FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball has announced its five-player recruiting class for 2023.
Joining the Lions this fall are right-side hitter Sophia McIntyre, outside hitter Brianna Ball, outside hitter Rowan Ramsey, right-side hitter Laci Gratkowski, and setter Trinity Funderburk. McIntyre, Ball and Ramsey will begin their collegiate careers at UAFS while Gratkowski and Funderburk join as transfers.
Ball, a 6-foot outside hitter from Van Buren, amassed 1,981 assists, 877 kills and 101 blocks in her high school career. She was a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-State Tournament Team honoree.
McIntyre is a 5-foot-10 right-side hitter from Overland Park, Kansas, earned All-Eastern Kansas League honorable mention honors at Blue Valley North High School. She totaled 126 kills and 46 blocks in her senior season.
Ramsey racked up 439 career kills at Erie High School in Erie, Colorado, as well as 127 aces, 108 blocks, and 573 digs. She had 309 digs (3.5/s), 58 blocks, 58 aces and 268 kills (3.0/s) in her senior season.
Gratkowski joins the Lions after playing the 2022 season at Wallace State Community College, where she hit .331 in 39 sets. She totaled 71 kills and 21 blocks. Gratkowski was a 2019 TAPPS 6A First Team All-District honoree and earned TAPPS 6A All-State honorable mention at St. John XXIII High School.
Funderburk transferred to UAFS for the spring semester from NCAA I Stephen F. Austin, tallying 43 assists and 30 digs in six matches. That followed a record-setting high school career, where she is the single-season record holder at Atascocita High School with 1,262 assists. She also holds the career record with 3,122 assists as well as the aces record with 159.
Funderburk was a three-time District 22-6A Setter of the Year to go with other numerous awards and led her team to two Bi-District championships.
“We are excited to have these young women join our team,” said Head Coach Jane Sargent. “They are both talented and versatile and bring experience from different parts of the country. They will blend well with our returning players and give us depth in all positions.”
The Lions will start practice August 16 in preparations for the season opener September 1.
