WASHINGTON (June 24, 2019) - Howard University head volleyball coach Shaun Kupferberg announced the addition of seven recruits for the 2019 season. Under the leadership of Kupferberg, the Howard volleyball program has won each of its last four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships.
 
"We are very excited to bring together this class of athletes next fall. It's a big class which brings a little bit of everything to our gym," said Kupferberg. "The best part of this group is that they have so much room to grow and develop during their time on campus. These excellent student-athletes will honor the legacy of our Howard volleyball alumni while having the opportunity to take the program to new heights."
 
The seven recruits include Macy Witt-Nobles, Kayla Diaz, Tamar Wells, Semira Blair, Reagan Bob, Asha Johnson, and Alex Smith.
 
Listed as a blocker from Manvel, Texas, Witt-Nobles will enter her freshman season with the Bison. She was named honorable mention to the 2018 All-State Volleyball team by the Texas Sports Writers Association. In commenting on Witt-Nobles, Kupferberg said, "Macy is a great athlete that has tremendous potential. She is a natural high-level blocker and has been working hard to develop offensively. Once she catches on there is nothing she won't be able to do on the court."
 
Diaz also enters as a freshman from Nanuet, New York. Expected to play the setter position in her college career, Diaz played versatile roles in high school. She became the first player in her school's history to record 1,000 kills in a season. Kupferberg noted, "Kayla is one of the most athletic setters I've ever seen. She has a fire inside her that allows her to track down every ball and make some special plays. In prep ball she has had to set, hit, and pass; so we are excited to get her in the gym and allow her to focus on being a great setter."
 
Wells joins the Bison, hailing from Apopka, Florida. She will serve as a middle after two varsity seasons with Apopka High School. Kupferberg commented, "Tamar is a prototype middle for us; she is long, lean, and quick. Her vertical will help her compete immediately, but I think her speed to the pins blocking is going to be her greatest strength."
 
Blair enters the Howard program from Fort Worth, Texas, where she led Paschal High School in hitting percentage, assists and aces a season ago. As a setter, she recorded 645 assists during her senior year of high school. Kupferberg expressed, "Semira has some of the prettiest hands and I am so excited to see her working with our hitters. The ball just floats out and is so clean. She plays some great defense as well and is a phenomenal court general."
 
Bob, a native of Houston, plays the blocker and hitter positions. She played on her school's varsity team since her sophomore year of high school and earned All-District 14-6A First Team

honors last season. Kupferberg commented, "Reagan is a unique athlete who can play all three front row positions. She is small in stature but flies on the court. She has the ability to play well above the net and will cause some mismatches for opposing teams next year. If she can play aggressively she can take over a match."
 
Johnson joins the program from Oakland, California. As a four-year varsity athlete, she contributed to the 2015 Head Royce High School's team as they won the first state title in program history. Kupferberg said, "Asha is incredibly versatile and can play anywhere we need her, but we intend to have her on the outside. She has a strong arm and can pass well which allows her to have multiple options to find a way onto the court."
 
Coming from Metairie, Louisiana, Smith also brings versatility to the court. She also played four years of varsity, where she won three straight Division V state titles. In their 2018 title game, she recorded a game-high 19 kills. Kupferberg noted, "Alex comes from Metairie Country Day, the same school as alum Katherine Broussard, and she plays a similar game. She was a great outside in her prep career and while we will always have her available as a hitter, we will train her mostly as a defensive specialist and allow her athleticism to give her advantage when on the court."
 
About Howard University Athletics
The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent six conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Coastal Collegiate