MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University women's volleyball program announced their list of new student-athletes for the 2026 campaign on Monday morning.

The class includes seven new faces, with six entering their freshman seasons and one transfer starting her time at Milligan as a sophomore. Additionally, Mylee Harrell joins the team's student support staff as a statistician.

"I'm super excited for our incoming class!", exclaimed head coach Doneva Bays. "This group of ladies brings a great mix of competitiveness, character and talent that fits the standard of Milligan Volleyball. We have added more athleticism and increased our volleyball IQ all while building onto our already great team culture."

The full recruiting class is below:

2026 Recruiting Class

#3 Rachel Bass – FR – DS/L – 5'3 – Asheville, N.C. – Asheville Christian Academy
Bass comes to Milligan with designs on being a two-sport athlete. The 5'3 defensive specialist in women's volleyball was an all-conference performer in high school for the Lions at Asheville Christian Academy. She is also a gifted track athlete, having posted all-conference marks in the 400m and the 800m. Academically, she was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, was the president of the school's National Honor Society and was also part of the National English Honor Society. She was also an AP Scholar. The daughter of Scott and Sarah will enter Milligan undecided on her major.

#7 Abigail Kelly – FR – DS – 5'5 – Johnson City, Tenn. – Home Life Academy/Hampton HS
Kelly brings another defensive specialist presence to the Buffaloes in 2026, as the freshman played her high school volleyball at nearby Hampton HS. She has a background in setting, as well, as she had 1,200 career assists there and was an All-County and All-Conference selection. The daughter of Stephen and Rebecca will be a member of the nursing program during her time at Milligan.

#8 Clare Clark – FR – OH – 6'0 – Johnson City, Tenn. – Homeschooled/Hampton HS
Clark comes to the Buffs as an outside hitter who completed four all-conference and all-tournament seasons as a member of the Hampton HS volleyball team while being homeschooled. During her time at Hampton, she was a two-time Server of the Year and one-time Blocker of the Year, while totaling 1,500 kills and 750 digs in her career. She will study exercise science at Milligan. Clare's father Danny was the head coach of Milligan baseball from 1999-2005, winning one regular-season conference title and a tournament championship during his tenure.

#9 Aleah Pickett – OH/MB – SO – 5'9 – Childersburg, Ala. – Coastal Alabama CC - South
Pickett joins Milligan as a sophomore transfer from Coastal Alabama Community College. The Childersburg, Ala., native prepped at Coosa Valley Academy. Primarily used as a middle blocker and hitter, but also carrying experience at the pins, she is expected to make an impact for the young Buffaloes squad in 2026. She will major in Accounting at Milligan.

#10 Morgan Lambert – OH/RS/DS – FR – 5'8 – Kingsport, Tenn. – West Ridge HS
Lambert comes to Milligan from Kingsport, Tenn., where she earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a Wolf at West Ridge High School under head coach Logan Kemp. Her versatility, having played outside, on the right side and as a defensive specialist, will give the Buffs options on the court in 2026. She will major in Accounting at Milligan and is the daughter of Mark and Dawn Lambert. She has two siblings, Cameron and Allison.

#12 Lacie Weatherman – RS/OPP – FR – 5'10 – Burnsville, N.C. – Heritage HS
Weatherman comes to Milligan from Burnsville, N.C., where she attended Mountain Heritage High School and earned Second Team All-State honors, two All-Conference selections, and a Region 8 nod as a Cougar. Under coaches Heather Dale and Heather Buchanan, she posted 302 kills across 190 sets played throughout her high school career. In the classroom, she was a member of the National Honor Society and received Technical and Academic Honors at Mountain Heritage. Weatherman will join Milligan's Graphic Design program and is the daughter of Weldon and Julie Weatherman. She has two siblings, Connor and Savannah Weatherman.

#13 Ashton Blair – FR – OH – 5'10 – Piney Flats, Tenn. – Tennessee HS
Ashton grew up in Piney Flats, Tenn. where she attended Tennessee HS and earned All-Conference nods all four years that she was a Viking. Throughout her high school career under Carley Keene, she totaled 1,123 kills, 961 digs, 145 aces and 301 aces. In the classroom, she was a member of the National Honors Society and Beta Club, earning Tenn. scholars and being a Viking U graduate. Blair comes to Milligan after making the president's All-Academic team and graduated Summa Cum Laude and will continue her academic career as a part of Milligan's mechanical engineering program. She is the daughter of Stephen and Robin Blair and has one sibling Madison Blair who was also a collegiate volleyball athlete.