Volleyball Announces Four New Deacs on 2025 National Signing Day
11/18/2025 10:19:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
A setter, pin hitter, libero and utility player make up the Demon Deacons’ latest class.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball and head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer officially announced the newest quartet of Demon Deacons on Tuesday during National Signing Day for high school athletes.
Emma Keeping, Lyla Stewart, Mattea Saunders and Ava Roddey have joined the program as members of the Deacs' 2026 recruiting class.
"This 2026 class will be making their presence felt as they join a team on the rise!" said Coach Hulsmeyer. "I love the athleticism, work ethic, and commitment to winning this group brings to our team. They are all outstanding people who fit Wake Forest, care about their teammates and are willing to put in the work and sacrifice to succeed. As they join us, the work is just beginning and I'm so excited to see what Emma, Lyla, Mattea and Ava will accomplish."
Emma Keeping | 5-11 | Setter | Imlay City, Mich. | Imlay City High School
One of the top student-athletes in Michigan, Emma brings versatility at the setter position and has impressed in different areas of the sport through the last several years. She has steadied elite offenses through high school and club competition while racking up a number of accolades and high rankings, both in state and nationally. Entering her senior season months ago, Emma was named a candidate for the 2025 Michigan Miss Volleyball Award, presented by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Emma Keeping High School Accolades & Accomplishments
Emma Keeping Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
Why Wake?
"Wake has challenging academics and awesome athletics," said Emma. "The campus is beautiful and I love North Carolina. The ACC will challenge me to reach my full potential, and I've felt very welcomed by the team and staff members."
Personal
Emma is the daughter of Bryan and Jessica Keeping – the latter played collegiate tennis at Columbus State University. She also has a younger sibling, Bear. Emma holds an interest in studying Health and Exercise Science upon arriving at Wake Forest.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Emma brings a lot of athleticism to the setting position as someone who has experience running a 5-1, as well as attacking in the front row as an attacker and lefty setter. I can't be more excited that she decided to join us in the spring semester of 2026 to begin connecting with the team in such a critical position to our offense. Emma is a winner, who excels in putting her teammates in the best position to succeed."
Lyla Stewart | 6-0 | Pin Hitter | Powell, Ohio | Saint Francis DeSales High School
A talented hitter who has played on both sides of the court, Lyla comes from the state of Ohio, where she competed as a standout six-rotation player for the Stallions of Saint Francis DeSales High School. Since her freshman season, she has picked up multiple all-state, all-district and all-conference awards while pacing her team to be one of the best in its district over the last two years. On the club volleyball scene, Lyla has captured national titles in AAU and USA Volleyball tournaments with the successful Mintonette Sports Club. She has impressed off the court as well in high school, working in the classroom as a National Honor Society member.
Lyla Stewart High School Accolades & Accomplishments
Lyla Stewart Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
Why Wake?
"I quickly felt connected to the community and environment of the campus," said Lyla. "When I first met the coaches and athletes, after stepping foot on campus, I felt like I was at home and that I could truly live here for four years. Athletically, I want to win an ACC regular-season title. Academically, I am incredibly excited to start working towards film studies, which is something that I have been very passionate about for years. I would love to involve myself in many film projects at the university if possible."
Personal
Lyla is the daughter of Betsy and Matt Stewart. She has two older brothers, Matthew and Cedric. Once she arrives in Winston-Salem, Lyla plans to major in Communication while also doing a double minor in Film/Media Studies and Theater.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Lyla comes to Wake Forest after playing at the highest club level and having a very successful prep career. She has a tremendous work ethic and is dedicated to continuing her winning ways at the next level. As a pin hitter, she is very versatile and brings a lot of power to this 2026 class. She is very athletic and I'm so pleased that we will get the opportunity to develop her skills when she arrives for the spring 2026 semester."
