New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz women's volleyball team announced its incoming class for the 2024 season.

The Hawks are coming off a solid 2023 campaign, which saw the team earn a regional ranking and land in the SUNYAC finals for the 10th time after earning a 20-plus win season for the 16th time under longtime coach Matt Giufre and second consecutive.

SUNY New Paltz lost a coveted senior class that featured five starters including former All-America honorable mention picks setter Cate DiGiacomo and outside hitter Mackenzie Williams. Building off a strong 2023 class, Giufre brings in 10 new Hawks to re-load in talent on a young roster.

Read more about each incoming recruit below:

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Kathrine Barshaba '28

Outside Hitter 6'0"
Staten Island, NY
Susan E. Wagner High School
NYC Juniors

One of three outside's in Giufre's 2024 incoming class, Barshaba will fight for playing time with the Hawks graduating seniors Williams, Samantha Cox and Victoria Venus who all saw ample time at the position in the rotation.

Barshaba was a team captain and starred for four years on Susan E. Wagner's varsity squad where she helped lead the Falcons to three-straight undefeated PSAL Division A seasons (38-0), which included two PSAL semifinal appearances.

The Staten Island, NY native was an AVCA All-America Watch List selection entering her senior season last fall before earning a spot on the PSAL Exception Senior Tournament. She was also named a NYCVCA honorable mention selection. The 6-foot Barshaba ended her high school career with 279 kills, 128 digs, 10 blocks and 90 service aces.

"Kathrine hits a heavy ball," Giufre said. "She has a powerful swing and can score points in a variety of ways. She has a lot of offensive potential."

Not the only collegiate athlete in the family, Bashaba's brother, Alex, starred for Division I Lafayette football team for four seasons from 2019-2022.

 

Chloe Choi '28

Outside Hitter 5'10"
Flushing, NY
The Mary Louis Academy
Club Ace Long Island

Chloe Choi brings three years of varsity experience in the always tough Brooklyn/Queens Tier 1 CHSAA with the Hilltoppers.

Another athletic outside who will fight for time on the court this fall, Choi is a 5'10 hitter who starred for The Mary Louis Academy.

The Flushing, NY native starred for the Hilltoppers varsity volleyball squad for four seasons, which played in a tough Brooklyn/Queens Tier 1 CHSAA conference. She was awarded the Student-Athlete Award in 2021.

"Chloe is a really athletic hitter," Giufre said. "She's played middle for most of her career, but I believe she will transition well to the outside in college. She's a quick jumper with a fast swing and can be a good point scorer for us."
 
Not the only collegiate athlete in the family either, Choi's brother, Jason played baseball at Wonkwang University in South Korea. Choi herself plans on majoring in Business Analytics while at SUNY New Paltz.

 

Sophia Cleney '28

Middle Hitter 6'0"
Clifton Park, NY
Shenendehowa High School
Lakeside Volleyball Club

Cleney is a 6-foot middle hitter from Clifton Park who will add depth to an already stout position for the Hawks that features reigning AVCA All-Region pick Letisha Perez and Lexi Stragalas who had a breakout freshman campaign.

Cleney was a two-year starter for one of New York State's top girl's volleyball programs in Shenendehowa High School. The Plainsmen have earned three Section II, Class AA championships and were New York State semifinalists in 2021 before claiming New York State Class AA titles in 2022 and 2023 with Cleney a member on all of those teams that also collected there-straight Section II, NYSPPHA sectional and regional championship titles.

For her credit, Cleney was a 2023 Suburban Council honorable mention selection and concluded her career with 130 kills, 18 digs and 21 blocks.

Another standout athlete, Cleney earned Section II honorable mention honors in flag football as well. She joins her sister, Holly, who stars for Division I Binghamton University's women's basketball team to play collegiately.

"Sophia is a versatile hitter who can play multiple positions," Giufre said. "Her skills translate well to both middle and right side, where her hitting and blocking is strong."

Cleney plans on majoring in Psychology while at SUNY New Paltz.

Mia Colombo '28

Setter 5'5"
Holtsville, NY
Sachem High School East
Sportime Volleyball Club

Adding much needed depth at the setter position following the graduation of DiGiacomo and fellow senior Dana Collins, Colombo comes in with four years of varsity experience, including three years as the starting setter for Sachem High School East.

The Holtsville, NY native was an All-Classification selection, and a four-year Scholar Athlete and also earned the 2023 New York State Seal of Distinction and Graduation Pathway award.

"Mia is a good hitter who locates the ball well," Giufre said. "She has really grown in this position over the last couple of years and has the potential to keep elevating her game."

Colombo joins her sister, Samantha, who also plays college volleyball, suiting up for rival SUNY Plattsburgh and LIU Post during her career.

Colombo starred for Sportime Volleyball Club and plans on majoring in biology while at SUNY New Paltz.

Riley Guzman '28

Libero 5'6"
New Rochelle, NY
New Rochelle High School
Legacy Volleyball Club
 
Another athletic incoming recruit, Guzman will try and solidify the spot left at libero with the graduation of starter Melanie Podstupka.
 
Guzman played 10 different sports before settling in on volleyball where she was a three-year varsity player for New Rochelle High School. She helped lead the Huguenots to a Section I, Class AAA playoff berth last fall as a senior and in turn, was named a LoHud honorable mention selection.
 
"Riley is a fast libero with goo ball control," Giufre said. "She read the game well and will be difficult to get kills on."
 
