HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball program is gearing up for the 2026 season with six new additions. The Panthers brought in five true freshman and a junior transfer from Virginia Tech.
 
Holding on to 10 returners, HPU retained 90% of its offensive production in Big South All-Conference player Élodie Lalonde, Big South Freshman of the Year Maya Bukovcan and Big South Tournament MVP Addison Freeland. Along with the attack line, the 2025 starting libero, Kea Whillock, defensive specialist Sydney McKay, and setter, Remy Catojo will complement the offense in its core.
 
Aisha Keric, a 6'1" transfer from Virginia Tech will join the Panthers as a junior on the right-side attack. A season ago, she competed in 45 sets and 19 matches, making seven starts. She tallied 58 kills, seven assists, eight service aces, 62 digs and 23 total blocks throughout the season. She posted a career-high eight kills against Syracuse and a season-high 28 attacks versus Clemson. Keric will wear No. 7 for the 2026 season.
 
From the incoming freshman, the Panthers added defensive specialist Havani Embry from Carlsbad, California. She played four years of indoor varsity volleyball and two years of beach volleyball at Carlsbad. Embry helped guide her team to a D1 Championship in 2025, three trips to the state tournament (2022-2025) and was the League Runner-Up in 2022. Throughout high school she was named the Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-League. Embry will wear No. 1 during the 2026 season.
 
Eliana Whittaker is a local N.C. native from Harrisburg. She will join the Panthers as a 5'7" setter from Hickory Ridge High School. Whittaker guided her team to four state playoffs. She was named to the 2025 All-Conference team, the 2024 MVP, an NCVBCA player to watch in 2023/2024, and a 2022 Caribbean National Championships All-Star. Whittaker will wear No. 2 during the 2026 season.
 
Morgan Duse-Anthony comes all the way to the east coast from Oceanside, California as a 5'9" setter. She played four years at Mission Vista High School where she was named the 2025 Team MVP and selected as a senior All-Star. She guided her team to the semifinals in the D1 San Diego section and the finals in the D3 State Championship. Duse-Anthony will wear No. 3 during the 2026 season.
 
Alden Schwartz, another N.C. native to join the Panthers as a 6'4" right-side hitter from Huntersville. While at Bradford Prep, she was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2022, an All-Conference player in 2023, 2024, & 2025 and named to the All-State team in 2025. She helped her team make the second round of the state tournament a year ago. Schwartz will wear No. 4 for the 2026 season.
 
Kinnady Boothe, from right up the road in Belews Cree, N.C. comes to HPU as a 6'2" outside hitter. In her four years at East Forsyth, she played three years of volleyball and was named to the CPC All-Conference team in 2022, 2023 & 2025. Boothe also helped guide her team to the state playoffs. She will wear No. 8 during the 2026 season.
 
High Point kicks off its regular season with a tournament at Penn State for the Penn State Invitational on August 28-30 in University Park, Pennsylvania. HPU will play UConn in the opening game.
 
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