Mattea Saunders | 5-9 | Libero | Phoenix, Arizona | Xavier College Preparatory
Playing as a libero, Mattea has enjoyed notable success within the state of Arizona. She helped pace Xavier College Prep to win the 2024 6A state championship a year ago, as the Gators also ranked fifth nationally. By the conclusion of that same season, Mattea had earned numerous individual honors as a standout defensive player. In club competition, the Phoenix native has been a member of Arizona Storm Elite, one of the state's top organizations, and received All-America recognition this past spring.
Mattea Saunders High School Accolades & Accomplishments
Mattea Saunders Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because it was a great balance of high-level athletics and very strong academics," said Mattea. "The coaches and team were all so welcoming – it felt like one big community. I love the competitiveness on the volleyball court and the classroom. Wake feels like a place where I can grow as a better player and person.
"During my time at Wake, I want to grow as a player and a person. I want to help the team compete at the highest level in the ACC and make an impact on the court. I hope to prepare myself for life after volleyball."
Personal
Mattea is the daughter of Joe and Shanel Saunders, who played baseball and softball at Virginia Tech, respectively. She also has two younger sisters, Avellina and Bianca. At the moment, she has an interest in potentially studying Business Management.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"I'm so excited to have Mattea join us from arguably one of the top clubs in the West with a long history of producing top Division I student-athletes. As a libero, she has been pivotal to her club and high school's success with her tenacious defense and quality serve-receive passing. I'm looking forward to adding her strong first touch contact quality to our team to continue our team's trajectory of moving up in the ACC and nationally."
Ava Roddey | 5-10 | Defensive Specialist/Setter | Greenville, S.C. | Mountain View Preparatory
Ava turned heads as a two-way presence over her high school career and one of the top volleyball prospects in South Carolina. She capped off her senior campaign being recognized as the Region Player of the Year, along with an all-state nod. Her high school, Mountain View Preparatory, dominated through the fall 2025 season for 31 wins in 34 appearances, en route to securing a regional championship. Ava carried her stellar play over to club competition as well, contributing as a standout for Stars Volleyball Club.
Ava Roddey High School Accolades & Accomplishments
Ava Roddey Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because of the high-level experience of the coaching staff and I feel like they will help me reach my full potential," said Ava. "Wake also has high academics and a beautiful campus. I want to become the best volleyball player I can be and help Wake win some championships."
Personal
Ava is the daughter of Michael and Amy Roddey, as the former played college basketball at Winthrop University. She has an older brother, Bryce, who competed as a baseball player at North Greenville University. Ava currently has her sights set on studying Business during her time on campus.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Ava comes to Wake Forest highly motivated to help us succeed. She is a great team player and has had a lot of success as a ball control player and setter. She came to camp last summer and made an impression on the staff and players. I look forward to continuing Ava's development at the top Division I level of play as she adds critical first and second contact skills to our team."
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Emma Keeping, Lyla Stewart, Mattea Saunders and Ava Roddey have joined the program as members of the Deacs' 2026 recruiting class.
"This 2026 class will be making their presence felt as they join a team on the rise!" said Coach Hulsmeyer. "I love the athleticism, work ethic, and commitment to winning this group brings to our team. They are all outstanding people who fit Wake Forest, care about their teammates and are willing to put in the work and sacrifice to succeed. As they join us, the work is just beginning and I'm so excited to see what Emma, Lyla, Mattea and Ava will accomplish."
