Volleyball | 5/24/2017 3:02:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern volleyball coach Dustin Wood announced today that Shelby Doyal (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh), Ashlyn Hartman (Milton, Ga./Cambridge), Kirsten McLain (Plantation, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) and Katelynn Riner (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) will join the Eagles' 2017 roster.

Shelby Doyal, 6-0, S/RS, Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh, A-5 South
Prep: Lettered three years for Wendy Mabon at McIntosh High School • Named all-state in 2016 after recording 166 kills and 33 blocks • Posted 411 career kills, 203 digs and 50.5 blocks • Named all-area in 2014 • The Chiefs were the 2016 area champions and state runner-up • Played for A-5 South club under head coach Joe Whiggam • Made A-3 High Performance program in 2014 and A-2 High Performance program in 2015.
Wood on Doyal: "Shelby was a late addition but one that naturally worked out. We were in need of another setter late in the recruiting process, and everything fell in place. She set for one of the best clubs in the nation at A5 on their top team. She has the experience playing at a high level in club. Her biggest adjustment will be getting familiar with the offense and system and figuring out where our hitters need the ball, and she has the entire summer to figure that out. She's a taller setter at 6-foot and can be offensive as well. We are looking forward to see how she develops. I believe she will be very successful and will raise the level in our gym."

Ashlyn Hartman, 5-10, S, Milton, Ga./Cambridge, Cobb Atlanta
Prep: Lettered four years for Diane Bunting at Cambridge High School • Named all-area in 2015 and won Coaches Award in 2014 and 2015 • Three times named KRCS Athlete of the Week • Led the state (Class A) in aces in 2015 and recorded a 92.9 percent service rate; ranked in the top-10 in all classifications • Also lettered for two seasons in track and field and holds the school high jump record • Played club for Joe Aldridge on Cobb Atlanta • Helped team earn a bid to USAV Nationals.
Wood on Hartman: "Ashlyn was here all spring. She graduated early from high school to take classes and train with the team. She already has a jump on adjusting to college life and is making the transition to the speed and level to the D-I game. She had a valuable opportunity in being here early to get ahead, and I feel that she will use that to her advantage. She plays great defense and is working on the details of her footwork and locating the ball. She has been working hard all spring and will continue to work and grow all summer."

Kirsten McLain, 6-0, Outside Hitter, Plantation, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas, Wildfire Volleyball
Prep: Lettered four seasons for coach Lisa Zielinski at Saint Thomas Aquinas • Helped lead the Raiders to three straight state championships • St. Thomas Aquinas went 29-2 in 2016 and finished 15th in the country in the USA Today Super 25 rankings • Played club for Wildfire Volleyball, which won bronze at the 2016 Girls Junior National Championships in Indianapolis • Qualified three consecutive years for beach volleyball Junior Olympics in Hermosa Beach, California (2014, 2015, 2016).
Wood on McLain: "Kirsten is coming in from a very decorated club and high school career. Her high school won three straight state championships. She is a winner, and we are excited to see how she develops at the next level. She is going to work hard and fight at every practice. She comes from a great background, and her parents, coaches and teammates have all instilled in her the work ethic that you need to be successful as a D-I athlete. She will need to adjust to the speed of the game, but she has the arm to score in the Sun Belt offensively. We are excited to see where she will be after her freshman year."

Katelynn Riner, 5-3, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb, Tsunami
Prep: Lettered four seasons for Stephen Sansing and James Auld at North Cobb • 2016 GVCA Senior All-Star, 1st Team All Area and Defensive Player of the Year • 2015 and 2016 Academic Award for Highest GPA on team • Logged 456 Digs as a senior, the most in school history for a single season, to go along with 28 Aces and 51 Assists • Finished career with 972 digs, the fourth-most in school history • Helped the Warriors win the 2014 GHSA 6-AAAAAA State title and the 2016 Area 3-AAAAAAA title • Played on Tsunami club team for Joe Goodson and Kele Eveland • Also lettered in lacrosse.
Wood on Riner: "Katelynn has been in our gym at camps and matches since early in her sophomore year of high school. She is a great all around defensive specialist, has a great serve and can pass. She loves playing the game, and she enjoys everything that comes with it. She works extremely hard and hustles on every play. I am excited to see her work in the gym on her serve receive and get after it defensively. She is not afraid of anyone and sacrifices her body to make plays on the ball. She will be here this summer, as will all the other freshmen, to train and get adjusted to their new team and teammates. We are excited to see Katelynn pursue her goals."

Georgia Southern finished third in the East Division in 2016, and the Eagles return five of their seven starters and 15 letterwinners to the 2017 team.

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