Now more than ever, signing new players through the transfer portal is critical for success. After disappointing 2025 seasons from both Ole Miss Volleyball and Soccer, here is who the teams brought in via the portal.
New soccer coach Todd Shulenberger brought eight players with him from Washington State, his former school.
The Washington State transfers include Audrey Shackelford (midfielder), Keira Mitchell (defender), Alena Watts (defender), Maizy Kluksdal (midfielder), Ava Ghoreishi (forward), Becca Skinner (forward), Isabelle Wright (forward) and Jenna Studer (defender).
Undoubtedly, coach Shulenberger hopes that the players with prior experience in his system will assist the returners and the transfers from other schools.
Anna Claire Jacobi (Appalachian State) and Sienna Smart (Michigan) are the two goalkeeper transfers. Paxton Bock (SMU) started all five games so far this season at defender. Sydney Snowden (Appalachian State) joins Bock at the position. Samantha Neumeier (Oregon) and Isabella Pontieri (North Florida) join the team at the midfield position.
Bock, Kluksdal, Studer, Watts and Shackelford made immediate impacts in the first five games of the season. The players have started every game, with Bock scoring a goal against Louisiana. Studer, in her sixth year on a college soccer roster, played every minute on defense, providing a valuable veteran presence for the squad.
Shackleford has two assists in five starts to begin the season, Watts has locked down the outside of the backline and Ghoreishi has two points in five games.
The team is off to a 4-1 start, with their only loss coming against No. 24 Memphis, 3-1, on Aug. 27. They look to utilize their non-conference schedule to build team chemistry and create a strong resume ahead of SEC play.
The Rebel volleyball team kicked off their season on Friday night against Southeastern Louisiana with a reverse sweep. All three transfers saw action in the first match.
Houston transfer, Tenesyn Frye, started at setter. Two time All-AAC first teamer at UAB; Jorda Crook, started at opposite hitter. Nina Moorer, a fifth-year player from Texas State, received significant playing time at middle blocker.
Crook was by far the most impactful transfer on Friday night. She had 19 kills in her first game as a Rebel. She comes to Oxford with great expectations after her illustrious career at UAB. She and Shayla Meyer form a duo that place Ole Miss’s front line amongst the best in the SEC.