Emma Keeping | 5-11 | Setter | Imlay City, Mich. | Imlay City High School
One of the top student-athletes in Michigan, Emma brings versatility at the setter position and has impressed in different areas of the sport through the last several years. She has steadied elite offenses through high school and club competition while racking up a number of accolades and high rankings, both in state and nationally. Entering her senior season months ago, Emma was named a candidate for the 2025 Michigan Miss Volleyball Award, presented by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Emma Keeping High School Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2025 Michigan Miss Volleyball finalist
- 2024 First Team All-BWAC Conference
- 2024 First Team All-Region 9
- 2024 First Team All-State
- 2024 co-conference champion
- 2022 Second Team All-BWAC Conference
- 2022 First Team All-Region 9
- 2022 First Team Tri-City Times All-Area Team
- 2022 Division II All-State nomination
- Ranked No. 41 nationally by PrepDig.com
- Ranked No. 4 in Michigan among overall players in the class of 2030
- Ranked as the No. 1 setter in the class of 2030 in the state of Michigan
Emma Keeping Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
- Competed for Michigan Elite
- Participated in the 2025 USA Volleyball National Team Development Program
- Named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phenom
- Tabbed a UA Next Athlete
- Landed a spot on the Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) Watchlist
- Top-10 finish at Sunshine Qualifier
- Top-10 finish at JVA World Challenge
Why Wake?
"Wake has challenging academics and awesome athletics," said Emma. "The campus is beautiful and I love North Carolina. The ACC will challenge me to reach my full potential, and I've felt very welcomed by the team and staff members."
Personal
Emma is the daughter of Bryan and Jessica Keeping – the latter played collegiate tennis at Columbus State University. She also has a younger sibling, Bear. Emma holds an interest in studying Health and Exercise Science upon arriving at Wake Forest.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Emma brings a lot of athleticism to the setting position as someone who has experience running a 5-1, as well as attacking in the front row as an attacker and lefty setter. I can't be more excited that she decided to join us in the spring semester of 2026 to begin connecting with the team in such a critical position to our offense. Emma is a winner, who excels in putting her teammates in the best position to succeed."
Lyla Stewart | 6-0 | Pin Hitter | Powell, Ohio | Saint Francis DeSales High School
A talented hitter who has played on both sides of the court, Lyla comes from the state of Ohio, where she competed as a standout six-rotation player for the Stallions of Saint Francis DeSales High School. Since her freshman season, she has picked up multiple all-state, all-district and all-conference awards while pacing her team to be one of the best in its district over the last two years. On the club volleyball scene, Lyla has captured national titles in AAU and USA Volleyball tournaments with the successful Mintonette Sports Club. She has impressed off the court as well in high school, working in the classroom as a National Honor Society member.
Lyla Stewart High School Accolades & Accomplishments
- Two-time Second Team All-State selection (2024 & 2025)
- Two-time First Team All-District nod (2024 & 2025)
- Four-time First Team All-CCL pick (2022-25)
- Helped lead the Stallions to finish as district runner-ups twice (2024 & 2025)
Lyla Stewart Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
- Competed as a member of Mintonette Sports
- Two-time AAU National Champion (2023 & 2024)
- 2022 USAV National Champion
- 2023 USAV National Champion runner-up
Why Wake?
"I quickly felt connected to the community and environment of the campus," said Lyla. "When I first met the coaches and athletes, after stepping foot on campus, I felt like I was at home and that I could truly live here for four years. Athletically, I want to win an ACC regular-season title. Academically, I am incredibly excited to start working towards film studies, which is something that I have been very passionate about for years. I would love to involve myself in many film projects at the university if possible."
Personal
Lyla is the daughter of Betsy and Matt Stewart. She has two older brothers, Matthew and Cedric. Once she arrives in Winston-Salem, Lyla plans to major in Communication while also doing a double minor in Film/Media Studies and Theater.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Lyla comes to Wake Forest after playing at the highest club level and having a very successful prep career. She has a tremendous work ethic and is dedicated to continuing her winning ways at the next level. As a pin hitter, she is very versatile and brings a lot of power to this 2026 class. She is very athletic and I'm so pleased that we will get the opportunity to develop her skills when she arrives for the spring 2026 semester."
