.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Volleyball Welcomes Six-Member Class of 2024
6/22/2020 2:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University volleyball will welcome six incoming freshmen to the team in the fall as part of the Bears' Class of 2024 – a class that has earned Highest Honorable Mention honors from PrepVolleyball.com alongside 19 Power Five schools – Brown head coach Ahen Kim announced on Wednesday.
The class – considered a top-60 recruiting class in PrepVolleyball.com's rankings – includes student-athletes from six different states with representatives from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. The group comprises two setters, two right-side hitters, one middle blocker, and one outside hitter. Four of the newcomers stand at 6-foot-0 or taller.
Brown's Class of 2024 includes right-side hitter Ada Agolli (Atlanta, Ga.), setter Kate Danaher (Hinsdale, Ill.), setter Cierra Jenkins (Orlando, Fla.), right-side hitter Kate Sheire (Arlington, Va.), middle blocker Zoe Ubamadu (Chattanooga, Tenn.), and outside hitter Jilienne Widener (Westminster, Md.).
Ada Agolli
Position: Right-side Hitter
Height: 6-foot-2
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Pace Academy
Club Team: A5 Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-State honors in 2017 and 2018 … Gained All-Region honors in 2019 … Garnered Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 … Selected as a National Sophomore of the Year finalist in 2017 and a National Junior of the Year finalist in 2018 … Captained team as a junior and senior … Played for coaches Gabe Aramian, Jing Hou, and Anna Bush … Competed on the club level for A5 Volleyball Club … Scholar-Athlete and National Honor Society student … Yearbook Co-Editor in Chief.
Why Brown? "When I stepped onto campus, everything felt right. The tight-knit and accepting community felt like family, and I really liked the balance of competitive athletics and academics that Brown offered."
Kate Danaher
Position: Setter
Height: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
High School: St. Ignatius College Prep
Club Team: Adversity Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-Conference honors as a junior and senior … Set school records for most career assists (2,012) … Gained Team MVP honors in 2019 … Collected team's Most Improved Player award in 2017 … Dished out over 700 assists in each of her junior and senior seasons … Served team as a captain twice … Played for head coach Erik Eastman … Competed on the club level for Adversity Volleyball Club 18 Adidas … National Honor Society student … Gained Academic All-Conference accolades all four years.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the opportunities that it presents, both in academics and athletics. The culture and atmosphere make me feel part of a greater community, one that challenges me to be my best, but also supports and encourages me in every aspect of life."
Cierra Jenkins
Position: Setter
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
High School: Lake Highland Prep
Club Teams: Orlando/Tampa Volleyball Club, Top Select Academy, Oviedo Volleyball Academy
Prep Accolades: Took home PrepVolleyball.com All-America honors twice … Captured Third Team AVCA Under Armour All-America accolades … Earned Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year/MVP honors as a senior … Garnered Florida Dairy Farmers Class 4A Player of the Year … Gained Orlando Sentinel All-Area accolades three times, including First Team laurels twice … Captured AAU All-America honors in 2017 and 2018 … Claimed AAU MVP plaudits in 2018 … Totaled 707 assists in 2017, 611 assists in 2019, and 548 assists in 2016 … Played for coaches Erin Fleming and Katie Gallagher … Competed on the club level for Orlando/Tampa Volleyball Club, Top Select Academy, and Oviedo Volleyball Academy … Won AAU titles four straight years from 2015-18.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the competitive atmosphere, the academics, and to play high level volleyball."
Kate Sheire
Position: Right-side Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
High School: Washington-Liberty
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Garnered District Player of the Year honors in 2018 … Earned Second Team All-State accolades in 2019 … Gained First Team All-District laurels in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … Took home First Team All-Region plaudits in 2018 and 2019 … Played for head coach Aubrey Mosley … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club … An AP Scholar with Honors … Graduated as school's valedictorian.
Why Brown? "I was drawn to Brown by its reputation as having a culture of people passionate about academic exploration and learning. Upon further exploration I found that I also loved the campus, people, and environment of the school. As a person with diverse passions and career interests, the open curriculum is what promoted Brown from one of my top-tier choices to my dream school. I look forward to meeting an array of others also drawn to the pursuit of knowledge without exactly knowing where that knowledge may lead them."
