Youngstown State head volleyball coach Riley Jarrett announced on Friday that two more graduating high school seniors will become Penguins in the fall. The two additions are Brie Habeeb and Ava Stratton.
Habeeb is a 5-foot-6 defensive specialist from Independence, Ohio, and Stratton is a 6-foot-1 right-side/middle hitter from Chicago. The duo combined for three state championships in their high school careers.
Habeeb and Stratton bring YSU's incoming class to eight members. They join high school seniors Kameron Blizniak, Kennedy Dawson, Layne Graffice and Presley Stokes, and transfers Niyah Lester and Taya Nordmann.
Position: Defensive Specialist
Hometown: Independence, Ohio
High School: Gilmour Academy
Coach Jarrett on Habeeb: Brie is a very determined player, and I am looking forward to having her energy and work ethic in our gym. Playing for one of the top high school programs in Ohio, I know she will be a competitor. She will be a great addition to our program in the backcourt and add depth to our team.
Highlights: Habeeb helped guide Gilmour Academy to a pair of state titles as the Lancers won the Division II championship in 2021 and the Division III championship in 2024. The team also finished second at the state tournament during her other two seasons in high school. Habeeb was named Gilmour Academy's MVP and was the program's Defensive Player of the Year twice. She was an All-Ohio Honorable Mention selection as a junior, and she earned first-team and second-team honors from the News Herald. Additionally, she was named to the 2025 JVA Players to Watch List, she was ranked as the third libero in Ohio by Prep Dig in the 2025 class.
Position: Right Side / Middle Hitter
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Marist High School
Coach Jarrett on Stratton: Ava has a great personality on and off the court and wants to be the best she can be. I am looking forward to her versatility and her background coming from a winning high school program. She will add depth to our team on the right side and in the middle.
Highlights: Stratton was part of Marist's 4a state championship team her senior year as the RedHawks won the third state title in school history and their first since 2019. Marist also won its first sectional since 2019. Stratton recorded 264 kills and 15 blocks her senior year as Marist finished 33-9 and won its final 15 contests.
