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Nagel Adds Three to 2020 Class
5/29/2020 10:48:00 AM | Volleyball
Nagel Adds Three to 2020 Class
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke volleyball program and head coach Jolene Nagel announced the addition of three players to the 2020 squad as Franky Harrison, Georgia Stavrinides and Sydney Yap will join the Blue Devils in the fall.
Franky Harrison
Knoxville, Tenn. | South Carolina | 5-10 Outside Hitter
Harrison comes to Durham as a graduate student from South Carolina where she was a member of the Gamecock beach volleyball team the last four years. Harrison saw the squad make two NCAA Tournament appearances during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Her junior campaign was highlighted by winning her 50th-career match as she won 20 games at the number three position and had eight wins over Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) rivals and three against nationally-ranked foes. As a sophomore, Harrison earned a spot in the starting lineup at the NCAA Tournament after tying the program record for wins by a rookie in 2017 with 22.
Outside of volleyball at South Carolina, Harrison was a member of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and interned with the Carolina Panthers and Gamecock Athletics. She co-hosted a podcast surrounding mental health during the 2019-20 academic year and was a member of SHERO, a women's empowerment group.
"Duke volleyball is excited to welcome Franky to join us in Durham as a graduate student," Nagel said. "She brings positivity, ball control, maturity and a team mentality. She has competed extensively in beach volleyball the past few years and we look forward for her to bring that court awareness and high IQ for the game that she has developed. Our team will also benefit from her experience, leadership and history of success during her undergraduate years on the beach."
Georgia Stavrinides
Nicosia, Cyprus | The English School | 6-2 Middle Blocker
Stavrinides comes to Durham from Nicosia, Cyprus and brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to the program.
She played under Alexander Boskovic at Anorthosis volleyball club and is a member of the Cyprus Women's National Volleyball Team from 2017-present. Stavrinides has won multiple medals on the national circuit and most recently was a starting player in the CEV European Silver League in June of 2019, playing home and away matches against Israel, Romania and Georgia. In January of 2018, she was a starting player in the U19 European Championship Qualifier match in Ukraine and was a starting player in the Mediterranean Games in Spain in June of 2018.
Most recently with Anorthosis, she won the Women's DI Super Cup, the Women's DI National Champions, the Women's DI National Cup and the U18 National Champions in 2019.
"We are thrilled to welcome Georgia to Durham from Cyprus," Nagel said. "Georgia has been a driven student, athlete and volleyball player competing at the highest levels in her country and Europe. She is our first admitted engineering student since my arrival in Durham in 1999. Her abilities as a middle blocker, her love of the game and her competitiveness will enhance the positive culture currently in place with Duke volleyball. Her work ethic and commitment is demonstrated in her academic studies as well as her volleyball accomplishments. She is a lovely person who I know our entire program is going to enjoy."
Sydney Yap
Plano, Texas | Plano West Senior High | 5-9 Setter
Yap joins the Blue Devils from Plano, Texas where she played for Texas Advantage Volleyball (TAV) under John Sample.
In 2019, Yap helped guide her club team to the Girl's Junior National Championship (GJNC) 17 Open National Championship after previously claiming the title in 2017. Yap won or earned a medal in every GJNC qualifier from 2017-19. She was also a Junior Volleyball Association West Coast Cup Champion from 2017-19.
With her high school team, she was named captain of her squad in 2018 and 2019 and earned 6A First Team All-District honors from the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) in 2017-19. She was named 6A Academic All-District in 2019 and earned second place at the 2019 State Championship and third place in 2018.
Outside of volleyball, Yap is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and part of the Plano West Senior High Student Council in 2018.
"We are looking forward to having Sydney joining us soon at Duke," Nagel said. "Sydney is a talented and skilled setter who also plays excellent defense and has a strong serve. She takes control of the court as a setter in a quiet, yet assertive way. She leads in a steady manner while working very hard. She is an excellent student who has committed herself to her academics and volleyball. She is a team player who enjoys her teammates and she demonstrates that in her play and interactions on the court. We're excited for her to bring herself and her talents to Duke volleyball."
