Rock Hill, S.C. – Head coach Heather Gearhart has announced the Winthrop Volleyball 2028 signing class. The class includes six student-athletes; Edie Powell, Giselle Little, Paige Bennett, Sophia Matthews, Maeve Rehmann, and Stevie Henderson.
"I'm really excited to get this class on campus. They all have tremendous experience on the high school and club circuits and are incredibly well-rounded on and off the court," Gearhart said. "They are all very competitive and will continue the upward trajectory of the program with their understanding of our culture and where we are trying to go. They fit in perfectly from an athletic, academic, and culture standpoint and are all very eager to contribute."
Edie Powell | Setter | 5'7 | Nashville, TN | Tennessee Performance
Powell was a three-year varsity captain and three-time first team all-region selection for St. Cecilia Academy. On the club scene, she competed for Tennessee Performance Volleyball Club out of Nashville, and was an AAU All-American in 2022 with her club team finishing third in 16 Premier at AAU Nationals that year. Her team's previous AAU Nationals finishes include fifth place in 16 Open and seventh place in 18 Open. She was also named to the JVA Watchlist and named one of 40 high school players to watch in the Nashville area in 2023. Off the court, Powell was a member of Best Buddies, named to Dean's List three times, Pep Club president, class secretary, a member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and the Mu Alpha Theta Math Society. Powell intends to major in Exercise Science.
Powell on why she chose Winthrop: "I chose Winthrop because the campus and people around me made it feel like home. It offers everything I wanted, and I feel I will be able to continue growing as a person and find success."
"Edie is a big-time competitor and a phenomenal leader," says Gearhart. "She is very athletic, plays big, and runs the court very well. She wills her team to wins and is very in tune with what her teammates need. She's able to run a really quick tempo ball, defends and serves well and we are excited to have her competitiveness in the gym."
Giselle Little | Middle Blocker | 5'11 | Mount Holly, NC | CUVC/CJV
Little was a four-year Varsity team member at Mountain Island Charter and two-year captain. She was named CSAC All-Conference four times and CSAC Player of the Year in 2022. Little broke the school blocking record, amassing over 300 in her career. She also helped guide her high school team to their first state championship in school history. On the club scene, she competes for Carolina Union Volleyball Club and has been named an AVCA Phenom three times, and to the JVA Watchlist. Off the court, Little maintains a 4.3 GPA, is a member of student government, a Key Club representative, named to the school's Honor Roll, and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Little plans to major in biology to pursue pre-med.
Little on why she chose Winthrop: "...the small ratios for classes and the positive school culture. After touring the campus, talking with current/alumni students/future teammates about their experiences at the school, I felt that Winthrop connected with my academia and athletic goals. I feel that Winthrop can help me foster the necessary skills that I will need for my future in the medical field."
"Giselle is going to be a very fun athlete to have in our gym," says Gearhart. "She is still in the beginning stages of her volleyball development and has a really bright future. She jumps incredibly well, is able to move pin to pin quickly, and is able to score over and around some pretty physical teams. She is very eager to learn and gets fired up in big moments and we are excited to have her join us this spring."
Paige Bennett | Outside Hitter | 6'0 | Pleasanton, CA | NorCal
Bennett is a dual-sport varsity athlete for Foothill High School, earning four varsity letters in volleyball, and softball as a pitcher. In 2022, the varsity captain was second in the state of California in total kills. Bennett was twice named first-team all-league, is a 3x EBAL League Champion, NCS Division 1 Section Champion and Runner-Up, 2022 NCS Scholar Athlete, 2x TV30 Outstanding Athlete Award, 2x 49ers Cal-Hi Athlete of the Week, and was named to the VolleyballMag HS Player of the Year "ION" Watchlist. Bennett's high school team is currently 14th in the state of California with a 36-1 overall record. As a member of NorCal volleyball club, she was a 2x WCVBA Champion, double qualified to USAV Nationals in 2021, was a member of the JVA and AVCA Phenom Watchlist, and was twice invited to the USAV High Performance Camp. Off the court she is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bennett plans to major in Elementary Education.
Bennett on why she chose Winthrop: "I chose Winthrop because of the welcoming team culture, the coaching staff, and the tradition of success in the Big South Conference. When I met the team and coaches and stepped foot on campus, I knew that Winthrop was the perfect fit for me! I can't wait to get started, Go Eagles!"
"Paige is a true 6-rotation outside who can execute all five skills very consistently," Gearhart says. "She is a selfless teammate, feisty competitor and has managed a large load for her high school and club teams. Her ball control is very steady and she sees the game at a high-level. She is a natural connector with others and we are eager to see her leadership continue to grow as she gets in the gym."
