Volleyball Adds Talented Pair For 2018 Campaign

GREENVILLE, N.C. – S'Mara Riley and Janiece Jefferies have signed national letters of intent to attend East Carolina University and compete for the volleyball program beginning in the fall of 2018, according to an announcement Thursday by fifth-year head coach Julie Torbett.

The news comes as ECU is in the midst of one of its most successful seasons in program history, sporting an 18-9 overall record and 9-5 American Athletic Conference mark heading into Friday's home match against No. 20 Wichita State.

S'Mara Riley (Middle Blocker • 5-10 • Encino, Calif. • Bishop Alemany High School)

Spent the first two years of her prep career at Chaminade College Preparatory High School before transferring to Bishop Alemany High School for her senior year.
Named a 2016 PrepVolleyball All-American.
Part of a San Gabriel Elite (SGE) club program whose 2018 class is ranked No. 1 nationally
Led the Warriors to a 28-5 overall record in 2017.
Put down 24 kills against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.
Led Bishop Alemany to the 2017 Chatsworth High School Tournament and Las Vegas Classic Tournament championships where the Warriors defeated nationally-ranked Bishop Gorman.
Helped guide Chaminde Prep to the 2015 Burbank High School Tournament title.
Earned Sunshine League Second Team honors as a sophomore and all-conference honorable mention accolades her junior season.
Propelled SGE to the 2017 Colorado 16s GJNC Qualifier Open gold medal as well as the 2016 Open Division Los Angeles GJNC 15s Open Division bronze medal and Colorado 15s GNJC Qualifier Open silver medal

Coach Torbett on Riley: "I am thrilled to add S'mara to the program. She is a fast, dynamic, strong player. She plays much bigger than her height and is amazing at the net. She fits in well with our style of play and should have a great career here."

Janiece Jeffereies (Setter/Right Side • 5-10 • Germantown, Md. • Northwest High School)

In four years on the Northwest High School varsity team, has led the Jaguars to a pair of Maryland 4A state championships as well as a 71-5 overall record.
Northwest is currently in pursuit of its third-straight Maryland 4A state title, having not dropped a set in the regular season.
Has compiled over 1,500 assists in her prep career as well as 171 kills, 341 digs and 131 aces.
As a sophomore, named Montgomery County Player of the Year as well as honorable mention All-Met.
Captured first-team all-county accolades and Second Team All-Met honors her junior season.
Competed for the Metro Volleyball Club and helped the squad to a 13th-place finish at the USA Volleyball 17 Open Nationals.

Coach Torbett on Jefferies: "Janiece is a very versatile player that can do it all. She played six rotations on both her club and high school team as a setter and hitter. She is a calm player that has really developed and came into her own this past year. I can't wait to have her in the program."

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