Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Complete 2018 Signing Class
4/12/2018 10:14:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head coach Steve Aird has announced the completion of the 2018 signing class. The Hoosiers added 5-10 setter Abigail Westenhofer (Louisville, Ky.) to go with November signees Lexi Johnson (6-4 middle blocker, Scottsdale, Ariz.) and 6-2 outside hitter Breana Edwards (Rainier, Ore.).
"The 2018 signing class adds size, skill and energy to our program," IU head coach Steve Aird said. "As a staff, we are looking for tough, physical kids that are grateful for the opportunity to compete in the nation's best conference. I truly believe that when you are building a team, a business or a culture, you need to find good human beings that work hard every day and understand that elite is a lifestyle and not a mood."
"This group will develop quickly here and will get every opportunity to impact the program," Aird added. "After three months here at IU, our staff is thrilled about how recruiting is developing and the level of student-athletes we are attracting. We feel this class lays a solid foundation for the next chapter of the program's history."
Abigail Westenhofer
5-10 | Setter | Louisville, Kentucky | Sacred Heart Academy
Club: Mava (Mid America Volleyball Association)
Westenhofer High School and Club Accolades
2017 Under Armour All-American Second Team (Top 50 player in the country)
2017 Kentucky First Team All-State
2017 Top Ranked Senior in Kentucky
2016 Kentucky High School State Champion (as a 6-2 setter hit right front row)
Four Year Varsity Player at Sacred Heart (Three Year Starter)
2017 Sacred Heart Academy Team Defensive MVP
2017 Gatorade Player of the Year Candidate
Westenhofer Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Meghan and Mark Westenhofer
Mother played volleyball at Western Kentucky University
Has done over 80 hours of service in high school
Loves animals, music, and any noodle dish!
"Abigail comes from programs that flat out value hard work and toughness," Aird said. "She plays really hard and can move the ball easily. She has good overall skills, can defend at a high level and is not afraid of competition. We feel very fortunate to add her to our roster. I feel the setting position has to be the engine of the program and I will have no problem trusting her in that area. She has a good volleyball IQ and will get the opportunity to play early in her career. She gives us the ability to play fast and run a fast offensive. It will be an exciting offense to play in and certainly exciting to watch."
"It felt like home and where I saw myself going right when I got on campus," Westenhofer said. "I love how the new staff are all excited to be there and take the program to the next level. The motivation and energy are all high. The Big Ten conference is extremely competitive and I'm excited to be a part of something so big."
Lexi Johnson
6-4 | Middle Blocker | Scottsdale, Arizona | Notre Dame Prep
Club: Arizona East Valley Juniors
Johnson High School and Club Accolades
PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace
All-Conference First Team
Conference and Notre Dame Prep Offensive Player-of-the-Year
Notre Dame Prep record for career blocks
Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) 5A Offensive Player of the Year
Led her conference with 532 kills in junior season
2015 AIA State Championship
Club team won nationals in 15 open, runner-up in 16 open
VolleyballMag.com FAB 50 Honors
Johnson Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Lisa Johnson and Randy Johnson
Father Randy inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015
Sister Willow plays volleyball at the University of Oregon
Loves scary movies, Halloween, skiing and snowboarding
"Lexi is a long, athletic kid who plays hard," Aird said. "In time, I believe she will become an excellent player at this level. She has a good feel offensively and will continue to grow as a blocker. I like how she approaches competition and her desire to improve. She is a tough kid and is not afraid of competition. She brings with her a physical approach to the game that our program needs. I think the sky is the limit for Lexi and we are thrilled to add her to the mix."
"I think the staff are such cool, down to earth people and I cannot wait for them and the team to become my family for the next four years," Johnson said. I think the Big Ten is such a competitive conference and I can't wait to compete against the other schools in the conference. I decided to stay because of the level of competition, new arena and I love Coach Aird's ideas and I can't wait to play for him."
Breana Edwards
6-2 | Outside Hitter | Rainier, Oregon | Rainier High School
Club: Athena Volleyball Club
Edwards High School and Club Accolades
PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace
MaxPreps All-American
4x Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) All-State Honoree
3x OSAA First Team All-State
4x 3A-1 Lewis & Clark First Team All-League
3x 3A-1 Lewis & Clark League Player-of-the-Year
Led Rainier to a 4th Place finish at the 2017 OSAA State Tournament
Edwards Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Mike and Tina Edwards
Mother played volleyball at the University of Oregon
Father is her high school coach
Lettered three years in track and field (high jump)
Loves animals, reading and listening to music
"Breana is a true six rotation outside hitter with great size and great energy," Aird said. "She can score from the right, the left and out of the backrow, but we feel she will fit in best as an outside hitter. We are going to ask a lot of her early in her career and she is excited for the challenge. In this conference, it is important to be physical at the pins and we believe Breanna can develop into an elite player. She is an easy kid to like, she is a great teammate and will be a welcome addition to our program."
