SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team will add junior outside hitter Jada Gardner to the 2022 roster, joining defensive specialist Jacqueline Lee and setter Logan Leroux, who are also signees for the 2021 class.
 
Jada Gardner – OH/RS – 6-1 – Cibolo, Texas (Maryland)
Gardner has spent the last three years playing for Maryland, including a 2020 season where she turned in 1.76 kills per set, 0.82 blocks per set, and eight total aces over 20 matches. During her time with the Terps, Gardner was named the 2019 Wake Forest/UNCG Tournament MVP after posting 3.45 kills per set (.326), 18 digs, and seven blocks. She was also listed on the 2019 Big Ten Foreign Tour-Japan Roster and a 2018-19 Academic All-Big Ten honoree. In 2018, Gardner played the first 12 matches before suffering a season-ending injury but bounced back in 2019 by playing in all 32 matches with 27 starts as a right side hitter. In her comeback season, she was fifth on the team with 166 kills and third on the team with 87 blocks.
 
Gardner is returning home with two years of eligibility remaining. The Cibolo, Texas native graduated high school at Byron P. Steele II where she set the school record with 42 kills in a match and was a three-time First Team All-District selection. Gardner was PrepVolleyball's No. 68 player in the class of 2017 and led her club team (Alamo Volleyball Association) to a pair of third-place finishes at the 2015 AAU 16 Premier and 2016 GJNC 17 National Tournament.
 
"I have known Jada and her family for many years and could not be more excited to welcome her home as a Bobcat," said head coach Sean Huiet. "She is a very physically gifted athlete whose ceiling is still high and we are excited to get to work and help her reach it.  Jada is going to add a lot of depth to our pin position and her experience playing in the Big Ten is going to help elevate the level of our entire program. I am anxious to get her in the gym with our current team and excited for the future of Bobcat Volleyball." 
 
 
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