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Four Set To Join Sand Devils In 2023

by thesundevils.com
Nov 24, 2021

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil Beach Volleyball has four more joining the squad for the 2023 season with Ava Lewison-German, Adriana Nieves, Carys Thomas and Kendall Whitmarsh set to join the Sand Devils.

Ava Lewison-German
San Diego | Patrick Henry High School | 5-9

  • Played club for Wave Volleyball
  • Placed first in the silver bracket at AVP and 4th in silver at the BVCA this past summer 
  • Finished second in the Ocean Beach Juniors 
  • Placed first in the silver bracket at AVP
  • Took 4th in the silver division at BVCA in summer 2021
  • Played indoor volleyball for Patrick Henry High School as an outside hitter
  • Won the Patriots Division at USAV junior nationals in 2019 with her indoor club team
  • For her GPA in her class, she is ranked 25 out of 611
  • Four-year honor roll recipient 
  • Plans to be in Barrett, The Honors College at ASU 
  • Will major in biology/conservation ecology to pursue a career in applied conservation science research
  • Her parents are Robert German and Rebecca Lewison 

Adriana Nieves Papaleo
Caguas, Puerto Rico | Colegio Cato´lico Notre Dame | 5-7

  • Played club volleyball for Borinquen Coqui´ (indoor) and PUR Beach Volley School (beach).
  • Member of the Fab 50 program 2022.
  • 3rd Place (16U Gold Bracket P1440) in the Junior National Championships in Tavares, FL in July 2021.
  • 2nd Place (18U Gold Bracket) in the West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games in Huntington, CA in July 2021.
  • 2nd (18U Gold Bracket) in the Beach Prospects National Showcase sponsored by AVP America in Tavares, Florida on June 12-13, 2021.
  • 2nd Place (18U Gold Bracket) 2021 BVNE Showcase (Pompano Beach, Florida).
  • 3rd Place (18U Gold Bracket) 2021 World Mega Showcase (Vero Beach, Florida).
  • 1st Place (18U Gold Bracket) AAU VB Rags Challenge Junior Beach Volleyball (Randolph, New Jersey) November 21, 2021. 
  • In the top 10 academically in her class and has won several writing contests.
  • She plans to study business at ASU.
  • Her parents are Carlos and Vanessa and she has two siblings, Carlos and Daniela.
  • Her dad played beach volleyball and won a gold and bronze medal at world championships in his career. Her mom played professional indoor volleyball after playing for Ball State for two seasons and University of Puerto Rico for her last two seasons. 
  • Has an uncle who played indoor volleyball at Indiana Purdue University at Fort Wayne and was an All-American. He played beach as well and was rookie of the year in the AVP. He represented Puerto Rico in beach volleyball at the 2004 Olympics.


Carys Thomas 
Southlake, Texas | Carroll High School | 5-11

  • A member of the MadSand Volleyball Club.
  • AAU Open Nationals Championships 5th place (2020)
  • P1440 Texas cup bronze medalist (2019)
  • AAU Junior Olympics silver medalist (2018)
  • AAU Open Nationals Championships silver medalist (2017)
  • BVCA National Championships bronze medalist (2016)
  • Took first place in the College Beach Recruiting Showcase in January of 2020.
  • In indoor volleyball, has played as an outside hitter and libero.  
  • Played indoor club volleyball for 7 years and qualified for GJNC all years played.
  • Has completed 100+ hours of community service.
  • Two time GJNC open player.
  • Earned a spot on the all-academic district team.
  • Parents are Mason and Amy Thomas.
  • Twin sister Mabyn is committed to USC for beach volleyball. She also has an older brother Dylan.

Kendall Whitmarsh
San Diego | Torrey Pines High School | 

  • Plays club for Wave Beach Volleyball
  • Won first place at the 2021 AAU Hermosa tournament, earning a bid to the Jr Olympics and best of the beach tournament. 
  • First place at 2021 CBVA Wave Del Mar. 
  • Won first place at 2021 CBVA OB, winning a bid to the AVP America and Junior nationals tournaments.
  • Was an outside hitter for Torrey Pines' indoor team.
  • Her mom is Cindy Whitmarsh-Sweeney and her late father is Mike Whitmarsh. Her step father is Mark Sweeney. 
  • Her older sister Jaden currently plays beach volleyball for UCLA.
  • Her late father Mike played professional beach volleyball for 15 years, accumulating 28 wins on the AVP tour and was inducted into the CBVA Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame. He won the silver medal in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. He also played basketball at the University of San Diego before he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984. 
  • Mark played 14 years in the MLB.

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