Sophia Matthews | Libero | 5'6 | Apex, NC | Triangle
Matthews was a four-year varsity starter and captain for Apex Friendship High School. Her senior year she surpassed the 1,000 career assists mark as a setter for the squad and was named NCHS SWAC All-Conference, and to the AVCA All-America Watchlist. On the club scene, she competed for Triangle Volleyball Club. Her 15's year, they won the 18s division at the City of Oaks Tournament, the JVA World Challenge, and double-qualified for the 15 Open Division at USAV Nationals. Her Triangle 17 Black team was ranked fifth in the nation which triple qualified for the 17 Open Division at USAV Nationals and was named to the AVCA Winners Circle Club for their team's success. Individually, Matthews was named a PrepVolleyball SuperNova, an MEQ Showstopper, a 2x AVCA Phenom, twice named to the JVA Watchlist, and was twice invited to the Red Hat Games. On the sand, Matthews finished in third place in 16s in the P1440 Futures Tour in 2021 and won the tour in 2022. Off the court, Matthews maintains a 4.4 GPA and is on the All-A Honor Roll. She plans to major in business.
Matthews on why she chose Winthrop: "I chose Winthrop because when I first visited I felt at home. The team culture is so positive, I could tell they all truly loved the program and were one big family. All of the coaches contribute to this culture, being extremely supportive towards me, even before I was committed."
"Sophia is a really steady competitor and court leader with great experience," Gearhart said. "She has played with and against the top athletes in her class which will help elevate the level of play in our gym. She has a high standard for herself and her teammates and her experience contributing in different roles will be very valuable. She is able to serve receive, defend, serve, and out of system set at an elite level and we are excited to see the impact she makes in the spring."
Maeve Rehmann | Middle Blocker/Opposite | 6'3 | Johnston, IA | Iowa Power Volleyball Association
Rehmann accumulated over 100 blocks and over 400 kills throughout her varsity high career at Johnston High School. Her senior year, she was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team, AVCA All-Region Team, AVCA Best & Brightest Third Team, and selected for the IGCA Senior All-Star Game. She finished first in the conference in hitting percentage hitting at a .385 clip, and was named all-conference. Her club team finished First place in the Freedom Division at USAV Nationals in 2022 and Third place in the American Division in 2023. Academically, Rehmann maintains a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, was a 3x academic letter winner, and completed over 150 service hours throughout high school. She plans to major in biology.
Rehmann on why she chose Winthrop: "I chose Winthrop because I felt welcomed and at home the second I arrived. The culture, supportive energy, and competitiveness are all things that stuck out to me. The campus and location are also beautiful."
"Maeve is a very cerebral middle," says Gearhart. "She has a very high IQ when attacking and finds a variety of ways to find the floor. She can score off of one or two feet and at the pin as an opposite. She is a very disciplined blocker who generates a lot of positive opportunities for her teammates. We are really excited about her versatility, work ethic, and how she impacts her teammates."
Stevie Henderson | Opposite | 6'2 | Orlando, FL | Oviedo Volleyball Academy
Henderson is coming off a regional final appearance for her indoor team at Timber Creek. She has led her team to an Indoor District Championship in 2021, a Beach District Championship in 2022, and an Elite 8 Finish in the Florida Beach Volleyball State Championship. She was selected beach team captain twice in her career. Henderson competed for OVA during club season and earned four bids to USAV Nationals during her career with a fourth place finish at AAU Nationals in 2021. Individually, Henderson was named to the PrepVolleyball Watchlist, PrepDig's Pin Attackers Watch List, the MEQ Pin Hitter Watchlist, and was invited to the Red Hat Games. Outside of volleyball, she was Senior Class President, Timber Creek's Representative for Superintendent Council, and a member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society. She intends to major in Interior Design with intentions of becoming an engineer.
Henderson on why she chose Winthrop: "I chose Winthrop for the culture, coaching staff, and overall intimate, fun, and energetic school atmosphere. The coaching staff and players were so welcoming and I immediately felt at home at Winthrop. I'm excited to play with such a tight knit group of girls and compete at a high level."
"Stevie brings a nice combination of physicality and finesse to the pin," says Gearhart. "She is a very natural blocker on the right and has experience slowing down very physical left sides. As an attacker, she is able to make great choices attacking out of system and is able to terminate very effectively in system. She also has ball control experience which provides more options for our team. She is a great leader and a calming presence for her teammates on the court. We are excited to have her elevate our physicality and competitiveness in the gym."
