Volleyball Signs Four Transfers

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Volleyball program signed four transfers during the winter transfer portal period, Head Coach David Rehr announced Friday. All four will join the team for the spring semester.

The Cougars added a trio of outside hitters, including redshirt sophomore Alyssa Gonzalez (Wichita State), senior Brenya Reid (James Madison) and junior Halle Schroder (Boston College) as well as sophomore middle blocker Emma Nilson (Middle Tennessee State).

"We couldn't be more excited to announce these additions to our program," Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach Taylor McColskey said. "We needed two things in the portal, and we accomplished both. We needed outside hitters that could terminate the ball, and we needed youth in our middle position. All four additions have proven they can play at a super high level, and we are so excited to have them join us this spring."

The four arrive on campus with three of Houston's incoming freshmen: setter Tenesyn Frye, outside hitter Tara Greenberry and libero Gillian Pitts.

ALYSSA GONZALEZ | OUTSIDE HITTER | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE | WICHITA STATE
Gonzalez, a 2024 American Athletic Conference All-Tournament selection, helped lead the Shockers to the AAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance last season, sweeping their way through the entire AAC Tourney. Tallying 282 kills, the second most on Wichita State, she also added 35.0 blocks and 84 digs in her first collegiate season of play.

Originally a freshman at TCU, Gonzalez attended Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, a part of the DFW Metroplex. She was a four-year letterwinner for Aledo while also being named a 2022 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American after tallying a team-leading 370 kills on a .249 hitting percentage.

EMMA NILSON | MIDDLE BLOCKER | SOPHOMORE | MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
A 2024 Conference USA All-Freshman team selection, Nilson played in all 31 of Middle Tennessee State's matches last season, posting 156 kills with a .250 hitting percentage as well as 95 blocks, a mark that led the team and averaged 0.87 per set.

Nilson attended Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Green Bay, Wis., lettering in all four years while being named the 2023 NEC Conference Player of the Year and a 2023 WVCA All-State First-Team honoree. She also was a two-time unanimous First-Team All-Conference selection while also lettering in track and field.

BRENYA REID | OUTSIDE HITTER | SENIOR | JAMES MADISON
Reid had a stellar campaign in 2024, hitting .243 while averaging 4.47 kills per set, a mark which ranked 18^th nationally. In Sun Belt Conference play, Reid tallied 4.92 kills per set, ranking second in the league, while posting 5.41 points pet set. The Georgetown, Del., native was an All-Sun Belt First-Team honoree and boasted double-digit kills in 14 of 20 matches in 2024, including eight matches with 20-plus and one with 30.

Overall, Reid has 773 collegiate kills, averaging 3.09 per set, while adding 18 service aces, 208 digs and 83 blocks. She also boasts a career .328 kill percentage.

Reid attended Sussex Central High School in Delaware where she competed in volleyball, track and field and basketball. A Delaware state long jump champion, she was also named Gatorade's Delaware Volleyball Player of the Year out of high school.

HALLE SCHRODER | OUTSIDE HITTER | JUNIOR | BOSTON COLLEGE
Schroder is coming off a sophomore season that saw her lead the Eagles with 386 kills, averaging 3.32 per set, while ranking as the leader among non-libero in digs, posting 299 during the season. She also added 42 blocks and 32 aces.

The Frisco, Texas, native posted double-digit digs in 24 of 32 matches in 2024 with 14 of those matches being double-doubles, bringing her career total of double-figure kill contests to 35.

Across her two collegiate seasons, Schroder earned a .319 kill percentage, tallying 635 kills on 1,993 attacks, while adding 535 digs, 86 blocks and 55 aces for 736.0 points. She's averaged 2.81 kills per set with 2.37 digs per set in 59 career matches.

Schroder was a four-year standout at Reedy High School in Frisco, leading the team to a 5A State Runner-Up title as the Offensive Player of the Year in her senior year. A two-time TGCA All-State Team selection, she was also chosen as the 2022 All-Area Hitter of the Year. She also played club volleyball for TAV from 2019-20 and Drive Nation from 2021-23.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.

– UHCougars.com –

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Tenesyn Frye

Tara Greenberry

Gillian Pitts

Upcoming Events

Recent Results