USC Beach Volleyball Welcomes Talented Freshman Class

LOS ANGELES – The three-time defending NCAA champion USC beach volleyball team welcomes the addition of five talented freshman to the 2023-24 roster, head coach Dain Blanton announced on Thursday, August 17.

The Trojans' quintet of first-year players include Madison Goellner (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall HS), Grace Hong (Newport Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS), Zoey Mitchell (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland HS), Ashley Pater (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS), and Kaylee Young (Southlake, Texas/Carroll Senior HS).

"We're looking forward to the arrival of this freshman class," said Blanton. "They are a talented group and will bring a lot to the table this season. Some may be more experienced on the sand than others, but the ceiling is high for each of them. They are also a testament to the way our sport is growing rapidly across the country. We're proud to bring in student-athletes from Florida, Texas, Missouri, and California in this cycle, and can't wait for them all to join the Trojan Family."

Goellner—a 6-2 outside hitter in high school—helped her team win three regional titles (2020-22) and registered a career-high of 32 kills in a single match. She played for the Madsand beach volleyball club for four years and took home her first gold medal as winner of the 2019 U14 AVP national championship. Goellner also helped her club win the 2022 BVCA championship and has been part of the USAV National Development Training Program for two years (2021-23).

Hong played both indoor and beach volleyball and served as a captain at Mater Dei. She played for the Spiker Beach Volleyball Club and helped the Spiker Black squad to a first-place finish in the 2023 OC Event. Hong has also helped her teams to a first-place finish at the 2021 AAU Grand Prix and to second-place finishes at the 2023 AAU national championship and 2021 CBVA Cal Cup.

Mitchell was a three-time all-conference first-team and two-time all-district award winner as a 5-11 setter at Timberland High School. She has finished as high as second place at the 2022 Clearwater p1440 event and holds two third-place finishes at the 2022 USAV Beachfest and the 2023 Gulf Shores p1440 event. Mitchell played for the P4:13 Beach Volleyball Club and the JaJa Beach Volleyball Club.

Pater served as captain of her high school team and earned MVP and all-state laurels while at Lakewood Ranch High School. She is a two-time member of the USAV Beach U19 National Team and was on the U17 squad in 2017. Pater has 13 first-place finishes in major tournaments and has reached the main draw of five AVP Pro Tour events. She was the 2022 AAU Junior Olympics National Champion and took second at the 2022 U19 World Championship in Turkey with Team USA.

Young was a two-sport athlete in indoor volleyball and track and field at Carroll HS where she was a senior captain. She was chosen as the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-District choice in 2022. Young helped her squad to three straight area and bi-district championships (2020-22). She played for the Beach Ten Thousand Volleyball Club and spent a year at Madsand where she helped the club win the 2022 BVCA national championship. Young is a two-time member of the USAV Beach U17 national team (2021-22).

Under fourth-year head coach Dain Blanton, the USC beach volleyball team captured its third straight NCAA Championship (fifth NCAA title and sixth national title) in 2023. The Women of Troy finished the year ranked No. 1 and had an overall record of 32-5. USC added two more AVCA All-Americans to its history books with the third selection for Megan Kraft and the first-career honor for Delaynie Maple. Kraft was named the Pac-12's Player of the Year while she and Maple earned Pac-12 Pair of the Year laurels. Both were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team and were joined by Madison Shields and Madison White. Blanton finished his fourth season with a 105-15 career record and Gustavo Rocha was chosen as the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year.

For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.

Players Mentioned

Megan Kraft

Delaynie Maple

Madison White