Pittsburgh, Pa. - Duquesne University volleyball head coach
Steve Opperman announced the program's 2025 recruiting class on Monday, featuring four incoming freshmen and one transfer set to join the Dukes for the upcoming season.
Donning the red and blue this season are
Kylie Griffin,
Karli Jordan,
Alexa Flowers,
Ryan Hicks, and
Kaylie Baumgart.
BACK ON THE BLUFF
The Dukes return 10 players from last season, including five starters and two all-conference honorees. The group features five seniors, three sophomores, and two juniors, among them are Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team selection
Ariel Helm and All-Rookie Team standout
Emersen Schrom. Helm had a record-breaking campaign last year, starting all 30 matches and playing in all 115 sets. She anchored Duquesne's defense at the net, leading the team and ranking 15th nationally with 139 total blocks. In the process, she became just the seventh player in program history to surpass 300 career blocks and broke the single-season blocks record that had stood for 20 years. Schrom also made an immediate impact in her first season on the Bluff, appearing in all 30 matches and every set. A two-time Rookie of the Week honoree, she finished second on the team with 295 total kills, averaging 2.57 kills per set. Schrom posted double-digit kills in 17 matches, including a dominant stretch of seven consecutive matches with 10 or more successful swings.
KYLIE GRIFFIN | Modesto, Calif. | Cal State Fullerton
Griffin comes to the Bluff after spending a pair of seasons at Cal State Fullerton, where she appeared in 25 matches while making 12 starts for the Titans. During her time there, she tallied 12 kills, 10 total blocks, and eight digs, highlighted by a standout performance against UC San Diego in which she posted a season-best eight kills, three digs, and three blocks. In her final season, Griffin registered multiple kills in three matches and recorded at least two blocks in three contests. A native of California, she starred at Thomas Downey High School, where she earned First-Team All-League honors as a junior and senior. Griffin was named team captain both years and was selected as the team's Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. She led the league in kills in 2022 and played a pivotal role in guiding the Knights to their first playoff appearance in 15 years.
KARLI JORDAN | Frisco, Texas
A native of Frisco, Texas, Jordan joins the Dukes following a standout career at Frisco High School. A three-time First Team All-District selection from 2022 to 2024, she was named to the AVCA All-American Watch List during her senior season. Jordan also earned AVCA Phenom recognition in both 2022 and 2023, and capped her high school career by receiving the AVCA Best and Brightest Award—an honor given to athletes who excel both athletically and academically. In 2022, she was named Frisco High's Outstanding Hitter, and went on to earn Most Valuable Player honors as both a junior and senior. The 5'7" outside hitter made the Allen Tournament All-Tournament Team in 2024, highlighted by a career-high 18-kill performance. At the club level, Jordan competed with Untouchables EPA, helping her team to a third-place national finish in the open division in both 2019 and 2022.
ALEXA FLOWERS | Buford, Ga.
A four-year varsity letterwinner, Flowers comes to the Bluff after a successful career at Buford High School. She played a key role in leading the Yellow Jackets to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022, helping the team post a 37-4 record during her freshman season and a 38-5 mark as a sophomore. Flowers was also part of the squad that captured the 2022 Gwinnett County Championship and helped Buford claim four consecutive region titles. A Georgia native, she earned First Team All-Region honors, received the AVCA Best and Brightest Award, and was recognized as a scholar-athlete. Off the court, Flowers was a four-year honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). At the club level, she competed with A5 Volleyball Club, helping the team earn a third-place finish at the USAV Nationals in the 17 National Division.
RYAN HICKS | Ashburn, VA.
A native of Ashburn, Virginia, Hicks joins Duquesne following a standout career at Broad Run High School. She helped lead the Spartans to four consecutive Chesapeake Region championships and a district runner-up finish. As a senior, Hicks was named District Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Region honors in both her junior and senior seasons. A four-year varsity starter, she also earned back-to-back Second Team All-State selections and was a three-time First Team All-District honoree. Hicks was selected to the UA Next program for four straight years and was named the US Next Jordan Thompson MVP. She also competed at the club level with Metro Volleyball Club of DC.
KAYLIE BAUMGART | Pittsburgh, Pa.
No stranger to the Steel City, Baumgart played her high school volleyball at Chartiers Valley, where she led the Colts to the 2024 Class AAA Section 1 Championship and a WPIAL quarterfinal appearance, finishing the season with a 16-3 record. A standout performer, she was named to the All-WPIAL First Team and earned All-Section First Team honors as a senior, after receiving Second Team recognition as a junior. The Pittsburgh native served as varsity captain in her final season and led the team in blocks for two consecutive years, recording 97 in 2024 and 74 in 2023. Baumgart also competed at the club level for Pittsburgh Elite 18 Elite.
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