Additionally, Guzman was an All-League and All-District pick and played club volleyball for Legacy Volleyball Club.
 
Also not the only collegiate athlete in the family, her mom, Lara, starred for Ivy League's Princeton University's rugby team for four years.
 
Guzman plans on majoring in accounting while at SUNY New Paltz.

Nora Keating '28

Middle Hitter/Right Side 5'9"
Brewster, NY
Brewster High School
Downstate Volleyball Club

Keating will provide additional depth at both middle hitter and right side for the Hawks as she enters her first year this fall.

The 5'9, Brewster, NY native was a two-year member of the Brewster Bears girl's volleyball team where she was a LoHud honorable mention pick as a senior last fall, along with bringing in All-Conference and All-League honors.

"Nora is an athletic hitter who can play many positions," Giufre said. "She is quick with a strong swing, a good blocker, and someone who will be a challenge for our opponents."

Playing for Downstate Volleyball Club, Keating starred in the AAU Girls Junior National Championship game in Orlando, Florida. In the classroom, she earned a spot on the High Honor Roll every year of high school.

Also not the only Keating to play collegiately, her mom, Christine, swam for Division I Villanova University

Jordyn Lewis '28

Libero 5'6"
Webster, NY
Webster Thomas High School
Paradigm Volleyball Club

Lewis is another 5'6 libero who spent four seasons starting for Webster Thomas High School while captaining the team for her last two seasons.

The Webster, NY native earned a myriad of accolades after starring for the Warriors, first earning All-Conference honorable mention honors as a freshman before earning All-Greater Rochester honorable mention the following year, while also being named Webster Thomas High School Defense Player of the Year. As a junior, Lewis was named a second-team All-County pick before ending her high school career with another All-County honorable mention nod along with her second Webster Thomas High Defensive Player of the Year selection.

As a senior last fall, Lewis led the Warriors to a Section V playoff berth. While as a member of the Paradigm Volleyball club team, she was a competed in the girls Junior National Championships in 2023.

"Jordyn is a high-level passer and defender," Giufre said. "She has tremendous defensive range and solid ball control. Hitters will have to work hard to score points against her."

Lewis comes from a long line of collegiate athletes. Her mom, Kristine, was a three-sport athlete at FLCC, playing soccer, basketball and softball from 1989-1991, before playing a season on SUNY Brockport's women's soccer team in 1991. Lewis' sister, Kylie, meanwhile is on the rowing team at Division I's University of Buffalo.

 

Catherine McCourt '28

Defensive Specialist 5'5"
Wappingers Falls, NY
Roy C. Ketcham High School
New York Elite

A 5'5 DS from Wappingers, Falls, McCourt was a four-year letter winner at Roy C. Ketcham High School, captaining the Storm for two seasons.  

"Catherine is a good defender. She has good range and ball control, and understands the game quite well," Giufre said.
 
McCourt was a Player of the Week selection as a junior and earned All-League honors as a junior in 2022 before claiming All-Conference honors as a senior last fall.
 
McCourt played club for New York Elite. She plans on majoring in business while at SUNY New Paltz.

Elena Savage '28

Setter 5'5"
West Babylon, NY
West Babylon High School
Sportime Volleyball Club

Savage is an athletic, 5'5 setter from West Babylon, NY. She was a three-year starter and a three-year captain for West Babylon High School varsity girls volleyball team where she led the Eagles to their first Suffolk County, Class AA, League 3 playoff game in 22 years last fall.

She was regarded as one of the best in Long Island, as she was named to Long-Island's Top-15 girls volleyball players by livball.com as a junior in 2022. She was named as West Babylon's team MVP for back-to-back seasons as a junior and senior, and earned All-Suffolk County honors in both years as well.

As a senior last fall, she was among the top 10 in assists and aces in all of Suffolk County. She ended her career with 171 kills, 13 blocks, 653 assists, 202 digs and 155 service aces.

She played club volleyball for Sportime VC where she earned All-Tournament honors at the Sportime VBC Championship Tournament. Additionally, Savage was a High Honor Roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, Math and Science Honor Society, World Languages Honor Society and Athletes Helping Athletes.

"Elena is a really athletic, fast setter with consistent location at a fast tempo," Giufre said. She makes her passers and hitters better no matter what the situation is. Elena can be an impact player for us."
Savage plans on majoring in accounting while at SUNY New Paltz.

 

Maria Weigand '28

Outside Hitter 5'8"
Howard Beach, NY
Archbishop Molloy High School
Sportime Volleyball Club

Weigand is a 5'8 outside who will look to earn time in the rotation in a young incoming group at the position.

The Howard Beach, NY native was a three-year starter for Archbishop Molloy High School where she led her team to a NYSCHSAA Brookyln/Queens Tier 1 semifinal appearance last fall.

She was a NYSCHSAAB/Q Tier 1 First-Team All-Star selection following a breakout senior season, along with garnering All-Tournament MVP, All_Season MVP and CHSAA All-League Honors.

"Maria is a very good all-around volleyball player," Giufre said. "She's a strong passer and hitter who can help us both offensively and defensively. I'm looking forward to seeing the impact she makes on our team."

Like classmates Savage and Colombo, Weigand starred for Sportime Volleyball Club. Addtionally She was a High Honor Roll student with Distinction, a member of the Campus Ministry Team and an Academic Excellence Award recipient for four straight years.

Weigand plans on majoring in communication disorders while at SUNY New Paltz.
 
 

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