Tulane Beach Volleyball Announces 2019 Signing Class
Nov 30, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane beach volleyball sixth-year head coach Wayne Holly announced on Monday the Green Wave's 2019 signing class. The team will add three players to its roster next season, including Ashton Mares of Fort Worth, Texas, Samantha Mehlman of Agoura Hills, California and Kendall Peters of San Mateo, California.
"We're bringing three outstanding people into the program in 2019," Holly said. "Each person loves to play beach volleyball and wants to compete at the highest level. They are great athletes and learners who are eager to develop over the next four years and help continue our program's tradition of sustained excellence. I'm grateful for all three of the amazing young women who have chosen Tulane for their academic and athletic careers."
ASHTON MARES | FORT WORTH, TEXASConfirmed❕@ashtonmares is officially a Green Wave 🌊🏐🏖
— Tulane Beach VB (@GreenWaveBeach) November 15, 2018
Congrats, Ashton! pic.twitter.com/gxV5IbldRa
Mares makes her way to Tulane from Fort Worth, Texas, where she played club for 692 Beach Volleyball, earning a BVCA national championship title in 2014. Mares was also a four-year letterwinner in indoor volleyball as an outside hitter at All Saints' Episcopal School. As the captain during her junior and senior years, Mares led the Saints to an undefeated season and a state championship win in 2017. Mares earned multiple honors during her five years at Episcopal, including: All-Conference in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (2016), District MVP (2017), 1st Team All-District (2017-2018), 1st Team All-State (2017), Academic-All-State (2017-2018), All-State Tournament Team (2017) and District Offensive MVP (2018). The Texas native set the school record for single-season kills with 701 in her junior year. Planning to major in digital design at Tulane, Mares aspires to work for Disney Imagineering post-graduation.
"Ashton is an outstanding person and a dynamic offensive beach volleyball player. She's skilled in all facets of the game and highly competitive," Holly added of the newcomer. "Ashton plays brave and is driven to grow in our program."
SAMANTHA MEHLMAN | AGOURA HS | AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIAPen to paper and she's in❕
— Tulane Beach VB (@GreenWaveBeach) November 15, 2018
Welcome to the Green Wave, Samantha 🌊🏐🏖 pic.twitter.com/QQAnWrQ7Zx
Mehlman comes to New Orleans from Agoura Hills, California, where she was a two-year letterwinner in both beach and indoor volleyball at Agoura High School. Mehlman has played club for Valley Girls Beach Volleyball since 2015, earning a AAA rating from the California Beach Volleyball Association. Her most recent finishes include a first in the CBVA's Cal Cup AA tournament, a third in the Cal Cup 18U event and a third in the AVP First 18U tournament in San Francisco. The incoming freshman plans to major in finance in the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane with a specialization in energy, and hopes to focus on the collaboration of business and environmental preservation upon graduation.
"Samantha is a terrific all-around player and competitor with a huge desire to learn," Holly said. "She is very well-trained and has a strong mental approach to the game as well. She is going to make an immediate positive impact on our team."
KENDALL PETERS | SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIASigned, sealed, delivered❕
— Tulane Beach VB (@GreenWaveBeach) November 15, 2018
Welcome to the Green Wave, Kendall 🏐🏖#RollWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/ZnYLZ8OUz8
Peters comes to Tulane from San Mateo, California, where she played club for Santa Cruz Beach Volleyball. In the summer of 2018, she won the Fonoimoana's Queen of Beach tournament in Hermosa Beach. The incoming Green Wave freshman also earned her AAA rating in the Santa Cruz Open (2018), earned a third-place finish at AAU Junior Beach Volleyball Championships (2017) and was selected to the A2 Junior Beach National Team in 2017. On the indoor side, Peters was a four-year letterwinner as an outside hitter at Notre Dame Belmont High School and was named the Tigers' MVP in 2017 and 2018. Peters intends to major in business or communications at Tulane, with hopes of playing beach volleyball professionally upon graduation.
"Kendall is an excellent sideout player, a skilled defender and someone who has figured out how to win at every level she's played," Holly said of the California native. "I am extremely impressed with Kendall's work ethic and resolve to accomplish her goals.
The Tulane beach volleyball team wrapped up its fall preseason schedule earlier this month and has shifted its focus to preparing for regular season action in February.
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