Trailblazers sign versatile hitter Ava Terrell to 2025 recruiting class

VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball program announced this week the signing of five-foot-11 middle blocker/opposite hitter Ava Terrell to the Blazers 2025 recruiting class.

"Ava showed interest in coming to VU," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "She's a good player, person and student. Ava cut back on some of her activities this year in order to focus on her academics. That's exceptional. She is from Delaware County, which is a big time area for volleyball in Indiana. That's an area that we, of course, want to recruit. It has been quite a while since we have had students from there."

"With Ava, she went to Yorktown High School and then her senior year she moved to Wapahani High School," Sien added. "Those are two powerhouses in Indiana for volleyball. She's been a part of two very strong high school volleyball programs and she plays for Munciana, which is one of the top clubs in Indiana. Ava is someone who comes in with great experience and great training as a player. Ava is also coming in as another player who can play multiple positions. She can play both right side and middle."

Terrell comes to Vincennes University after finishing her high school career at Wapahani High School in Selma, Ind.

Terrell is originally from Yorktown but transferred to Wapahani High School for her senior season where she helped guide the Raiders to a 28-5 record this past season.

Terrell closed out her senior season with a total of 36 kills, 24 aces, 14 digs and nine blocks in 16 matches played, earning the 'Competitor Award'.

Terrell helped guide Wapahani to the 2024 Conference Championship, reaching the Sectional Championship match as well as winning the Delaware County Championship.

Terrell also helped the Raiders win the Wapahani Invitational and finished second at the Leo Invitational facing some of the top 4A teams in the state.

Terrell also played for the Munciana Volleyball Club.

"After going to Yorktown for her whole life and then transferring her senior year, some of Ava's goals were to be the best teammate and supporter of Wapahani volleyball and to show and prove to everyone what a great improved player she really is," Wapahani Head Coach Valorie Wells said. "Her confidence grew so much from the first time meeting her. Her main goal was to just love volleyball again. She did that and achieved the biggest goal of them all, to play college volleyball."

"I am so thrilled to know she is going to pursue studies at Vincennes University," Wells added. "It has been her dream to play in college and that's all she has talked about. First meeting Ava, that was her goal and she achieved that. I am so proud of her and excited to see what she does in the future."

"Ava has that first contact passing skill, so as far as potential versatility Ava brings, it's not just in the two positions I mentioned, we might also try having Ava play outside on the other pin," Sien said. "She's just such a well-rounded athlete. She has the passing ability and the front row skills. Played at a pretty high level in both high school and club."

"I'm very excited about this group we have coming in this year," Sien added. "I have said before that if the season started today, I would be very comfortable. However, we are still not done so we could even be better once we get one or two more players added."

"We just want to be ready because now the Region has expanded out and is much larger," Sien said. "We've got 18 Region games this season and we know that we are always going to get everyone's best efforts. I don't see any games on our schedule that are going to be 'easy'. So we just want to be a complete team to be able to meet that higher level of competition."

"Of course we will be going for our fifth straight Region Championship this season," Sien added. "And we would obviously like to make it a decisive win. After that our goal is to be at our best at the end as we get into the District Tournament and make a run at going to the National Tournament. It's always the same challenges every year and I never get tired of it. As a coach, I am ready to meet all of those challenges. But I am going to support the people who can help me get there. We treat recruiting as an invitation to come help us get there and if you accept that, then there's a responsibility and accountability that you are going to take upon. So we're very excited about this upcoming year and this is always an exciting time for our program."

Ava is the daughter of Brian and Natalie Terrell and she plans to major in Business Management at Vincennes University.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Ava Terrell to the 2025 Trailblazer recruiting class.