Florida State University Athletics
Harrison Joins Niles’ 2019 Class
2/18/2019 5:56:59 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State beach volleyball head coach Brooke Niles announced the addition of walk-on Marissa Harrison to the 2019-20 recruiting class on Monday (Feb. 18).
Harrison was born on the Cayman Islands before moving to Southern California when she was nine years old, where she played indoor volleyball for Poway High School, and participated with the Coast and 692 San Diego club teams.
She gained pro experience by representing the Cayman Islands National Team on the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour in 2017, where her team finished in ninth place in 2016 and 13th place in 2017. She finished in the Top-10 in the NORCECA stop in Aguascalientes, Mexico last April, and finished 14th in the 2018 Caribbean and Central American Games.
As a four-year varsity starter for Poway, Harrison primarily played DS and libero. Her senior year, Harrison led the Titans to the CIF quarterfinals. She received the Presidential award for Academic Excellence and received a cumulative honor roll medal.
“Overall this is the best recruiting class that we have had at FSU,” said head coach Brooke Niles. “There’s a lot of size and skill in the 2019 class, and these players are all going to be competing immediately for starting spots.”
Marissa Harrison
5’9” | Poway, Calif. | Poway High School
Accomplishments
- Played for the Cayman Islands National Team in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour, where her team finished 9th (2016) and 13th (2017).
- Finished fifth in the U14 Division at the BVCA National Championship (2015).
- Finished in the top 10 in the April NORCECA stop in Aguascalientes, Mexico (2018).
- Finished 14th out of 22 countries in the 2018 Caribbean and Central American Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.
- CBVA Women’s AAA rated player.
- Finished ninth in the BVCA Nationals in 2017, third in 2016 and fifth in 2015.
- Fifth place at in the 2017 AAU Nationals.
- Indoor volleyball
- 2017 and 2018 All-Academic Team
- 2017 Palomar League Champions
- 2017 and 2018 Poway High School Best Defensive Player
- 2018 Palomar League Second Team
Keara Rutz
5’10” | San Juan Capistrano, Calif. | Capistrano Valley Christian School
Accomplishments
- Best pro tour finish: 29th (twice: 2017 AVP Huntington Beach and 2018 AVP Seattle)
- Advanced through the second qualifying round of the AVP Hermosa Beach with partner Charlie Ekstrom (2018)
- Finished 33rd at the AVP Hermosa Beach with Jayelin Lombard (2017)
- Came in 6th place in the Girls 18U division of the USAV Beach HP World Trials (2017)
- Orange County Register Athlete of the Week (9/18/17)
- Won the Volley America Junior National Championships with partner Shannon Murphy (8/6/16)
- Came in third place at the GNBV Seaside Heights, New Jersey event with Shannon Murphy (8/4/16)
- Indoor volleyball
- 3x MaxPreps/AVCA Player of the Week
- Capistrano Valley Christian Volleyball Player of the Year (2017)
Madelyne May Anderson
6’1” | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | Palm Beach Gardens High School
Accomplishments
- Won the 18U Division of the AVPFirst Fort Lauderdale in April 2018 with fellow incoming FSU freshman Alex Hilton.
- Finished in third place with fellow incoming FSU freshman Erin Murphy in the 18U Division of the AVPFirst Fort Lauderdale in January 2018.
- Currently ranked 32nd in the nation in the Girls 18U division (USAV National Beach Rankings)
- Won the USAV JBT National Championships in Milwaukee, WI after earning a qualifying bid at the USAV JBT Carolina Grand Slam in Apex, NC with partner Sena Szczepaniuk in the 14U division.
- The pair came in second at the USPL Florida Winter Oasis in the 16U division in 2016.
- Current Seminole Cassie Anderson’s sister
- Indoor volleyball
- 2017 Palm Beach Post Player of the Year (1/6/18)
- Land Rover Palm Beach Player of the Week (11/13/17)
- Led her team to the Class 9A state title game (2017)
Alexandria Hilton
5’10” | Sarasota, Fla. | Riverview High School
Accomplishments
- Won the 18U Division of the AVPFirst Fort Lauderdale in May 2018 with Madison Bobes.
- Won the 18U Division of the AVPFirst Fort Lauderdale in April 2018 with fellow incoming FSU freshman Madelyne Anderson.
- Advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s A division of the CBVA Belmont Shore in 2017 with partner Natalie Bennett.
- Finished in third at the Spalding KOB Big Shot Volleyball Series, Singer Island in 2018 with partner Lexie Hamilton.
- Earned a third-place finish in the SSOVA Clearwater Women’s Open with partner and current FSU freshman Cassie Anderson.
- Finished fifth in the 18U division of the Big Shot Volleyball Series in Siesta Key in 2018 with Hamilton.
- Earned a silver medal in the 16U division of the Spalding Big Shot Volleyball Tour in 2015.
- Finished fifth with Bennett in the 18U division of the AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier Dallas.
- Finished in ninth place in the 16’s Division of the 2017 GNBV Santa Monica event with Sena Szczepaniuk.
- Earned an 11th place finish with Bennett in the U19 division of the USA Volleyball Beach HP World Trials in 2017.
- Finished in a tie for 13th place in the Women’s Open division of the Spalding KOB Big Shot Volleyball Series, Singer Island in 2018 with partner and fellow incoming FSU freshman Erin Murphy.
- Indoor volleyball
- MaxPreps Player of the Match (Sept. 8, 2018)
Erin Murphy
6’2” | St. Petersburg, Fla. | St. Petersburg Collegiate High School
Accomplishments
- Won the Tampa Bay Beach Bums “Superhero September” Women’s Open in 2018 with Priscilla Piantadosi-Lima.
- Finished in second place with partner Kahlee York at the SSOVA Clearwater in 2018.
- Finished in third place with fellow incoming FSU freshman Madelyne Anderson in the 18U Division of the AVPFirst Fort Lauderdale in January 2018.
- Finished in a tie for 13th place in the Women’s Open division of the Spalding KOB Big Shot Volleyball Series, Singer Island in 2018 with partner and fellow incoming FSU freshman Alex Hilton.
- Completed her Associate of Arts degree in Computer Engineering from St Petersburg College while in high school; Co-President of the Chemistry Club.
Elizabeth Waters-Leiga
5’11” | San Leandro, Calif. | San Leandro High School
Accomplishments
- Won the 2018 California Beach Volleyball Association Tour Stop 2 with partner Jordan Polo.
- Won the CBVA Tour Stop 9 in Santa Cruz with Polo in 2017.
- Finished in second in the 18U Gold bracket of the 2017 GNBV Ocean Park Santa Monica event.
- Earned a runner-up finish at the 2018 CBVA Cal Cup with partner Kyla Doig
- Earned a runner-up finish in the 14U Division of the AAU Beach Volleyball National Championships with partner Sierra Tyson in 2015.
- Finished 9th with partner Kendall Peters in the 18U Division of the USAV Beach High Performance World Trials in 2017.
- Finished in a tie for 17th in the Silver Bracket of the 16U BVCA National Championship in Hermosa Beach in 2016.
- Indoor volleyball
- 8x MaxPreps Player of the Match
Follow the team on Facebook (Florida State Beach Volleyball), Twitter (FSU_BeachVB) and Instagram (FSUbeachvolleyball).