Five Recruits Sign With Bluejay Volleyball
11/9/2022 10:40:00 AM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. – Kirsten Bernthal Booth, head coach of the 12th-ranked Creighton Volleyball team, announced the signing of five women to the Bluejay program for the fall of 2023.
Joining the Bluejays next fall will be Destiny Ndam-Simpson (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS), Audrey Clark (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS), Sydney Breissinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy), Ava TeStrake (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West HS) and Jaya Johnson (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South HS).
"I think we literally have every position represented in this class," said Booth. "They'll have a chance to come in and fight for time and give us great depth. They're all culture kids that are going to continue to build the Creighton Volleyball culture."
Destiny Ndam-Simpson is a 6'2" outside hitter at Westside High School. The Omaha native led the Warriors to their first state title match appearance since 1985 under head coach Korrine Bowers this fall, when she had 507 kills, 473 digs and 63 blocks on .271 hitting. The Warriors finished the season 30-9.
Prior to back-to-back state tournament appearances, Westside hadn't played in the state tournament since 2002. Ndam-Simpson had 26 and 22 kills in two state tourney matches last season, helping her finish with a Class A-leading 504 overall. She also ranked seventh in Class A with 508 digs in 2021 and was named a First Team All-State pick by the Omaha World-Herald.
Ndam-Simpson was ranked as the 31st best recruit by PrepVolleyball.com and plays on the club circuit for Premier 17 Gold.
"Our only local player this year has a cannon for an arm," said Booth. "Outside's her home position but she's also played some right side and is good in the back row."
Audrey Clark is a 5'10" setter from Frisco, Texas, where she plays at Wakeland High School. Clark was named to the AVCA High School Volleyball All-Region 4 Team last week and to date has helped the Wolverines to a 31-4 record with 672 assists, 197 digs, 89 kills, 51 blocks and 40 aces.
As a junior, she was named to the Star Local Media All-Area Volleyball First Team and District 9-5A Setter of the Year after compiling 1,142 assists, 302 digs, 91 kills and 35 aces. Clark was also a Second Team District 9-5A choice as a sophomore. She plays club volleyball for Texas Advantage and was recognized last month as a member of the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team thanks to owning a GPA over 3.80.
"Audrey's a great setter who locates the ball extremely well," said Booth. "She's also a good defensive player."
Sydney Breissinger is a 5'6" libero/defensive specialist from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she attends Ursuline Academy. Ranked as the 10th-best player in the state of Ohio, she plays for Elevation on the club circuit.
She ranked third in the Girls Greater Catholic League last season with 5.02 digs per set and is third this year with 4.74 digs per set. She owns 868 digs, 100 assists and 80 aces in her career so far. She enters this weekend's state tournament with nine matches of 20 or more digs this fall, while her best match came on Sept. 7, 2021 at St. Ursula, when she had 44 digs to go with 17 assists. She is coached by Ali Butcher.
"She's our first Cincinnati kid, so we're excited," said Booth. "She is a phenomenal passer. One thing that we've noticed is that she's got a great platform. She also is extremely quick defensively. She's played on really high level club and high school teams."
Ava TeStrake is a 6'4" outside hitter/right-side hitter from Olathe, Kan., where she stars for Olathe West High School. PrepVolleyball.com has named TeStrake as the nation's No. 61 Senior Ace.
TeStrake owns the school record for career blocks, and season and career records in aces, kills and hitting percentage. She was named First Team All-Sunflower League in 2020 and 2022 and Second Team in 2021. She owned 292 kills, 167 digs, 55 aces and 29 blocks as a sophomore and owns 275 kills, 116 digs, 36 blocks and is hitting .363 this fall for coach Amy Hoffsommer. TeStrake plays club volleyball for KC Power.
"Ava's played a lot of outside hitter, but we know that she can also play right side," said Booth. "Another tall player and a really good blocker who sees the block well."
Jaya Johnson is a 6'2" middle blocker from Olathe, Kan., where she attends Olathe South High School and is the No. 99 recruit per PrepVolleyball.com.
Johnson was a First Team All-Sunflower League performer this fall after being a Second Team selection in 2020 and 2021. Johnson plays on the club circuit for PVA, the same program that produced current Bluejay standout freshman Ava Martin.
"One thing that we really like about Jaya is that she's got a really big arm," said Booth. "She's actually played outside and right-side some but we see her more in the middle. She's a strong kid that has some weapons offensively."