Mattea Saunders | 5-9 | Libero | Phoenix, Arizona | Xavier College Preparatory
Playing as a libero, Mattea has enjoyed notable success within the state of Arizona. She helped pace Xavier College Prep to win the 2024 6A state championship a year ago, as the Gators also ranked fifth nationally. By the conclusion of that same season, Mattea had earned numerous individual honors as a standout defensive player. In club competition, the Phoenix native has been a member of Arizona Storm Elite, one of the state's top organizations, and received All-America recognition this past spring.
Mattea Saunders High School Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2024 6A State Champion
- 2024 All-America Honorable Mention
- 2024 All-Premier Region First Team
- 2024 All-6A Region First Team
- 2024 6A All-Conference First Team
- Named a high school 'Player of the Match' on 13 separate occasions
- Tabbed Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the Xavier College Prep Gators
- Named a 2026 Back Row All-Star by PrepDig.com
Mattea Saunders Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2025 All-America, Second Team
- Under Armour All-America Watch List
- Triple Crown NIT All-Tournament Team
- Helped Arizona Storm Elite emerge as the No. 1 team in the state for its 17U & 16U teams
- The team also finished:
- 2nd place at the Red Rock Rave 17 Open
- 2nd place at the Salt Lake City Showdown 17 Open
- 3rd place at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship
- The team also finished:
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because it was a great balance of high-level athletics and very strong academics," said Mattea. "The coaches and team were all so welcoming – it felt like one big community. I love the competitiveness on the volleyball court and the classroom. Wake feels like a place where I can grow as a better player and person.
"During my time at Wake, I want to grow as a player and a person. I want to help the team compete at the highest level in the ACC and make an impact on the court. I hope to prepare myself for life after volleyball."
Personal
Mattea is the daughter of Joe and Shanel Saunders, who played baseball and softball at Virginia Tech, respectively. She also has two younger sisters, Avellina and Bianca. At the moment, she has an interest in potentially studying Business Management.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"I'm so excited to have Mattea join us from arguably one of the top clubs in the West with a long history of producing top Division I student-athletes. As a libero, she has been pivotal to her club and high school's success with her tenacious defense and quality serve-receive passing. I'm looking forward to adding her strong first touch contact quality to our team to continue our team's trajectory of moving up in the ACC and nationally."
Ava Roddey | 5-10 | Defensive Specialist/Setter | Greenville, S.C. | Mountain View Preparatory
Ava turned heads as a two-way presence over her high school career and one of the top volleyball prospects in South Carolina. She capped off her senior campaign being recognized as the Region Player of the Year, along with an all-state nod. Her high school, Mountain View Preparatory, dominated through the fall 2025 season for 31 wins in 34 appearances, en route to securing a regional championship. Ava carried her stellar play over to club competition as well, contributing as a standout for Stars Volleyball Club.
Ava Roddey High School Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2025 All-State selection
- 2025 Region Player of the Year
- 2025 AVCA All-Region 3 selection
- Two-time All-Region pick (2024 & 2025)
- Named to the 2025 North/South All-Star Team
- Most recently led Mountain View Preparatory to the 2025 Region Championship on a 31-3 overall record
Ava Roddey Club Volleyball Accolades & Accomplishments
- Competed for Stars Volleyball Club 18 Helle
- AVCA Winners Circle
- Tabbed to the All-Region team in the 2024 club season
- Placed on the JVA Watchlist
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because of the high-level experience of the coaching staff and I feel like they will help me reach my full potential," said Ava. "Wake also has high academics and a beautiful campus. I want to become the best volleyball player I can be and help Wake win some championships."
Personal
Ava is the daughter of Michael and Amy Roddey, as the former played college basketball at Winthrop University. She has an older brother, Bryce, who competed as a baseball player at North Greenville University. Ava currently has her sights set on studying Business during her time on campus.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"Ava comes to Wake Forest highly motivated to help us succeed. She is a great team player and has had a lot of success as a ball control player and setter. She came to camp last summer and made an impression on the staff and players. I look forward to continuing Ava's development at the top Division I level of play as she adds critical first and second contact skills to our team."
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
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