill percentage), 61 blocks (0.9/set) and 0.6 aces/set. She was named to the all-district tournament team and to the first team all-district for those accomplishments.

MacFerran also made the 2024 AVCA All-American watchlist and the 2024 JVA Girls' watchlist. She won the 2022 offensive player of the year award and the 2021 spirit award.  
With her club, she qualified each year for USAV nationals.

Chloe Smith | OH/OPP | Saint Joseph Academy | AVC Red | South Euclid, Ohio

Smith comes to ETSU from Saint Joseph Academy in South Euclid, Ohio. She played club for AVC 18 Red. A four year varsity letter winner, Smith earned four offensive player of the year awards while in high school. She tallied her 1,000th career kill as a senior when she led Saint Joseph to the state championship game. Additionally, she earned a pair of first-team All-Ohio Division One honors and a pair of first team All-Great Lakes Conference honors.

Raegan Waller | 6'1 | MB | Roger Bacon HS | Ohio Premier Volleyball Club | Morrow, Ohio

Waller comes to ETSU from Roger Bacon HS in Morrow, Ohio. She played club for Ohio Premier Volleyball Club. A 2024 Ohio state champion, she earned first team all-conference honors to go with a third team all-state and all-city second team award. She also tallied an all-conference honorable mention award as a junior.

Waller earned a pair of AVCA phenom nominations, along with two JVA honorable mentions. She was on the honor roll all four years at Roger Bacon, and collected four all-conference academic awards.

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