Cal Signs Three For 2022 Season
BERKELEY – Three future Golden Bears have signed their national letter of intent and are set to join the California volleyball program for the 2022 season.
This is Cal head coach Sam Crosson's third recruiting class since taking over the program in December of 2018, adding depth, length and athleticism across the board. Two of the three student-athletes hail from California, along with one from Oregon.
Peyton DeJardin (Pasadena, California/Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy), Mikayla Hayden (Buford, Georgia/Buford High School) and Sophie Scott (Portland, Oregon/The Catlin Gabel School) make up the 2022 signing class.
"We are proud and excited that these three young women will be joining our program in the class of 2022 and look forward to adding more in the next few months," Crosson said. "While they are each unique in their skill sets and positions, they all share similar values that are in line with our program and what we want to achieve moving forward. Each of them are outstanding citizens, have a tremendous amount of personal character and will represent and help lead our program into the future. This class will increase the depth and competitiveness in our gym and we are excited and looking forward to their arrival in Berkeley."
Peyton DeJardin
Pasadena, California | Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6'1"
Club: San Gabriel Elite
AVCA 2021 High School Third Team All-American … Three-time AVCA All-Academic Team honoree … 2021 AVCA Best and Brightest Award … Named LA Daily News Girls Athlete of the Week on Sept. 21, 2021 after totaling 54 kills and 39 digs at the Crescenta Valley Falcon Classic …. Earned San Gabriel Valley Tribune Athlete of the Week honors on August 24, 2021 after totaling 29 kills and 11 digs in two matches … Named First Team All-State as a sophomore in 2019 … Recorded school record 580 kills … Daily News Girls Volleyball All-Area First Team … Pasadena Star News Girls Volleyball All-Area Team … AVCA/MaxPreps California Player of the Week … Named Daily News Volleyball Co-Freshman of the Year in 2018 … Mission League First Team … PrepVolleyball All-American Honorable Mention … PrepVolleyball Frosh 59 … San Gabriel Valley All-Area Second Team.
Daughter of Whitney and Brad DeJardin … Plans to major in media studies at Cal … Father, Brad, is a Cal alumnus … Sister, Ellis, plays volleyball at Yale … Twin brother, Buckley, is committed to play basketball at Carnegie Mellon University.
Crosson on DeJardin …
"Peyton is a highly skilled, 6 rotation outside hitter. Her vision and volleyball IQ along with her skill set allow her to be an effective passer and attacker. She has a tremendous work ethic, is highly competitive, and her style of play will fit in great with our desire to run a very fast offense. She is a tremendous teammate and we have high expectations for the mark that Peyton will leave on the Cal program moving forward."
Mikayla Hayden
Buford, Georgia | Buford High School
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6' 1"
Club: A5 Volleyball
2021 Gwinnett County Super Six Selection … Recorded more than 1,000 kills in high school career … 2020 6A GHSA State Champion … All-County Team selection … Gwinnett County Player of the Year … Regional Player of the Year … All-Region Selection … All-State Selection … 2019 All-State Honorable Mention … All-Region honoree … Regional Player of the Year … PrepVolleyball Soph 79 … PrepVolleyball Top 150 … 2018 All-State selection … All-Region team … PrepVolleyball Frosh 59 Highest Honorable Mention.
Daughter of Corin and Russell Hayden … Plans to major in molecular biology at Cal … Spent seven years as an ice skater prior to playing volleyball.
Crosson on Hayden …
"Mikayla is a high-level athlete who has experienced tremendous success at both the club and high school levels. She has an exceptionally quick first step, is explosive in her movements and vertical jump, and is quick laterally along the net as a blocker. She is able to attack at a high level both in front and behind the setter and is also very good with her transition offense footwork, a key component to being a high-caliber, point scoring middle blocker."
Sophie Scott
Portland, Oregon | The Catlin Gabel School
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6' 3"
Club: OJVA
2021 Postseason State All-Star Team … 2021 17U Dream Team Preseason … 2021 Oregonian Players to Watch … PrepDig 2020 Top Middle Blockers … 2020 AVCA Phenom Watch List … PrepVolleyball Soph 79 selection … Led team to 2020 League title as a six-rotation starter and team captain … 2019 First Team All-League selection … Second Team All-State honoree … Team MVP … Helped team to first-ever league title … Led team with 144 kills and 87 blocks as a freshman in 2018 … Received Second Team All-League honors as a freshman.
Daughter of Elissa and Paul Scott … Plans to major in psychology at Cal … Also plays beach volleyball and has competed in doubles and quads … Enjoyed playing basketball, soccer, tennis and golf as a youth … Is an avid swimmer who loves stand up paddle boarding and body surfing … Father, Paul, played basketball at the University of Washington before transferring to Willamette University … Has two older brothers, Jeremey (26) and Bailey (24), who played football, basketball and lacrosse in high school … Jeremey played lacrosse at Nevada.
Crosson on Scott …
"Sophie comes to Cal after an outstanding high school and club career. She has the height, lateral quickness, speed and arm strength to be a great middle blocker for our program moving forward. She can attack at a high level both in front and behind the setter which will help us run a more dynamic offense and her volleyball IQ and vision help her be in positions to score points both offensively and defensively at the net."
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