Zoe Ubamadu
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School: Baylor School
Club Team: A5 Chattanooga
Prep Accolades: Earned All-State and All-Region honors in 2018 … Set school record for most blocks in a single season … Gained All-Tournament Team honors at the Peachtree Classic … Competed on the club level for A5 Chattanooga … Played for coaches Gary Hassel, Paul Brock, Libby Peigen, Jennifer Redman, Nancy Mueller, Sarah Lail, Bryan Bramlet, and Steve Lohn … Served as Vice President of Verve Dance Company … Member of Baylor Round Table and Baylor Red Circle.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the community, freedom, and opportunity. I knew as soon as I met the team I could find a real family at Brown."
Jilienne Widener
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Westminster, Md.
High School: Westminster
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club of DC
Prep Accolades: Earned Prep Volleyball All-America honors in 2019 … Gained Carroll County Athletic League Player of the Year and Carroll County Times Player of the Year honors in 2017, 2018, and 2019; also Carroll County Times' Player of the Year in 2016 … Selected as Carroll County Times' Player of the Decade (2010-19) … Earned Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year and Varsity Sports Network Player of the Year in 2019 … Took home Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 … Selected as a finalist for the Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … Garnered First Team All-County all four years … Earned First Team Baltimore Sun All-Metro accolades as a sophomore, junior, and senior; made Second Team as a freshman … Selected as a finalist for Prep Volleyball's National Sophomore of the Year in 2017, National Junior of the Year in 2018, and National Senior of the Year in 2019 … Graduated as Westminster's all-time kills leader with 1,311 career kills … Served team as a captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Played for coaches Edward Benish, Evan Frock, Minh Pho, and Hope Ferguson at Westminster … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club of DC for coaches Silvia Johnson, Patrice Arrington, Corey Hobson, Adam Hughes, and Kyle Thompson … National Honor Society student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because I wanted to play Division I level volleyball, while maintaining a rigorous academic schedule. The atmosphere on campus was very welcoming, and everybody seemed to respect each other. Also, the flexibility of the open curriculum was appealing."
Gallery: (6-22-2020) Volleyball Class of 2024
The class – considered a top-60 recruiting class in PrepVolleyball.com's rankings – includes student-athletes from six different states with representatives from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. The group comprises two setters, two right-side hitters, one middle blocker, and one outside hitter. Four of the newcomers stand at 6-foot-0 or taller.
Brown's Class of 2024 includes right-side hitter Ada Agolli (Atlanta, Ga.), setter Kate Danaher (Hinsdale, Ill.), setter Cierra Jenkins (Orlando, Fla.), right-side hitter Kate Sheire (Arlington, Va.), middle blocker Zoe Ubamadu (Chattanooga, Tenn.), and outside hitter Jilienne Widener (Westminster, Md.).
Ada Agolli
Position: Right-side Hitter
Height: 6-foot-2
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Pace Academy
Club Team: A5 Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-State honors in 2017 and 2018 … Gained All-Region honors in 2019 … Garnered Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 … Selected as a National Sophomore of the Year finalist in 2017 and a National Junior of the Year finalist in 2018 … Captained team as a junior and senior … Played for coaches Gabe Aramian, Jing Hou, and Anna Bush … Competed on the club level for A5 Volleyball Club … Scholar-Athlete and National Honor Society student … Yearbook Co-Editor in Chief.
Why Brown? "When I stepped onto campus, everything felt right. The tight-knit and accepting community felt like family, and I really liked the balance of competitive athletics and academics that Brown offered."
Kate Danaher
Position: Setter
Height: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
High School: St. Ignatius College Prep
Club Team: Adversity Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Earned All-Conference honors as a junior and senior … Set school records for most career assists (2,012) … Gained Team MVP honors in 2019 … Collected team's Most Improved Player award in 2017 … Dished out over 700 assists in each of her junior and senior seasons … Served team as a captain twice … Played for head coach Erik Eastman … Competed on the club level for Adversity Volleyball Club 18 Adidas … National Honor Society student … Gained Academic All-Conference accolades all four years.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the opportunities that it presents, both in academics and athletics. The culture and atmosphere make me feel part of a greater community, one that challenges me to be my best, but also supports and encourages me in every aspect of life."
