CONWAY, Ark. - In just a few short months, head beach volleyball coach Avery Thibodeaux and his staff have already made some big additions to the Beach Bears program. The Bears will add two transfers to the team for the upcoming 2025 season, and have signed another 5 freshmen for the 2025-26 season.
 
Kenzie Foley, a native of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, comes to UCA after spending the last five years as an indoor volleyball player for St. Cloud State University. Foley was the AVCA Division II National Player of the Year in 2023 and National Freshman of the Year in 2021. The four-time All-American will suit up for Central Arkansas's Beach Volleyball in her final semester of collegiate athletics this spring.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"Kenzie has accomplished so much on the indoor side and I know we can continue that success on the sand. She is a fierce competitor that has proven herself at a high level consistently in college volleyball. Her physicality is what she is known for, but her ability as a leader and championship experience is what will elevate our program."
 
Callie Mullins hails from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and joins the Bears after spending the last two seasons at the University of Mount Olive playing indoor volleyball. Mullins was a Second Team All-Conference player this past fall, where she was top-10 in kills per set. Prior to UMO, she played indoor volleyball at John Brown University for two years, so she is no stranger to Arkansas.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"Callie has everything I look for in an indoor player making the full-time transition to beach. She is a very athletic and versatile player at 5'9, and that gives us so much flexibility on the role she will play for us this year. Watching her succeed both from the left and right side as an attacker on the indoor side shows me that her transition to the sand will be seamless. Callie will be a perfect piece to our team, because I can use her in so many different ways to help us win."
 
The fall additions bring in a unique blend of skills and experiences, and will add important qualities to the Bears.
 
Allison Heck comes to Conway from Overland Park, Kansas out of P4:13 beach volleyball club. The 6-foot soon-to-be freshman holds her school record in blocks while also being a four-time KHSAA All-Academic First Team Selection.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"I'm excited to have Allison join our program and cannot wait to watch her grow. She will continue to help this program grow both on and off the court. Even though she is primarily a middle blocker on the indoor side, her ability to pass at her size was what really stuck out to me, and why I wanted to get her to campus."
 
Brooke Sharp is a 5'8 defender from Clovis, California where she competes for the Shorebreak Volleyball Club. Sharp has been on one of the top pairs in her club that ranks in the top 15 nationally. In addition to her beach success, she is a three-year varsity starter on the indoor side, and has been on the academic honor roll her entire high school career.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"Training in California with one of the biggest clubs in the country is going to prepare Brooke very well as she transitions to college. There have been many athletes from her club that have contributed to their college teams right away, and I expect Brooke to be no different. She will be a great piece even as a freshman."
 
Lucy Jones makes the trip west from Alexandria, Virginia to Central Arkansas. The Grit Volleyball Club member comes off of 2 years as her high school captain and MVP before making her transition fully to beach volleyball. Off the court, Jones is a Bishop Ireton High School First Honors member with a GPA above a 4.0.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"Similar to the rest of this incoming class, I know Lucy will not be someone I have to worry about in this classroom. As she comes to Arkansas, she has been taking time off to really get healthy. Once she is at 100% come preseason, I believe she is going to show the most improvement each and every day at practice."
 
Mira Bralic makes the short drive up from Arlington, Texas to become a Beach Bear. She trains out of the 692 Beach Volleyball Club and was the hitter of the year in her 2024 high school season. Bralic is in the top of a 500-person graduating class, while also a member of her school's National Honors Society.
 
From Coach Thibodeaux
"Throughout the entire process Mira has been very enthusiastic about UCA and joining our program. Her energy is very positive and infectious to those around her, and that is something that cannot be taught. The hustle plays she can make are only going to elevate the talent around her and be a welcome addition to this team."
 
Natalie Blum is a 5'9 split blocker from Aurora, Colorado who has trained across multiple clubs from The Lab, P4:13, and Elite Beach. Blum placed 3rd in the AAU Nationals in 2023 and 2nd in the Midwest Championship with her younger sister. She is an AP Scholar and was her high school's Student of the Year in 2022.
 
"Natalie has seemingly trained and played from Coast to Coast in the beach volleyball club world, and that experience is something that not every freshman gets before coming to college. Her versatility at her size paired with all the levels of volleyball she has trained, is going to make her a piece to our team that can fit in many different places."