PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots volleyball team has signed three recruits who will join the Pilots next fall, announced head coach Brent Crouch. Jade Blevins, Kylie Ristvedt, and Megan Sester will make up the class of 2018 for the Portland volleyball program.
 
Jade Blevins is a 5'10 setter from Laguna Beach, Calif who has a decorated resume including All CIF honors in 2016 and UnderArmour All-American Honorable Mention in 2017 while playing at Sage Hill High school. As a setter, she earned Academy League Second Team honors in 2014, first team honors in 2015 and 2016, and was named the league MVP in the 2017 season. She helped Sage Hill claim the league title four years in a row (204-27) and the team was CIF Champions in 2014, quarter finalists in 2015, and semifinalist 2016 and 2017. As a freshman, she was named PrepVolleyball Frosh 59' Special Mention, and was named to PrepVolleyball's Sophomore No.79 list the following year.
 
Blevins has played for Prime Volleyball Club since 2013 and the USA HP A2 team, which qualified for the Junior Olympics in 2015. While on the USA team, she was awarded the True Sport Award for Character and Sportsmanship. 
 
"We've known Jade for quite some time, as she reached out to us her freshman year in high school and visited shortly thereafter," said head coach Brent Crouch. "We knew even then that Jade is a special setter and person. She has continued her impressive track through high school, both on and off the court and in the classroom. Here at Portland, we expect her to grow into an All-WCC setter before she graduates.   Along with Megan and Kylie and our returning players next year, we will have the ability to run either a 5-1 or a 6-2, and Jade will be competing for playing time right away. She also has a fantastic serve, a weapon especially important in our conference." 
 
Kylie Ristvedt, a 6-1 middle blocker and outside hitter, is a Portland native from Cleveland High School, also with USA A2 Team Camp experience. Earning her fourth letter this year, she was the PIL player of the year in 2016 and 2017, and she earned first team All-Conference PIL honors in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Ristvedt helped the warriors make conference playoffs four years in a row and the team was named the PIL league champions in 2014. Competing at the Emerald City Classic in 2014, she landed on the All-Tournament team as a freshman. Awarded All-State Second Team honors in 2016, she was named Best Offensive player in 2015 and 2016, Koin 6's Player of the week in October of 2016, and MVP in 2016 for Cleveland High. 
 
The future Pilot has played for four different clubs including Adrenaline Club (2012-13), OJVA (2014), North Pacific Juniors (2015-16), and NW Adidas (2017). While on North Pacific Juniors, she helped the team place second at regionals and compete at Nationals after placing third at the Colorado Crossroads in 2016. In 2017, she helped the team place seventh at regionals.
 
"Kylie brings a big arm and the potential to be a force along the net defensively," said Crouch. "The WCC is a league that demands exceptional attacking and blocking, and Kyle fits the bill.  She can play (and has played) every attacking position along the net. Early in her career here she'll likely be competing as a right side or middle, and like Jade, will likely be seeing court time as a freshman. Kylie excels in the classroom, and has the type of character, work ethic, and desire to learn that we prize here in Portland."
 
Megan Sester is a 6-1 outside hitter from Gresham, Ore. As a four-year letter-winner at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, she was named to the Mount Hood Second Team All-Conference in 2016 and nabbed First Team All-Conference honors in 2017. The Bruin also helped her team place seventh in state in 2016.
 
Sester is also an accomplished beach volleyball player in the Oregon beach volleyball circuit & was previously a high-level track athlete. This season, Sester and her partner placed 7^th in AA at the prestigious Seaside Beach Volleyball tournament, and additionally took 3^rd at the Aloha Club Tournament. She also placed 1st at local tournaments in the 2017 beach season. Before taking up volleyball full-time, Sester was a force on the track, setting a national record in the discus when she was just a middle-schooler.  
 
"Megan is a special athlete, period," said Crouch. "Exceptionally quick, fast, powerful and a big-time jumper - she is going to be a force in the WCC and in our gym. Megan will likely be training as an outside hitter and we see her developing into a 6 rotation OH as she progresses through our program. The outside hitter position next year will likely be the deepest on the team, and yet Megan will no doubt be in the mix for playing time. Also, an accomplished beach volleyball player, she will likely be competing as a higher seed and making a difference on the sand as a freshman. We love how competitive Megan is, and we think she is going to thrive here."
 
"This is a great 2018 class," continued Crouch. "Together with our large and accomplished 2017 class (7 players), Portland volleyball is in a fantastic position to compete with the best teams in the WCC for the next several years. We are looking forward to this team maturing and gaining experience, and the positive results will follow."