Cierra Jenkins
Position: Setter
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
High School: Lake Highland Prep
Club Teams: Orlando/Tampa Volleyball Club, Top Select Academy, Oviedo Volleyball Academy
Prep Accolades: Took home PrepVolleyball.com All-America honors twice … Captured Third Team AVCA Under Armour All-America accolades … Earned Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year/MVP honors as a senior … Garnered Florida Dairy Farmers Class 4A Player of the Year … Gained Orlando Sentinel All-Area accolades three times, including First Team laurels twice … Captured AAU All-America honors in 2017 and 2018 … Claimed AAU MVP plaudits in 2018 … Totaled 707 assists in 2017, 611 assists in 2019, and 548 assists in 2016 … Played for coaches Erin Fleming and Katie Gallagher … Competed on the club level for Orlando/Tampa Volleyball Club, Top Select Academy, and Oviedo Volleyball Academy … Won AAU titles four straight years from 2015-18.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because of the competitive atmosphere, the academics, and to play high level volleyball."
Kate Sheire
Position: Right-side Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
High School: Washington-Liberty
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club
Prep Accolades: Garnered District Player of the Year honors in 2018 … Earned Second Team All-State accolades in 2019 … Gained First Team All-District laurels in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … Took home First Team All-Region plaudits in 2018 and 2019 … Played for head coach Aubrey Mosley … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club … An AP Scholar with Honors … Graduated as school's valedictorian.
Why Brown? "I was drawn to Brown by its reputation as having a culture of people passionate about academic exploration and learning. Upon further exploration I found that I also loved the campus, people, and environment of the school. As a person with diverse passions and career interests, the open curriculum is what promoted Brown from one of my top-tier choices to my dream school. I look forward to meeting an array of others also drawn to the pursuit of knowledge without exactly knowing where that knowledge may lead them."
Zoe Ubamadu
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School: Baylor School
Club Team: A5 Chattanooga
Prep Accolades: Earned All-State and All-Region honors in 2018 … Set school record for most blocks in a single season … Gained All-Tournament Team honors at the Peachtree Classic … Competed on the club level for A5 Chattanooga … Played for coaches Gary Hassel, Paul Brock, Libby Peigen, Jennifer Redman, Nancy Mueller, Sarah Lail, Bryan Bramlet, and Steve Lohn … Served as Vice President of Verve Dance Company … Member of Baylor Round Table and Baylor Red Circle.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown for the community, freedom, and opportunity. I knew as soon as I met the team I could find a real family at Brown."
Jilienne Widener
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-foot-0
Hometown: Westminster, Md.
High School: Westminster
Club Team: Metro Volleyball Club of DC
Prep Accolades: Earned Prep Volleyball All-America honors in 2019 … Gained Carroll County Athletic League Player of the Year and Carroll County Times Player of the Year honors in 2017, 2018, and 2019; also Carroll County Times' Player of the Year in 2016 … Selected as Carroll County Times' Player of the Decade (2010-19) … Earned Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year and Varsity Sports Network Player of the Year in 2019 … Took home Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 … Selected as a finalist for the Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … Garnered First Team All-County all four years … Earned First Team Baltimore Sun All-Metro accolades as a sophomore, junior, and senior; made Second Team as a freshman … Selected as a finalist for Prep Volleyball's National Sophomore of the Year in 2017, National Junior of the Year in 2018, and National Senior of the Year in 2019 … Graduated as Westminster's all-time kills leader with 1,311 career kills … Served team as a captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Played for coaches Edward Benish, Evan Frock, Minh Pho, and Hope Ferguson at Westminster … Competed on the club level for Metro Volleyball Club of DC for coaches Silvia Johnson, Patrice Arrington, Corey Hobson, Adam Hughes, and Kyle Thompson … National Honor Society student.
Why Brown? "I chose Brown because I wanted to play Division I level volleyball, while maintaining a rigorous academic schedule. The atmosphere on campus was very welcoming, and everybody seemed to respect each other. Also, the flexibility of the open curriculum was appealing."
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballBrown vs Yale: Volleyball Highlights
Monday, October 27
Tuesday's 10 with Jesse Golden - Volleyball
Monday, October 06
2025-26 Module Training Intro
Monday, September 15
Brown University 50th Anniversary Event Recap
Friday, April 11