"The campus is absolutely beautiful and all the girls on the team were so welcoming and you could tell they love it there," Edwards said. I could not be more excited to get on campus and work with the coaching staff. I think the new staff will help me improve my game and make Indiana successful in the Big Ten and nationally. The new arena and the commitment to facilities is also very exciting."
"The 2018 signing class adds size, skill and energy to our program," IU head coach Steve Aird said. "As a staff, we are looking for tough, physical kids that are grateful for the opportunity to compete in the nation's best conference. I truly believe that when you are building a team, a business or a culture, you need to find good human beings that work hard every day and understand that elite is a lifestyle and not a mood."
"This group will develop quickly here and will get every opportunity to impact the program," Aird added. "After three months here at IU, our staff is thrilled about how recruiting is developing and the level of student-athletes we are attracting. We feel this class lays a solid foundation for the next chapter of the program's history."
Abigail Westenhofer
5-10 | Setter | Louisville, Kentucky | Sacred Heart Academy
Club: Mava (Mid America Volleyball Association)
Westenhofer High School and Club Accolades
2017 Under Armour All-American Second Team (Top 50 player in the country)
2017 Kentucky First Team All-State
2017 Top Ranked Senior in Kentucky
2016 Kentucky High School State Champion (as a 6-2 setter hit right front row)
Four Year Varsity Player at Sacred Heart (Three Year Starter)
2017 Sacred Heart Academy Team Defensive MVP
2017 Gatorade Player of the Year Candidate
Westenhofer Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Meghan and Mark Westenhofer
Mother played volleyball at Western Kentucky University
Has done over 80 hours of service in high school
Loves animals, music, and any noodle dish!
"Abigail comes from programs that flat out value hard work and toughness," Aird said. "She plays really hard and can move the ball easily. She has good overall skills, can defend at a high level and is not afraid of competition. We feel very fortunate to add her to our roster. I feel the setting position has to be the engine of the program and I will have no problem trusting her in that area. She has a good volleyball IQ and will get the opportunity to play early in her career. She gives us the ability to play fast and run a fast offensive. It will be an exciting offense to play in and certainly exciting to watch."
"It felt like home and where I saw myself going right when I got on campus," Westenhofer said. "I love how the new staff are all excited to be there and take the program to the next level. The motivation and energy are all high. The Big Ten conference is extremely competitive and I'm excited to be a part of something so big."
Lexi Johnson
6-4 | Middle Blocker | Scottsdale, Arizona | Notre Dame Prep
Club: Arizona East Valley Juniors
Johnson High School and Club Accolades
PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace
All-Conference First Team
Conference and Notre Dame Prep Offensive Player-of-the-Year
Notre Dame Prep record for career blocks
Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) 5A Offensive Player of the Year
Led her conference with 532 kills in junior season
2015 AIA State Championship
Club team won nationals in 15 open, runner-up in 16 open
VolleyballMag.com FAB 50 Honors
Johnson Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Lisa Johnson and Randy Johnson
Father Randy inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015
Sister Willow plays volleyball at the University of Oregon
Loves scary movies, Halloween, skiing and snowboarding
"Lexi is a long, athletic kid who plays hard," Aird said. "In time, I believe she will become an excellent player at this level. She has a good feel offensively and will continue to grow as a blocker. I like how she approaches competition and her desire to improve. She is a tough kid and is not afraid of competition. She brings with her a physical approach to the game that our program needs. I think the sky is the limit for Lexi and we are thrilled to add her to the mix."
"I think the staff are such cool, down to earth people and I cannot wait for them and the team to become my family for the next four years," Johnson said. I think the Big Ten is such a competitive conference and I can't wait to compete against the other schools in the conference. I decided to stay because of the level of competition, new arena and I love Coach Aird's ideas and I can't wait to play for him."
Breana Edwards
6-2 | Outside Hitter | Rainier, Oregon | Rainier High School
Club: Athena Volleyball Club
Edwards High School and Club Accolades
PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace
MaxPreps All-American
4x Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) All-State Honoree
3x OSAA First Team All-State
4x 3A-1 Lewis & Clark First Team All-League
3x 3A-1 Lewis & Clark League Player-of-the-Year
Led Rainier to a 4th Place finish at the 2017 OSAA State Tournament
Edwards Off-the-Court Notables
Daughter of Mike and Tina Edwards
Mother played volleyball at the University of Oregon
Father is her high school coach
Lettered three years in track and field (high jump)
Loves animals, reading and listening to music
"Breana is a true six rotation outside hitter with great size and great energy," Aird said. "She can score from the right, the left and out of the backrow, but we feel she will fit in best as an outside hitter. We are going to ask a lot of her early in her career and she is excited for the challenge. In this conference, it is important to be physical at the pins and we believe Breanna can develop into an elite player. She is an easy kid to like, she is a great teammate and will be a welcome addition to our program."
"The campus is absolutely beautiful and all the girls on the team were so welcoming and you could tell they love it there," Edwards said. I could not be more excited to get on campus and work with the coaching staff. I think the new staff will help me improve my game and make Indiana successful in the Big Ten and nationally. The new arena and the commitment to facilities is also very exciting."
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