After a stellar 2020-21 season in which it finished as the regular season NEC champions, the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team plans to emulate last year's success with strong new additions. Joining the team for the fall will be Christina Montanez, Roula Tzepos and fifth-year transfer Mackenzie Eford.
 
"We are very excited about our incoming class for the fall of '21," said head coach Rob Machan. "Cristina and Mackenzie give us great size and experience in the middle. At 6'4" and with three years of collegiate experience, respectively, Cristina and Mackenzie are perfect fits for our specific needs this fall. Roula is a hard-working outside with a terrific arm and will be a great addition to an outstanding group of returning athletes."
 
Montanez is a 6'3 middle blocker from East Stroudsburg, Pa. She was named the EPC All-Conference Monroe Division MVP and First-Team, PVCA District XI AA All-Star Second Team and ESN MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Montanez was her high school team captain and led the EPC in blocks for two consecutive years. Planning on majoring in accounting, Montanez is also a committed student who ranked third in her class, has been a member of the National Honors Society, Student Athletic Character Council, and is her Class Treasurer.
 
A native of Oxford, Conn., Tzepos is the second incoming first-year student. A 5'9" outside hitter, she was a four-year starter for both Oxford High School and Nova Volleyball Club. Tzepos served as team captain and earned All-Copper NVL. She's planning on studying speech language pathology. 
 
Eford is a 6'0" middle blocker from Glendale, Wisc. who is transferring from Arkansas Tech University. In her senior year of at Nicolet High School, she was named First-Team All-Conference and Third-Team All-State. She was also ranked first in blocking and third in hitting in Wisconsin's Division 1. At Arkansas Tech, she was an All-GAC honorable mention in 2019 and a unanimous selection First-Team All-Conference in 2021. In addition to her remarkable play, Eford was a leader in the classroom and the community as a member of the Dean's List and receiving the Community Service Excellence Award for her 222 hours of community service. At SHU, she will be enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.