SEATTLE – They're coming from all over – and they're coming in bunches – to join the Seattle Pacific women's basketball program.
 
A total of 10 newcomers will be making their way to the Falcons' gym this coming season, as announced by head coach Karen Byers.
 
Included in the group are Naomi Hotchkiss, Pippa Krieger, Ava Mai, Jasmine Pho, India Pines,  twins Jadlyn and Layla Senderson, Emma Voellger, Kara Wilson, and Cascadia Yates.
 
More than half (six) hail from Washington (Hotchkiss, the Sendersons, Voellger, Wilson, and Yates), with two from California (Pines and Pho), and one each from Oregon (Mai) and Arizona (Krieger). There are eight true freshman, along with two juniors.
 
 

"I know I wanted to grow the team. I was not thinking we would have 10 new ones come in," Byers said. "I'm really excited to put them into the program and the concepts that Ava (Edmonds, SPU's assistant coach) and I have developed and see how that works out. I'm really encouraged and excited for that."

With 18 players, it will be the largest roster in the 51-year history of the program. The 2021-22 squad had 17. With eight veterans also on the squad, a number of the newcomers quite possibly could see some meaningful minutes.
 
"I've really kind of recruited toward this type of energy and this type of work ethic that I would like to see in this culture of our team," Byers said. "Our returners are the base, and they're going to be the foundation of our culture. They're ready for it. They're ready to take on the leadership role, and they're ready to help bring the young ones up. It's going to be a fun theme."
 
 
JR. NAOMI HOTCHKISS
6-4 / Center
Puyallup, Wash.
Puyallup High school
 
About Naomi:  Played with Vanguard as a freshman and sophomore. Helped the Lions win the NAIA, Golden State Athletic Conference title in 2023-24, then saw action in 11 games last season as Vanguard moved up to NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference. … Was considered among the top centers in Washington and a top-10 player overall as a Puyallup High School senior in 2022-23.
 
Coach Byers says:  "Naomi is super-quick for her size, so she's going to be able to keep up with our transition pushes and just be a rebounding menace."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "There are a lot of things I love about SPU. It has a Christian environment, I'm close to my family and friends, and I have faith that God opened this door for me because it's where I'm supposed to be."
 
 
FR. PIPPA KRIEGER
6-0 / Wing
Chandler, Ariz.
Mesquite High School
 
About Pippa:  Helped Mesquite to runner-up state tournament finishes as a freshman and again as a junior, an Open Division Final Four spot as a sophomore and an Open Division Elite Eight berth as a senior. … The team went 101-20 during her four seasons. … Led the team in blocks per game as a junior and senior.
 
Coach Byers says:  "I'm really excited for Pippa to be here. She's quite the shooter. And with that and her 6-foot frame, she's going to be a real important link to us."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I love the Pacific Northwest and I really like the basketball program at SPU."
 
 
FR. AVA MAI
5-8 / G
Oregon City, Ore.
Oregon City / Damascus Christian High School
 
About Ava:  Helped Damascus Christian win the Oregon Class 1A (small school) state championship as a sophomore in 2023 after a runner-up finish in 2022. … Two-time All-State. … As a freshman in 2022, won state track & field championships in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles, and was named Athlete of the Meet.
 
Coach Byers says:  "She's an aggressive defender. I'm really excited to see how she can cause some problems on the defensive part."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I was attracted to SPU because of the environment beautiful campus, and welcoming atmosphere. There are so many things to do in Seattle."
 
 
FR. JASMINE PHO
5-5 / Guard
Aiea, Hawaii
Rancho Christian High School
 
About Jasmine:  Helped Rancho Christian with the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section championship as a senior this past season. … Played her freshman year of high school basketball in Yokosuka, Japan. … As a junior at Rancho Christian, placed third in the league finals for the 800-meter run.
 
Coach Byers says:  "Jasmine is compact, but what she brings is great ballhandling skills. She's aggressive, and she can really pass and find her teammates."
 
Reason she chose SPU: "What attracted me to SPU is its location, small class sizes, the diverse options in possible majors, and the Christ-centered community that it's built upon."
 
 
JR. INDIA PINES
6-0 / Wing
Los Angeles, Calif.
Mira Costa High School
 
About India:  Played for Orange Coast College in California as a freshman in 2023-24, and for Grossmont College, also in California, in 2024-25. … Averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 18 games at Orange Coast, then 7.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in 27 games for Grossmont.     
 
Coach Byers says:  "We're going to look for her to be able to rebound and hit that outside 3-pointer."
 
Reason she chose SPU: "One of the main things that attracted me to SPU is the location. I have always lived in cities and I knew I wanted to stay close to a major city. SPU provides this as well as beautiful outdoors and a great education."
 
 
FR. JADLYN SENDERSON
5-9 / SG
Vancouver, Wash.
Mountain View High School
 
About Jadlyn:  Named to the Class 3A All-Greater St. Helens League 1st team. …Helped the Thunder win back-to-back league titles in 2024 and 2025. … Received the team's 2024-25 Coaches Award. … Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Coach Byers says:  "She can shoot, and her aggressiveness is going to help her adjust to our play pretty easily."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I valued the connection that I felt with the coaching staff and the support that I felt surrounding my future academics. The campus being in the city is a great perk, as well, along with the faith-centered values of the school,."
 
 
FR. LAYLA SENDERSON
5-9 / PG
Vancouver, Wash.
Mountain View High School
 
About Layla:  Voted to the Class 3A All-Greater St. Helens League 1st team as a junior and again as a senior. … All-Region 2nd team as a senior. … Scholar-Athlete Award. … Helped team win consecutive league-titles in 2024 and 2025, including an undefeated league record this past season.
 
Coach Byers says:  "She can attack really well and get into very dangerous places in the key."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I love ow supportive and welcoming the staff and coaches were. I could see myself thriving and having a good college experience at SPU. The campus and the surrounding area are beautiful, and I love how many things there are to do in the city."
 
 
FR. EMMA VOELLGER
6-4 / Center
Buckley, Wash.
White River High School
 
About Emma:  Helped the Hornets win consecutive Class 2A South Puget Sound League titles (2023, 2024), then win the Class 3A North Puget Sound League title in 2025. The 2023 team was 5th at state, and the 2024 team was 4th. … Also played on the league champion volleyball teams in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2023 team also won the district title, and the 2024 team was 6th at state.
 
Coach Byers says:  "Emma has the most potential for growth of all the girls coming in."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I chose SPU because of the emphasis on academics, and also religion."
 
 
FR. KARA WILSON
5-7 / Shooting guard
Spokane, Wash.
Gonzaga Prep HighSchool
 
About Kara:  Four-year starter and four-year team captain. … All-Greater Spokane League honorable mention. … Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Coach Byers says:  "She can really hit that middle-range shot and attack and get the ball into dangerous spots."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "I chose SPU because of the welcoming community, the supportive team environment, and the area."
 
 
FR. CASCADIA YATES
6-0 / Forward - Center
Monroe, Wash.
Monroe High School
 
About Cascadia:  Wesco Conference and team MVP as a freshman. … Also team MVP as a sophomore and junior. … Three-time All-Wesco 1^st team selection. … All-Area honorable mention as a sophomore. … Team captain as a junior and as a senor as the Bearcats went to state both years.
 
Coach Byers says: "The first words that come to mind when talking about Cascadia are power and aggressiveness. I'm really excited to see what she can do."
 
Reason she chose SPU:  "One of the main reasons I chose SPU was because of the culture. Not only is the campus beautiful and everyone I met is super-friendly, Coach Karen, Coach Ava, and all the girls on the team are amazing people whom I felt comfortable with right away."

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