Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MTSU Volleyball signs four on National Signing Day
11/14/2024 12:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee volleyball team announced the signing of four incoming freshmen on National Signing Day.
Middle Tennessee graduates four student-athletes in Kiera Booth, Laure Jansen, Trae McCutchan and Brooke Springer after the 2024 season. The incoming group includes two middle blockers and two outside hitters.
Gabby Clinkscale
5-8 | Outside Hitter | St. Louis, Mo. | Metro High School / Ladue High School
Clinkscale will be coming to the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025 after making the All-District and All-Conference teams in all three of her years at Ladue High School. In her senior season, the outside hitter finished in the top 10 in Class 4 Missouri for hitting percentage. Clinkscale was named Pattonville Tournament MVP and to the Seckman All-Tournament Team. Clinkscale played club with the Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite.
"I chose MTSU because the way I was treated like family minutes into my first phone call with Jenna, and then my next call I had with Chuck," said Clinkscale. "Then going on my visit and feeling nothing but love from not only the coaching staff but the girls themselves was so reassuring for me. The program is somewhere I can see myself experiencing lots of growth as a player, but also as a person."
Off the court, Clinkscale was an NHS member, received the Ram Pride Citizenship award and was part of the school athletic leadership committee.
"Gabby is a high-energy, high-flying athlete who can terminate at an elite level on the pin," said head coach Chuck Crawford. "Her intensity is contagious along with her drive to succeed for herself and those around her."
Raegan Durbin
5-10 | Outside Hitter | Thorntown, Ind. | Western Boone High School
The outside hitter will be stepping on campus in the fall of 2025. Durbin had a successful high school career with 1,857 career kills and 224 career aces. Durbin was named First-Team All-State the past two seasons, First-Team All-Conference three times, and First-Team All-District two times. The outside hitter was also a 2023 Indiana volleyball player of the year nominee. Durbin was named an Indiana junior All-Star and was awarded with two Max Preps player of the weeks. Reagan helped lead her team to three conference championships, a 2021 state runner-up, a 2022 semi state runner-up, and a 2024 state championship.
"I chose MTSU because of the competitive atmosphere and high expectations each player is held to," said Durbin. "I respect the goals they have for the future, and I immediately felt at home, as well as valued in their program."
Off the court, Durbin was honored with Academic All-State, Academic All-American, National Honor Society, and was a scholar-athlete.
"Raegan is a dynamic all-around player who has the ability to have high impact on all parts of the game," stated Coach Crawford. "She is a proven winner whose leadership qualities on and off the court will make in immediate impact for the program."
Khalia-Leigh James
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Brampton, Ontario | Jackson High School
James will be joining the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025. The Brampton, Ontario native recorded a hitting percentage above .400% in her high school career. Khalia-Leigh James was named to the Federal League First-Team, Stark County First-Team, and the District IV Division I First-Team.
"I chose MTSU because Coach Chuck and Jenna saw something special in me," said James. "They appreciate my physicality as well as the intangibles I can bring to the court and my teammates. The team's relentless drive to compete and their strong sense of unity resonated with me as well. I felt a genuine connection with the team and knew MTSU was the place where I belonged. I believe that this environment will not only help me excel as a player but also foster personal growth."
The middle blocker helped the Jackson High School volleyball team reach the regional semifinals in her senior season and finish as the 26th ranked team in Ohio.
"Khalia-Leigh's drive and energy is second to none. Her physicality in the Middle and Right Side has the ability to make an immediate impact for the program," said head coach Chuck Crawford.
Trinniti Stevens
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Overland Park, Ka. | Bishop Miege High School
Stevens will join the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025 after an excellent high school career. In her senior season, the middle blocker was honored with making the All-State Team, EKL First Team, and was the lead blocker in 4A and EKL. The previous season, Stevens was named to the All-State Team, was an EKL honorable mention, and was the lead blocker in 4A and EKL.
"I chose MTSU because of the environment and it immediately felt like home when I talked with the coaches and met the players," stated Stevens.
Stevens recorded 245 kills and a .328 hitting percentage in her senior season. Stevens was also a force on defense, recording 211 blocks over her last two seasons in high school. The Overland Park native helped lead her team to three consecutive state championships over the past three seasons and a third-place finish in 2021.
"Trinniti brings a winning attitude and expectation to our culture," stated Coach Crawford. "This 3-time Kansas state champion is a dominant blocker with great vision through the net and will add to our defense this Fall."
Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter/X (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Middle Tennessee graduates four student-athletes in Kiera Booth, Laure Jansen, Trae McCutchan and Brooke Springer after the 2024 season. The incoming group includes two middle blockers and two outside hitters.
Gabby Clinkscale
5-8 | Outside Hitter | St. Louis, Mo. | Metro High School / Ladue High School
Clinkscale will be coming to the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025 after making the All-District and All-Conference teams in all three of her years at Ladue High School. In her senior season, the outside hitter finished in the top 10 in Class 4 Missouri for hitting percentage. Clinkscale was named Pattonville Tournament MVP and to the Seckman All-Tournament Team. Clinkscale played club with the Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite.
"I chose MTSU because the way I was treated like family minutes into my first phone call with Jenna, and then my next call I had with Chuck," said Clinkscale. "Then going on my visit and feeling nothing but love from not only the coaching staff but the girls themselves was so reassuring for me. The program is somewhere I can see myself experiencing lots of growth as a player, but also as a person."
Off the court, Clinkscale was an NHS member, received the Ram Pride Citizenship award and was part of the school athletic leadership committee.
"Gabby is a high-energy, high-flying athlete who can terminate at an elite level on the pin," said head coach Chuck Crawford. "Her intensity is contagious along with her drive to succeed for herself and those around her."
Raegan Durbin
5-10 | Outside Hitter | Thorntown, Ind. | Western Boone High School
The outside hitter will be stepping on campus in the fall of 2025. Durbin had a successful high school career with 1,857 career kills and 224 career aces. Durbin was named First-Team All-State the past two seasons, First-Team All-Conference three times, and First-Team All-District two times. The outside hitter was also a 2023 Indiana volleyball player of the year nominee. Durbin was named an Indiana junior All-Star and was awarded with two Max Preps player of the weeks. Reagan helped lead her team to three conference championships, a 2021 state runner-up, a 2022 semi state runner-up, and a 2024 state championship.
"I chose MTSU because of the competitive atmosphere and high expectations each player is held to," said Durbin. "I respect the goals they have for the future, and I immediately felt at home, as well as valued in their program."
Off the court, Durbin was honored with Academic All-State, Academic All-American, National Honor Society, and was a scholar-athlete.
"Raegan is a dynamic all-around player who has the ability to have high impact on all parts of the game," stated Coach Crawford. "She is a proven winner whose leadership qualities on and off the court will make in immediate impact for the program."
Khalia-Leigh James
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Brampton, Ontario | Jackson High School
James will be joining the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025. The Brampton, Ontario native recorded a hitting percentage above .400% in her high school career. Khalia-Leigh James was named to the Federal League First-Team, Stark County First-Team, and the District IV Division I First-Team.
"I chose MTSU because Coach Chuck and Jenna saw something special in me," said James. "They appreciate my physicality as well as the intangibles I can bring to the court and my teammates. The team's relentless drive to compete and their strong sense of unity resonated with me as well. I felt a genuine connection with the team and knew MTSU was the place where I belonged. I believe that this environment will not only help me excel as a player but also foster personal growth."
The middle blocker helped the Jackson High School volleyball team reach the regional semifinals in her senior season and finish as the 26th ranked team in Ohio.
"Khalia-Leigh's drive and energy is second to none. Her physicality in the Middle and Right Side has the ability to make an immediate impact for the program," said head coach Chuck Crawford.
Trinniti Stevens
6-1 | Middle Blocker | Overland Park, Ka. | Bishop Miege High School
Stevens will join the Blue Raiders in the Fall of 2025 after an excellent high school career. In her senior season, the middle blocker was honored with making the All-State Team, EKL First Team, and was the lead blocker in 4A and EKL. The previous season, Stevens was named to the All-State Team, was an EKL honorable mention, and was the lead blocker in 4A and EKL.
"I chose MTSU because of the environment and it immediately felt like home when I talked with the coaches and met the players," stated Stevens.
Stevens recorded 245 kills and a .328 hitting percentage in her senior season. Stevens was also a force on defense, recording 211 blocks over her last two seasons in high school. The Overland Park native helped lead her team to three consecutive state championships over the past three seasons and a third-place finish in 2021.
"Trinniti brings a winning attitude and expectation to our culture," stated Coach Crawford. "This 3-time Kansas state champion is a dominant blocker with great vision through the net and will add to our defense this Fall."
Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter/X (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Players Mentioned
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