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
Franky Harrison
Knoxville, Tenn. | South Carolina | 5-10 Outside Hitter
Harrison comes to Durham as a graduate student from South Carolina where she was a member of the Gamecock beach volleyball team the last four years. Harrison saw the squad make two NCAA Tournament appearances during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Her junior campaign was highlighted by winning her 50th-career match as she won 20 games at the number three position and had eight wins over Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) rivals and three against nationally-ranked foes. As a sophomore, Harrison earned a spot in the starting lineup at the NCAA Tournament after tying the program record for wins by a rookie in 2017 with 22.
Outside of volleyball at South Carolina, Harrison was a member of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and interned with the Carolina Panthers and Gamecock Athletics. She co-hosted a podcast surrounding mental health during the 2019-20 academic year and was a member of SHERO, a women's empowerment group.
"Duke volleyball is excited to welcome Franky to join us in Durham as a graduate student," Nagel said. "She brings positivity, ball control, maturity and a team mentality. She has competed extensively in beach volleyball the past few years and we look forward for her to bring that court awareness and high IQ for the game that she has developed. Our team will also benefit from her experience, leadership and history of success during her undergraduate years on the beach."
Georgia Stavrinides
Nicosia, Cyprus | The English School | 6-2 Middle Blocker
Stavrinides comes to Durham from Nicosia, Cyprus and brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to the program.
She played under Alexander Boskovic at Anorthosis volleyball club and is a member of the Cyprus Women's National Volleyball Team from 2017-present. Stavrinides has won multiple medals on the national circuit and most recently was a starting player in the CEV European Silver League in June of 2019, playing home and away matches against Israel, Romania and Georgia. In January of 2018, she was a starting player in the U19 European Championship Qualifier match in Ukraine and was a starting player in the Mediterranean Games in Spain in June of 2018.
Most recently with Anorthosis, she won the Women's DI Super Cup, the Women's DI National Champions, the Women's DI National Cup and the U18 National Champions in 2019.
"We are thrilled to welcome Georgia to Durham from Cyprus," Nagel said. "Georgia has been a driven student, athlete and volleyball player competing at the highest levels in her country and Europe. She is our first admitted engineering student since my arrival in Durham in 1999. Her abilities as a middle blocker, her love of the game and her competitiveness will enhance the positive culture currently in place with Duke volleyball. Her work ethic and commitment is demonstrated in her academic studies as well as her volleyball accomplishments. She is a lovely person who I know our entire program is going to enjoy."
Sydney Yap
Plano, Texas | Plano West Senior High | 5-9 Setter
Yap joins the Blue Devils from Plano, Texas where she played for Texas Advantage Volleyball (TAV) under John Sample.
In 2019, Yap helped guide her club team to the Girl's Junior National Championship (GJNC) 17 Open National Championship after previously claiming the title in 2017. Yap won or earned a medal in every GJNC qualifier from 2017-19. She was also a Junior Volleyball Association West Coast Cup Champion from 2017-19.
With her high school team, she was named captain of her squad in 2018 and 2019 and earned 6A First Team All-District honors from the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) in 2017-19. She was named 6A Academic All-District in 2019 and earned second place at the 2019 State Championship and third place in 2018.
Outside of volleyball, Yap is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and part of the Plano West Senior High Student Council in 2018.
"We are looking forward to having Sydney joining us soon at Duke," Nagel said. "Sydney is a talented and skilled setter who also plays excellent defense and has a strong serve. She takes control of the court as a setter in a quiet, yet assertive way. She leads in a steady manner while working very hard. She is an excellent student who has committed herself to her academics and volleyball. She is a team player who enjoys her teammates and she demonstrates that in her play and interactions on the court. We're excited for her to bring herself and her talents to Duke volleyball."
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
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