STANFORD, Calif. – Kevin Hambly, The Montag Family Director of Women's Volleyball, and his staff have announced the incoming class, which includes four talented freshmen and a graduate transfer, who will join the women's volleyball team this fall.
"We're thrilled about the new additions for the 2024 season," said Hambly. "The incoming freshman class and our graduate transfer address some crucial needs for this year and beyond."
Stanford's incoming class consists of Lizzy Andrew (Ridgefield, Wash.), Malyssa Cawa (San Pedro, Calif.), Sidney Duncan (San Antonio, Calif.), Taylor Yu (Temple City, Calif.). Charity McDowell (Indianapolis, Ind.), a graduate transfer from Notre Dame, will also join the Cardinal roster.
Lizzy Andrew • 6-5 • MB • Ridgefield High School • Ridgefield, Wash.
- Four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain
- Three-time 2A State Championship runners-up (2021, 2022, 2023)
- 2023 WA State Academic Champions
- WA State Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
- Two-time all-state first team (2022, 2023)
- Two-time all-region first team (2022, 2023)
- Three-time all-league first team (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Also lettered in basketball and track and field
- Member of the U.S. U21 National Team (2023-24)
- Placed sixth at the U21 World Championships (2023)
- Won a gold medal with the U.S. U19 Pan Am Team in Puerto Rico (2023)
- Recipient of the U19 Pan Am Best Blocker Award
- Played for Athena Volleyball Club
Hambly on Andrew: "Lizzy possesses a strong arm and will be an impressive blocker right from the start in college. She has the potential to compete at the highest levels, not only in college but also on the global stage."
Malyssa Cawa • 5-6 • DS • Mater Dei High School • San Pedro, Calif.
- Captained her team as a senior
- As a senior, helped lead team to CIF-SS Open Division championship, CIF Open Regional Championship, CIF Open State Championship and MaxPreps National Championship
- Under Armour All-American (2023)
- MaxPreps First Team All-American (2023)
- Trinity League MVP (2023)
- 2023 recipient of the CIF Sportsmanship Award and Andi Collins Award
- Two-time MaxPreps Underclassman All-American (2021, 2022)
- Trinity League Second Team (2022)
- Also played beach volleyball
- Two-time all-league
- Played for Momentous VBC
Hambly on Cawa: "Malyssa is an extremely dynamic athlete who competes at a high level. She can pass and defend at a high level. Mal should be able to help us immediately in a variety of ways."
Sidney Duncan • 6-4 • MB • Keystone School • San Antonio, Texas
- Four-year letterwinner, captained her team as a senior
- 2023 TAPPS 3A State Champion
- First since 1999
- Three-time TAPPS 3A Area Champions (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Three-time TAPPS 3A undefeated District Champions (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Two-time all-state first team (2023, 2024)
- Two-time all-state second team (2021, 2022)
- Four-time all-district first team (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- All-Texas Private School Team - Texas Volleyball Insider (2024)
- TAPPS All-State All-Tournament Team (2024)
- Holds Keystone School record for career blocks
- Led district in hitting percentage (2023-24)
- Two-time Academic All-State (2023, 2024)
- Played club for SA Magic and Alamo
- 17s Club team captain
Hambly on Duncan: "Sidney is a versatile athlete with the ability to play multiple positions. While we have a specific need in the middle position, Sidney's experience as an opposite in her club career makes her a valuable addition, bringing much-needed depth to the team."
Taylor Yu • 6-0 • S • Temple City High School • Temple City, Calif.
- Four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain
- Helped lead team to the CIF Southern Section Championship and reached the CIF State Regional Semifinals (2023)
- School's first section title since 2002 and farthest postseason run in program history
- CIF-SS Player of the Year (2023)
- Rio Hondo League MVP (2023)
- Two-time all-league first team (2021, 2023)
- Two-time TCHS Varsity MVP (2021, 2023)
- VolleyballMag.com High School All-American honorable mention (2023)
- VolleyballMag.com High School Player of the Year Watch List (2023)
- USA Volleyball National Team Development Program selection (2021-24)
- U19 National Team Training Roster for Pan Am Cup (2023)
- USA High Performance Indoor Championships with SCVA Future Select (2019)
- Played for San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club
- GJNC 11 National Champions (2018)
- GJNC 12 National Champions (2019)
- GJNC 15 Open All-Tournament Team (2021)
Hambly on Yu: "Taylor is a pure setter. We believe she is the best at locating the ball in this class. However, we can't overlook her overall ability to play volleyball. She had an impressive high school season as an attacker, putting up incredible numbers. While she will be a great help in the gym in her first year, she also has the potential to help us play at a high level in the future."
Charity McDowell • 6-0 • MB • Notre Dame • Indianapolis, Ind.
- Graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in Science Preprofessional Studies (pre-med) with a supplemental major in Spanish and a minor in Africana Studies
- Will pursue a master's in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford
- Started all 26 matches as a senior at Notre Dame (2023)
- Led the Irish with 85 blocks
- CSC Academic All-District (2023)
- Two-time ACC All-Academic Team (2022, 2023)
- Indiana all-state honoree for Lawrence North High School (2019)
- As a senior, led the Metropolitan Conference with 278 kills
Hambly on McDowell: "We had a major need in the middle position. Charity started last year at Notre Dame and has shown that she can compete at a high level. Her experience and familiarity with the ACC made her a valuable and necessary addition to our team for the upcoming season."