(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – Marquette University head women’s volleyball coach Ryan Theis has announced the addition of three student-athletes, Mari King, Keira Schmidt and Isabela Haggard for the fall of 2025.
All three plan to arrive on campus in January and will have four years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
“We are excited to add Mari, Keira and Bela at the semester to get a jump on their freshman seasons and transition into a new era of Marquette Volleyball,” Theis said. “All three play important positions where we are losing a good deal of production due to graduation this fall. Mari is a point-scoring outside hitter, Bela is a tough-as-nails setter and Keira is a physical blocker.”
King is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida and the state’s all-time career kills leader.
“Mari is a great mix of skill and power,” Theis said. “She reminds me of a mix between Natalie Ring and Jenna Reitsma and is a point scorer both in-system and out. We are excited to see her play in some big time matches for us in 2025.”
Haggard is a 5-foot-10 setter from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky who is also a state champion gymnast and horizontal jumper in track and field.
“Bela is a true competitor at the setter position,” Theis said. “She reminds me of (current MU assistant coach) Abby Gilleland as a 17-year old. Every point matters to Bela and she will fight for them. She has won at highest levels of club playing multiple positions.”
Schmidt is a two-time Minnesota Star Tribune all-state selection at Eagan High School and a former teammate of current MU right-side hitter Sienna Ifill with Northern Lights.
“Keira has a significant blocking presence at the net,” Theis said. “Her size and ability to learn and process the game will be extremely valuable as a middle blocker. Her work ethic and personality are contagious, and she will fit in very well with our culture.”
Haggard (No. 65) and Schmidt (No. 86) are both ranked as national top-100 prospects in the class of 2025 by PrepDig and are the fifth-ranked players in their respective home states. King is ranked 18th in Florida and eighth at her position in the state.
Further additions to Marquette’s signing class of 2025 will be announced at a later date.
Keep up with the Marquette University women’s volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Isabela Haggard | 5-11 | Setter | Lexington, Ky. | Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S. | KiVA
Prior to Marquette: Haggard played four years of girls’ volleyball at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky … A four-time team captain under head coach Jennifer Morgan … No. 65 nationally in the class of 2025, according to PrepDig, and the No. 5 player in the state of Kentucky … Earned all-state, all-district, all-region and all-city honors three times and was district most valuable player in both 2023 and 2024 … Earned academic all-state accolades as a sophomore … Helped Dunbar to four district championships, regional titles in 2022 and 2023 and a state runner-up finish in 2022 … Ended high school career with 3,063 assists, 1,302 digs, 973 kills, 195 aces and 252 blocks … Played club volleyball with KiVA and won a 2023 AAU National Championship in the 16 Open Division … Also captured MEQ and Bluegrass championships in 2023, a Central Zone Championship in 2024 and Mideast Power League crown in both 2023 and 2024 … An all-state jumper in high school who won a state title in the long jump as a freshman in addition to a runner-up finish in the triple jump … Owns personal bests of 17 feet, 11.5 inches in the long jump and 38 feet, three inches in the triple jump, a mark that would rank ninth on the MU women’s track and field top-10 career list … Also an accomplished gymnast.
Personal: Born in Lexington, Kentucky and parents are Jenica and Chris Haggard … Has two older siblings, Allie Janes and Ben … Plans to major in broadcast.
Haggard on Marquette: “I choose Marquette because of the amazing volleyball culture and the success of the program. I am so excited to join such a solid program year in and year out, and a very competitive program on the court and in the classroom. Marquette also has very good academics, and I am excited to push myself in the classroom.”
Mari King | 5-10 | Outside Hitter | Jacksonville, Fla. | Trinity Christian Academy | Jacksonville Skyline
Prior to Marquette: King played seven years of varsity girls’ volleyball at Trinity Christian Academy and graduates as the Florida High School Athletic Association’s all-time kills leader with 2,299 (169 more than previous record) … Broke the state’s career record with a personal-best 40 kills against Providence High School on Sept. 19, 2024 … Four-time team captain for the Conquerors under head coach Emma Roberson earned four All-First Coast Volleyball Conference First Team honors … 2023 Florida Times-Union Player of the Year as a junior … All-state and all-academic selection as a freshman … Led northeast Florida in kills as a freshman, sophomore and senior … Concluded high school career with 2,299 kills, 1,589 digs, 160 blocks, 204 aces and 112 assists … No. 18-ranked player in the state of Florida in the class of 2025, according to PrepDig … Led Trinity to four district championships (2021-24) in addition to spot in the 2022 Class 3A Region I title match and the 2023 Class 3A State Final Four for the first time in program history … Member of the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program from 2021-24 … Played club volleyball for Jacksonville Skyline Juniors – Royal Teams, from 2020-24 under coaches Hugh and Steph Hernesman … Captured a 2024 AAU National Championship in the 18 Premier Division with Skyline and an undefeated record … Earned all-tournament honors in the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championship with a runner-up finish in the 15 USA Division … Also competed with Team Florida All-Stars (USAV High Performance) from 2019-23 … Claimed silver medals with Team Florida in 2021 and 2023 in the USAV All-Start Championships in the Girls International Select Division and the Girls U17 International Division, respectively.
Personal: King was born in Jacksonville, Florida and is the daughter of Mike and Amy King … Given name is Amaria … Has one older (Mya) and one younger (Kenzie) sister … Plans to major in marketing.
King on Marquette: “When I came to campus for camp in summer 2023, I knew Marquette was the place for me. I had been exposed to Coach Ryan over the years at my local club, Jax Skyline, and was comfortable with him and his coaching style. When I met Abby (Gilleland) and (Ryan) Walt (Walthall), I knew they were coaches I could see myself playing for. My official visit later that fall only solidified my decision — the atmosphere in The Al was electric! Joining a program that consistently achieves at a high level like Marquette gives me the best opportunity to make an impact on and off the court.”
Keira Schmidt | 6-3 | Middle Blocker | Eagan, Minn. | Eagan H.S. | Northern Lights
Prior to Marquette: Schmidt played four years of girls’ volleyball at Eagan High School and was a two-time team captain … No. 86 nationally in the class of 2025, according to PrepDig, and the No. 5 player in the state of Minnesota … Helped the Wildcats under head coach McKenna Melville to a sectional championship as a junior in 2023 and a state tournament appearance … Ended high school career with 725 career kills and 315 blocks … Earned all-state honors from the Minnesota Star Tribune as both a junior and senior in addition to all-conference accolades … Helped Eagan to a sectional championship game appearance as a senior in 2024 with a 22-7 record … Played club volleyball for Northern Lights alongside current MU right-side hitter Sienna Ifill … Placed third in the 2024 Gold Open AAU Nationals under head coach Anny Guggisberg with Northern Lights … Also tied for fifth in the 2023 Gold Nationals … Earned championships with Northern Lights at the 2023 Show Me Qualifier and the 2023 AAU Silver Open.
Personal: Born in St. Paul, Minnesota and is the daughter of Rhonna and Jason Schmidt … Has three older brothers, Callum, Aidan and Logan … Plans to major in pre-law studies …. Oldest brother, Callum, attended Marquette.
Schmidt on Marquette: “Marquette has a very strong academic and athletic program. I absolutely fell in love with the competitive atmosphere in the gym as soon as I stepped into the court. The community also feels very family-like, which is incredibly important to me.”
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