Villanova Volleyball signed six new recruits for its 2024 season. Coming from all over the country, the six new Wildcats each signed their letters of intent on Nov. 8 to officially mark the start of their Villanova careers.
Lola Buck Taylor is a defensive specialist libero from Tampa, Florida. Standing at 5-foot-7, the E Pasco High School Senior has played varsity volleyball at Cardinal Mooney Catholic and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic. During her time at the high school level, Taylor served as her team’s captain, earned a two-time all-district selection, was named Sarasota Athlete of the Week and set a school record for single match digs with 37. In club play, Taylor was a 2023 AAU national champion and a 2022 AAU top 10 finisher.
Taylor Lewis is an outside hitter from Indianapolis, Indiana. Based on skill and her height advantage (6-1), Lewis could become an elite attacker in the Big East. Beyond being a four-year varsity volleyball player at Cathedral, Lewis was also ranked eleventh in the state of Indiana as per PrepDig. She was on the All-American Watch List in 2023 and has twice been the Cathedral volleyball offensive MVP. With a career-high 29 kills in a match, she has amassed 1,149 kills, 119 aces, 146 blocks and 568 digs.
Campbell McKinnon is a 5-9 middle blocker from Collierville, Tennessee. Having earned three varsity letters as a middle hitter, McKinnon has proved herself as a slightly smaller middle with what Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach calls “great leaping ability and a dynamic arm.” For Collierville High School, McKinnon is a two-time district regular season MVP, has earned the district’s tournament MVP, and received the region tournament most valuable player twice. During her high school career, McKinnon has amassed 1.464 kills and 363 blocks, leading her team to a runner-up finish in the 2022 state championship.
Alyssa Nelson comes from Wildwood, Milssouri, and is the only setter in this year’s recruiting class. Standing at 5-8, and having played four years of volleyball as a setter, Nelson has grown comfortable and thrived in her position. She has the accolades to back up her success. In 2023, she was named an AVCA All-American and in 2022, she was selected as the All-Metro Player of the year. At Lafayette High School, she set a new record with 3,000 career assists and has picked up two single match records (67 assists and 25 serves). Outside of high school, Nelson was named an Under Armour Next selection in 2021 and 2022.
Margot Randall comes from Leawood, Kansas. Randall is a 6-2 blocker that has earned All-District First Team honors as a junior and senior. She has only played two club seasons in her volleyball career, but has shown tremendous talent at these high-level clubs. Between her height and recent statistics, Steinbach feels as though she “has big potential at the college level.”
Catherine “Cat” Young is an outside hitter from Flower Mound, Texas. Back in 2020, Young’s team placed third in the state tournament. Following this, Young played four years of volleyball in her position and, in 2023, received an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American nod and was a two-time First Team All-District selection in Texas’s 6A District 6. Most recently, Young was selected to the PrepVolleyball Class of 2024 “Top 150 List,” making her an nationally known talent.
Villaova just concluded its 2023 regular season play, and have received a bid in the 2023 BIg East Tournament. The ‘Cats will look to their new six recruits to take them just as far in the 2024 season.