Ranked 12th nationally, Creighton (22-3, 14-0 BIG EAST) plays its final home matches of the regular-season this weekend, beginning with Friday's 6:30 p.m. match vs. St. John's.
Joining the Bluejays next fall will be Destiny Ndam-Simpson (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS), Audrey Clark (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS), Sydney Breissinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy), Ava TeStrake (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West HS) and Jaya Johnson (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South HS).
"I think we literally have every position represented in this class," said Booth. "They'll have a chance to come in and fight for time and give us great depth. They're all culture kids that are going to continue to build the Creighton Volleyball culture."
Destiny Ndam-Simpson is a 6'2" outside hitter at Westside High School. The Omaha native led the Warriors to their first state title match appearance since 1985 under head coach Korrine Bowers this fall, when she had 507 kills, 473 digs and 63 blocks on .271 hitting. The Warriors finished the season 30-9.
Prior to back-to-back state tournament appearances, Westside hadn't played in the state tournament since 2002. Ndam-Simpson had 26 and 22 kills in two state tourney matches last season, helping her finish with a Class A-leading 504 overall. She also ranked seventh in Class A with 508 digs in 2021 and was named a First Team All-State pick by the Omaha World-Herald.
Ndam-Simpson was ranked as the 31st best recruit by PrepVolleyball.com and plays on the club circuit for Premier 17 Gold.
"Our only local player this year has a cannon for an arm," said Booth. "Outside's her home position but she's also played some right side and is good in the back row."
Audrey Clark is a 5'10" setter from Frisco, Texas, where she plays at Wakeland High School. Clark was named to the AVCA High School Volleyball All-Region 4 Team last week and to date has helped the Wolverines to a 31-4 record with 672 assists, 197 digs, 89 kills, 51 blocks and 40 aces.
As a junior, she was named to the Star Local Media All-Area Volleyball First Team and District 9-5A Setter of the Year after compiling 1,142 assists, 302 digs, 91 kills and 35 aces. Clark was also a Second Team District 9-5A choice as a sophomore. She plays club volleyball for Texas Advantage and was recognized last month as a member of the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team thanks to owning a GPA over 3.80.
"Audrey's a great setter who locates the ball extremely well," said Booth. "She's also a good defensive player."
Sydney Breissinger is a 5'6" libero/defensive specialist from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she attends Ursuline Academy. Ranked as the 10th-best player in the state of Ohio, she plays for Elevation on the club circuit.
She ranked third in the Girls Greater Catholic League last season with 5.02 digs per set and is third this year with 4.74 digs per set. She owns 868 digs, 100 assists and 80 aces in her career so far. She enters this weekend's state tournament with nine matches of 20 or more digs this fall, while her best match came on Sept. 7, 2021 at St. Ursula, when she had 44 digs to go with 17 assists. She is coached by Ali Butcher.
"She's our first Cincinnati kid, so we're excited," said Booth. "She is a phenomenal passer. One thing that we've noticed is that she's got a great platform. She also is extremely quick defensively. She's played on really high level club and high school teams."
Ava TeStrake is a 6'4" outside hitter/right-side hitter from Olathe, Kan., where she stars for Olathe West High School. PrepVolleyball.com has named TeStrake as the nation's No. 61 Senior Ace.
TeStrake owns the school record for career blocks, and season and career records in aces, kills and hitting percentage. She was named First Team All-Sunflower League in 2020 and 2022 and Second Team in 2021. She owned 292 kills, 167 digs, 55 aces and 29 blocks as a sophomore and owns 275 kills, 116 digs, 36 blocks and is hitting .363 this fall for coach Amy Hoffsommer. TeStrake plays club volleyball for KC Power.
"Ava's played a lot of outside hitter, but we know that she can also play right side," said Booth. "Another tall player and a really good blocker who sees the block well."
Jaya Johnson is a 6'2" middle blocker from Olathe, Kan., where she attends Olathe South High School and is the No. 99 recruit per PrepVolleyball.com.
Johnson was a First Team All-Sunflower League performer this fall after being a Second Team selection in 2020 and 2021. Johnson plays on the club circuit for PVA, the same program that produced current Bluejay standout freshman Ava Martin.
"One thing that we really like about Jaya is that she's got a really big arm," said Booth. "She's actually played outside and right-side some but we see her more in the middle. She's a strong kid that has some weapons offensively."
Ranked 12th nationally, Creighton (22-3, 14-0 BIG EAST) plays its final home matches of the regular-season this weekend, beginning with Friday's 6:30 p.m. match vs. St. John's.
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