Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Sign Hitter Laiya Ebo
5/18/2026 9:57:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The South Carolina transfer is the ninth addition to the 2026 volleyball roster.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball and head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer announced the signing of Laiya Ebo on Monday. A transfer from the University of South Carolina, Ebo will join the Demon Deacons' fall 2026 roster as a rising senior.
Competing as a hitter, Ebo spent the 2025-26 school year with the Gamecocks following two years at Butler. The Washington, D.C. native is Wake Forest's ninth overall newcomer, joining a group of:
Laiya Ebo | 6-1 | Right-Side Hitter | Washington, D.C. | University of South Carolina
As a junior in fall 2025, Ebo totaled 88 kills and 35 blocks with a .303 hitting percentage. She led South Carolina in hitting percentage on three separate occasions while posting an attacking clip of .500 or better. During the month of October, Ebo first recorded a season-high 12 kills at home versus Georgia before reaching a season-best hitting mark of .556 against Auburn weeks later.
During her sophomore season at Butler in 2024, Ebo appeared in all but one of the team's 30 matches. She worked as a two-way presence to end with season totals of 154 kills and 46 total blocks. A standout performance happened for her on Sept. 20 when she went for a career-high .615 hitting percentage with 17 kills over Bellarmine. The .615 mark resulted as the highest by any player in the Big East with 16 or more kills in a single match that season. She also tied her personal best of six blocks at Georgetown in late-November. Ebo went on to finish third on the team in blocks and fourth in kills. Off the court, she received College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.
In her freshman year, Ebo played in 16 matches for Butler, competing in 53 sets. She tallied 104 kills on 247 attacks while making an impact on the Bulldogs' defense with 23 blocks and 19 digs. Two of her best showings of the fall included 14 kills on .522 hitting versus UConn and six blocks against Seton Hall.
Personal
Laiya is the daughter of Milford and Lois Ebo. She also has two older siblings – Mark, a former Holy Cross football player, and Lauren, who competed as a women's basketball student-athlete at Notre Dame, UT Austin and Penn State.
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because of the balance between rigorous academics and competitive athletics, along with the opportunity to compete in the ACC and be part of a program that challenges you every day while supporting overall growth on and off the court." – Laiya Ebo
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"I can't be more pleased with my staff and how hard they work to find great student-athletes of high character like Laiya. After competing in the SEC last season, Laiya brings a high level of athleticism and a powerful attack to our program. As a rising senior, she has a lot of college experience that fits perfectly into the great mix of experience and youth on our 2026 roster. I love her competitiveness and work ethic. She will join us this summer and I'm looking forward to seeing her with our team as we begin our preseason practices at the end of July."
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Competing as a hitter, Ebo spent the 2025-26 school year with the Gamecocks following two years at Butler. The Washington, D.C. native is Wake Forest's ninth overall newcomer, joining a group of:
- Catherine Burke
- Emma Keeping
- Camille McCoy
- Amina N'Diaye
- Ava Roddey
- Andrea Roman
- Mattea Saunders
- Lyla Stewart
Laiya Ebo | 6-1 | Right-Side Hitter | Washington, D.C. | University of South Carolina
As a junior in fall 2025, Ebo totaled 88 kills and 35 blocks with a .303 hitting percentage. She led South Carolina in hitting percentage on three separate occasions while posting an attacking clip of .500 or better. During the month of October, Ebo first recorded a season-high 12 kills at home versus Georgia before reaching a season-best hitting mark of .556 against Auburn weeks later.
During her sophomore season at Butler in 2024, Ebo appeared in all but one of the team's 30 matches. She worked as a two-way presence to end with season totals of 154 kills and 46 total blocks. A standout performance happened for her on Sept. 20 when she went for a career-high .615 hitting percentage with 17 kills over Bellarmine. The .615 mark resulted as the highest by any player in the Big East with 16 or more kills in a single match that season. She also tied her personal best of six blocks at Georgetown in late-November. Ebo went on to finish third on the team in blocks and fourth in kills. Off the court, she received College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.
In her freshman year, Ebo played in 16 matches for Butler, competing in 53 sets. She tallied 104 kills on 247 attacks while making an impact on the Bulldogs' defense with 23 blocks and 19 digs. Two of her best showings of the fall included 14 kills on .522 hitting versus UConn and six blocks against Seton Hall.
Personal
Laiya is the daughter of Milford and Lois Ebo. She also has two older siblings – Mark, a former Holy Cross football player, and Lauren, who competed as a women's basketball student-athlete at Notre Dame, UT Austin and Penn State.
Why Wake?
"I chose Wake because of the balance between rigorous academics and competitive athletics, along with the opportunity to compete in the ACC and be part of a program that challenges you every day while supporting overall growth on and off the court." – Laiya Ebo
From Coach Hulsmeyer
"I can't be more pleased with my staff and how hard they work to find great student-athletes of high character like Laiya. After competing in the SEC last season, Laiya brings a high level of athleticism and a powerful attack to our program. As a rising senior, she has a lot of college experience that fits perfectly into the great mix of experience and youth on our 2026 roster. I love her competitiveness and work ethic. She will join us this summer and I'm looking forward to seeing her with our team as we begin our preseason practices at the end of July."
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
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