Volleyball Signs National Recognized Recruiting Class
11/9/2023
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson continues to push the Spartan volleyball program in the right direction and Wednesday's signing class was more evidence of that. The Spartans will add four first year student-athletes to the team in 2024, bringing in a class that ranked as high as No. 8 nationally via PrepVolleyball. It's one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in program history.
Joining MSU next season are Mia Hood (MB/Roswell, Ga.), Kayla Foley (Libero/Virginia Beach, Va.), Mya Bolton (Libero/Olathe, Kan.) and Carmen Waye (MB/Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada).
Hood was the No. 6-ranked recruit overall via PrepVolleyball and the top ranked middle blocker in the country, while PrepDig ranks Hood as the No. 25 overall recruit and the No. 6-ranked middle. Bolton ranked No. 127 overall on PrepVolleyball and was the No. 16-ranked DS/L in the country. Foley and Bolton were each named Second Team All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Mia Hood
6'6" | Middle Blocker | Roswell, Ga. | A5 Volleyball Club
The No. 6-ranked recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball, Hood is a two-time PrepVolleyball All-American. Hood is no stranger to success, helping A5 Volleyball Club to an AAU National Open Championship in 2022 as well as a third place finish in 2023. In 2023, Hood was named to the AVCA All-America watch list, the JVA All-America watch list and the USA Toady HSSA Girls Volleyball Player of the Year watch list. Hood's sister, Kaya Hood, is currently a junior middle blocker for the Spartans.
I chose MSU because from the moment I walked on campus it felt like home. The environment was so welcoming and I could feel the passion and love everyone had for the sport when I was talking with the coaches and players! I left campus knowing that MSU was the place for me.”Mia Hood
Kayla Foley
5'4" | DS/Libero | Virginia Beach, Va. | Beach Elite VBC
Recently named a Second Team AVCA All-American, Foley was also named First Team All-State in Virginia last season in addition to 5A Region Player of the Year honors playing at First Colonial High School.
I chose MSU because it has been my dream school since I was little and from the first time I stepped on campus it felt like home. The coaches have gone above and beyond to help me grow both as a person and a player and I fell in love with the family like culture of the team.Kayla Foley
Mya Bolton
5'4" | DS/Libero | Shawnee, Kan. | KC Power VBC
Another Second Team AVCA All-American, Bolton ranked as the No. 127 overall recruit via PrepVolleyball and was the No. 16-ranked DS/Libero in the class. Bolton also earned the No. 134 overall ranking via PrepDig. Bolton's sister, Ellie, is currently a DS/L at Creighton.
I chose Michigan State because the coaches and team felt like family when I was on my visit. The coaching staff showed me they care about me not just as a volleyball player but also as a person. I wanted to be part of a program that pushes me to be my best, and has goals of being a top team in the Big Ten.Mya Bolton
Carmen Waye
6'2" | Middle Blocker | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | Fury VBC | Canadian Youth National Team
Carmen Waye is next up in a long line of successful Michigan State volleyball players from Canada, hoping to join the likes of Dana Cooke, Jaz White, Autumn Bailey and Allyssah Fitterer in the Spartan record books. Waye was selected to the Volleyball Canada's 2023 National Excellence Program. It took Waye just two years of playing volleyball to transform from a beginner to a national team level prospect.
As soon as I stepped on campus and met the coaching staff and athletes I knew this was the place for me.Carmen Waye
