Alstrup Announces New Volleyball Additions
1/24/2025 8:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE – ACU head volleyball coach Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup announced four additions to the 2025 roster Friday, including three transfers with NCAA Division I experience.
Transferring to ACU and joining the team this spring are redshirt freshman libero Brennan Ramirez from the University of Texas, sophomore middle blocker Erika Gustafson from Montana State, junior outside hitter Aubrey Beaver from Cal State-Fullerton, and freshman outside hitter Aliyah Jowers from Abilene Wylie High School.
"All four girls have fit right in with the team culture and have been such great additions both on and off the court," Alstrup said. "I'm excited to see them perform when the season starts in August.
Here's a glance at each of the newest Wildcats:
Brennan Ramirez, libero, 5-1, fr-RS, Waxahachie (Waxahachie HS / University of Texas) – Ramirez spent the 2024 season as a redshirt for the Longhorns, the 2023 NCAA Division I national champions, who were upset in the regional round by Creighton in 2024. Ramirez was a four-year letterwinner in high school and was named the District 11-6A Libero of the Year senior in 2023. She was a first-team all-district selection as a senior and second-team selection as a junior. Ramirez recorded more than 1,000 career digs and set a school record for serves received (1,100). She also competed in track and field at Waxahachie.
Coach Alstrup on Ramirez: "From my first conversation with Brennan, I knew she would be a great Wildcat. Not only is Brennan coming to us from one of the top volleyball programs in the nation, but she comes to us with an amazing work ethic and drive. Brennan wants to be the best and bring the best out of her teammates. We know she'll make an immediate impact on the court."
Erika Gustafson, MB, 6-2, soph, Denton (Denton Guyer HS / Montana State) – Gustafson was a redshirt in 2023 but played in 20 matches (56 sets) for the Bobcats in 2024. She finished the season with 58 kills and three service aces, and Montana State finished 9-19 overall and 7-9 in the Big Sky Conference. Gustafson played just one year of competitive volleyball after competing as a gymnast since the age of three. As a senior, Gustafson was the District 5-6A Blocker of the Year, helping her team reach the Region II-6A semifinals. She posted 87 kills, hit .312, and added 62 blocks. She earned Academic All-District 5-6A team honors as a senior.
Coach Alstrup on Gustafson: "Erika is unique in that she started volleyball late because she was a gymnast. She reminds me a lot of ACU Sports Hall of Famer Shawna (Hines) Nehl. Shawna was also late to volleyball, red-shirted her freshman year at ACU, and the rest is history. Erika has a ton of potential, a high ceiling on the court, and has already established herself as one of the funniest girls on the team. I'm excited to see what she can accomplish as a Wildcat."
Aubrey Beaver, OH, 6-0, jr, Murrieta, Calif. (Temecula Valley HS / Cal State-Fullerton) – Beaver played in 47 sets at Fullerton as a freshman and sophomore, recording 283 kills, 15 assists, 234 digs, 38 total blocks, and 41 service aces in those two seasons. As a freshman in 2023, she had 226 kills, 29 service aces, 147 digs, and 26 total blocks. Beaver posted a career-high 16 kills in an Oct. 27, 2023, match against Cal Poly and a career-high 13 digs against Cal-Davis on Sept. 22, 2023. She played varsity volleyball at Temecula Valley HS for four years and was voted team captain her senior year. Her sister, Ashlyn, plays volleyball at WAC rival Cal Baptist.
Coach Alstrup on Beaver: "Aubrey has significant Division I playing time and brings more on-court experience to our young group. Her previous head coach had only great things to say about Aubrey's work ethic, determination, and willingness to step up and serve the team however she could. She has a heavy arm on both the outside and the right side, and I'm excited about bringing Aubrey's scoring prowess to the team."
Aliyah Jowers, OH/RSH, 6-0, fr, Abilene, Texas (Abilene Wylie HS) – Jowers joined the team this spring as a true freshman after graduating in December. She was a four-year varsity player at Wylie, where she helped the Lady Bulldogs to four straight playoff appearances and the District 4-5A championship last fall. After winning the district title, the Lady Bulldogs finished 25-19 and advanced to the Region I-5A semifinals. Jowers was the district co-MVP after earning district Offensive Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2023. She was chosen honorable mention all-district after her sophomore season in 2022.
Coach Alstrup on Jowers: "We are so excited to have a player who grew up in the community join the team and continue her growth as a volleyball player at home. Aliyah was an unstoppable 6-rotation outside for Wylie, earning plenty of postseason accolades in her senior campaign. Her serve will have an immediate impact when we start the season and in practice as we train our passing line."
