SEATTLE – They're coming from all over to play volleyball at Seattle Pacific.
 
Coach Jason Rhine has completed his 2023 recruiting class, and the five newcomers who will be joining the Falcons later this summer include two players from Wisconsin, one from Texas, one from Arizona, and one from nearby Redmond.
 
 

"After last year when we only had one transfer come in and no new freshmen, I think it will be fun to have a lot of new young energy," said Rhine, who begins his second year in charge of the program. "They'll bring in some unique experiences from different states and different backgrounds."
 
The group of five includes 5-foot-11 left-handed opposite Coco Barnett from Fitchburg, Wisconsin; 5-8 setter Sophia Chambers from Justin, Texas; 5-4 libero Christina Lopez from Surprise, Arizona; 6-foot outside hitter Anna Pelluer from Lake Washington High School in Redmond; and 5-9 setter Avery Veenendall from LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
 
All of them will be freshmen. (Pelluer is a transfer from Idaho, but still has all four years of eligibility remaining.)
 
"I think we'll be able to add to the depth of our team, and that's one of the strengths we have is a really strong top-to-bottom roster," Rhine said. "We can compete hard in practice every day, and that kind of prepares us well for the GNAC and the teams that we're going to play."
 
 
COCO BARNETT
5-11 / Opposite
Fitchburg, Wis.
Oregon High School
 
About Coco:  Earned All-Badger Conference 2nd-team honors as a senior and honorable mention status as a junior. She led the Panthers in kills as a junior and as a senior, and was among the team's top three in blocking both years, as well. She was named to the Monana Grove All-Tournament team for two straight years, and received the WVCA All-Academic award in 2022 and 2023.
 
Coach Rhine says: "She brings a fun personality to the team she's a lefty, and she has similar athleticism to Maddie (Pruden) and Sydney (Perry) on our teams. I hope she grows into a similar role where she can be a really aggressive right-side for us."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I loved the city – it's such a switch-up from Wisconsin. I also liked the location of the campus a lot, and liked the whole vibe of the school and the players on the team. I feel like with my major (fashion merchandising), I will have many opportunities in Seattle."
 
 
SOPHIA CHAMBERS
5-9 / Setter
Justin, Texas
Northwest High School
 
About Sophia:  Four-year varsity starter and three-year captain for the Texans. As a senior in 2022, was named the District Co-MVP, the team MVP, and the All-Area Utility MVP. Earned 1st-team All-District as a junior in 2021, and 2nd-team All-District as a freshman and sophomore. Was an All-State alternate in 2021. Voted to the NISD Classic All-Tournament team in 2021.
 
Coach Rhine says: "She's someone we feel is coming in with some experience playing with a lot of D2 and some D2 athletes on her (club) team and against other (D2 and D1) athletes. We think she is going to be able to make the jump into setting at our fast tempos and with our girls. It should be a good adjustment for her."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I liked the fun area as well as the Seattle Pacific community. It really had everything I was looking for in a school."
 
 
CHRISTINA LOPEZ
5-4 / Libero
Surprise, Ariz.
Valley Vista High School
 
About Christina:  Helped the Monsoon win the regional championship all four years. Was an All-West Valley Conference 1st-team libero as a sophomore, junior, and senior.
 
Coach Rhine says: "She has played some good volleyball in the past, especially this last year in club. She moved up to a higher-level travel team and got to play with some of the best girls in the country. It will be a fun transition for her coming into our gym. I think she's relaxed around our level of play and is ready, and her eyes are at that speed already."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I chose SPU because of the city."
 
 
ANNA PELLUER
6-0 / Outside hitter
Redmond, Wash.
Lake Washington High School / Idaho
 
About Anna:  All-Kingco Conference 1st team as a senior in 2021. Also named the Lake Washington MVP and won the Best Teammate award as a senior. As a junior in 2020, helped the Kangaroos go undefeated in regular-season play. Helped her club team win the Puget Sound Presidents Day Tournament. Saw limited action at Idaho in 2022, playing in three matches.
 
Coach Rhine says: "She joined us this quarter and has been in the gym with us, and it's really fun to have her energy. She works really hard both in the front row and back row to improve. It's a little tougher being the only new person and trying to figure out quickly all of our systems, all of our defense, and all of our offensive calls – and she's getting adjusted to a different setter. She's going a good job of sticking to that."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "My family is close by and family is one of the most important things in my life. And my faith is super-important to me, so I can grow in my faith and integrate it with my sport."
 
 
AVERY VEENENDALL
5-8 / Setter
La Crosse, Wis.
Central High School
 
About Avery:  Named to the All-Mississippi Valley Conference 1st team as a senior in 2022, and earned honorable mention status in 2021. She was voted as the team MVP those same two years. She has received academic achievement awards for the past three years, and also has been named to the All-Conference academic team.
 
Coach Rhine says: "She came to our summer camp last year, and I was really impressed with how much she brought to each of the teams she competed with at camp, in terms of personality and leadership. She has a great attitude on the court, works hard and gives it her all. She's also developing quickly as a setter. I'm excited to see what she's going to bring to the program."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I enjoyed the coaching staff and the girls. When I met them, the already treated me like a member of the team, so it felt like a really good fit. I like that it's a Christian university, the competitiveness of the volleyball program, and the size of the school."