RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball team added three members – Sami Deidesheimer, Arilyn Lee and Audrey Kilgore – on Wednesday, head coach Jeff Patton announced.
 
"Sami is a fun player to watch in the sand. Her quickness and her ability to read the game makes her able to cover the entire court," Patton said. "Sami also has very high ball control she possesses both offensively and defensively which helps be an all-around player."
 
Deidesheimer comes from West Chester, Ohio. In 202 she helped lead her team to a 25-1 record and a GCL championship. Deidesheimer posted 32 aces, 14 blocks, 238 digs and 96 kills during the 2012 campaign. She was named all-league honorable mention. In 2020 she led her team to a 15-8 record on the season and a GCL Championship with 33 aces and 183 digs.
 
"Arilyn is another player that is fun to watch, because of her athleticism and power. Having her ability to own the net is going be a great asset for us," Patton said. "She is also a player who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team."
 
Lee is a blocker/split blocker from Chickamauga, Georgia. During the 2021 season she helped her team to a 40-9 record overall. Lee posted a Coosa Invitational Championship and a region championship. She finished as the 1A/2A public state runner-up. She was named first-team all-region. Lee posted a 37-12 record in 2020 with a region championship and a 1A/2A public state runner-up. Lee had offers from Georgia State, UAB, and
 
"Audrey rounds out this fun class to watch. She is long and very rangy when it comes to her defense and her offense," Patton said. "Her ability to hit spots on the court and get balls that you think are out of her reach, creates exciting plays."
 
Kilgore is a split blocker from Frederick, Maryland. In 2021, Kilgore was named All-Tournament Team at the Linganore Invitational Tournament. She was named team MVP, team-captain and floor captain, and all-country team honorable mention. Kilgore posted 154 kills, 109 digs and 30 aces during the 2021 season. She ranks first in her graduation class.
 
"It might sound cliché but this 2022 class has me really excited for the future of our program. All three are coming with high IQ for the game of beach volleyball," Patton stated. "Along with their IQ and playing abilities, these three are also good people and are willing to put in the work to take EKU beach volleyball to the next level.