Four student-athletes will continue their education at Ohio Wesleyan University and be candidates for the 2022 Battling Bishop volleyball team, it was announced by Ohio Wesleyan head coach Kirsta Cobb. The incoming recruiting class includes student-athletes from 4 different states, Lily Bechina from Chicago, Ill.; Reagan Brake from McPherson, Kan.; Bella Guzzetta from Boca Raton, Fla.; and Gracelyn Mathias from Apple Creek, Ohio.
Bechina is a 5-11 setter who plans to major in mathematics and environmental studies. She spent her prep career at Jones College Prep, where she earned high honor roll each year, lettered on varsity for 4 years, and was named the 2021 team's Most Valuable Player. As a captain, she helped lead her team to runner-up finishes of the city championships in 2018, 2019, and 2021. She also spent time volunteering with St. Teresa's food pantry as well as Park Cleanup. She played her club career with Chicago Elite, where she helped her team to multiple placings at national tournaments, including national runner-up finishes at the AAU championships in 2018, Asics national championships in 2021, and 2019 first-place in the silver bracket of AAU championships. She also has been a featured member of multiple college watch lists, including an AVCA Phenom in 2018, 2019, and 2020; the JVA Ultra Ankle Watch List in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022; AAU Academic honors in 2019 and 2020, Prep Dig Watch List in 2019, and the Prep Volleyball Watch List in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Coach Cobb on Lily: "Lily is a really positive leader on the court and just a joy of a human being to be around. She is a great athlete and works extremely hard in the setter position to lead the court. She has a lot of natural feel as a setter and we are really excited to work with her in our offensive system and have her as a part of our program."
Why Lily chose OWU: "I chose OWU because it opens up many opportunities to extend my learning inside and outside of the classroom. I plan on studying abroad and joining ski club all while receiving a great education and playing volleyball!"
Brake is a 6-1 middle who plans to major in health and human kinetics and international studies. She spent her prep career at Inman High School, where she served as senior class president, was the class valedictorian, earned the Heisman Scholarship School Award, Science Student of the Year, Writer of the Year, Freshman English Student of the Year, National Honor Society recognition, Kansas Scholars Curriculum Completer, and was named to the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Academic Team. She lettered in volleyball, basketball, and track and earned all-state second team, all-league first team, and Most Consistent Player Award while captaining her team to the Heart of America league championship and a sub-state runner-up finish. She set school records for kills per set, blocks per set, points scored in a season, kills in a season, attack attempts in a season, blocks in a season, and solo blocks in a season, while also earning the Mike Hicks Student-Athlete Award. She has volunteered her time with providing childcare at Mount Hope Women's Shelter, as a 4-H camp counselor, Vacation Bible School leader, and for Inman Lions Club. She played her club career with Salt City Smash.
Coach Cobb on Reagan: "Reagan was an immediate fit with our team culture and OWU in general when she came on her visit. She is curious and intellectual, as well as such a caring and positive person. She has had great success as an athlete in her prep career. Her speed, athleticism, and physicality make her a fantastic fit with us, and we are so excited to get working with her on the court with the speed of our offensive system."
Why Reagan chose OWU: "I chose OWU because of the campus size and tight-knit community. When I went on my campus visit, all of the girls on the team made me feel so welcomed."
Guzzetta is a 5-3 libero/defensive specialist who plans to study business administration and communication. She was a Palm Beach County Top 10 Leader in Digs and Defensive Player of the Year in both her junior and senior years at Spanish River High School while helping her team finish as district runner-up. She qualified for DECA district, state, and nationals for two straight years and also served as secretary of environmental concerns and secretary of the faculty and staff committee. She has served for Boca Helping Hands and Operation Christmas Shoebox. She spent her club career with Boomers Volleyball Club, where she earned the Tri-County Miami Beach Championship and the Cloverleaf runner-up while also being named to the 2022 JVA Watchlist.
Coach Cobb on Bella: "Bella is a great defender and serve receiver while also excelling in some of the 'x-factors' of being a libero with her great communication skills. She is a positive teammate and brings a lot of great energy to the court with her. She was a fit with the campus and team pretty immediately and we are really excited for the next four years with her."
Why Bella chose OWU: "I really enjoyed my experience visiting and fell in love with not only the campus but the people, volleyball coach, and just overall what OWU has to provide."
Mathias is a 5-8 outside hitter who plans to study elementary education. She helped captain her Waynedale High School team to the WCAL championship in 2019 and 2021, as well as the 2019 district championship. She earned 3 letters as well as first-team All-WCAL and first-team all-district. She is the class and Student Council Vice President and also a part of National Honor Society. She also spent time serving at the Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army, and the New Store. She spent her club career playing with Ohio Storm.
Coach Cobb on Gracelyn: "Gracelyn, on top of being a great fit for OWU as a person and student, has a lot of power and athleticism, as well as a natural feel for the ball. She spent much of her high school career in the middle and we are really excited to work with her on the pin over the next four years. She has the ability to work well in our faster offensive system and we can't wait to begin training with her."
Why Gracelyn Chose OWU: "I chose OWU because of the welcoming atmosphere, various opportunities, hometown feeling, small class sizes, and the chance to continue playing the sport I love."
Ohio Wesleyan's 2022 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Otterbein in Westerville, Ohio. The Bishops' home schedule opens with the annual Bishop Invitational on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 16-17, at Branch Rickey Arena.
