EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE volleyball Head Coach Kendall Paulus has strengthened her roster for the 2026 season with the addition of three transfers.

Aubree Hummel (Lutz, Florida), Karli Mann (Herrin, Illinois) and Jehireh Willams (East St. Louis, Illinois) have all transferred to play for the Cougars in the fall.

"All three of our new additions bring in two valuable years of playing experience at the collegiate level," Paulus said. "They will immediately add depth to our position groups and increase the competition in our gym.

Hummel is a 5-foot, 6-inch libero who comes to SIUE from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. She appeared in 53 matches and 173 sets over two seasons for the Hawks where she racked up 487 digs. As a sophomore in 2025, she averaged 3.57 digs per set.

"Aubree has an impressive volleyball background," Paulus said. "She has a really strong volleyball IQ and brings in all aspects of a back row player that we look for. Her demeanor is steady, her movements are efficient and her communication is strong."

Mann is a 5-9 right side hitter who is transferring from John A. Logan College where she appeared in 33 matches and 114 sets in 2025. She averaged 2.74 kills per set, including 3.00 kills per set in conference play. Mann began her career at Eastern Illinois where she appeared in 23 matches and 54 sets as a true freshman. She finished the year with 69 kills including a season-high 15 kills against Bradley.

"We originally recruited Karli out of high school, so we have known her for a few years now," Paulus said. "She has a team-first mindset and brings a lot of athleticism to the pin. She's dynamic and explosive. She can attack a variety of sets as she has also played middle in her career." 

Williams is a 6-1 middle blocker who played two seasons at Harris Stowe. Williams was the Hornets' Female Athlete of the Year, an AVCA Midwest All-American and an American Midwest Conference First Team selection. Willimas played in 47 matches and 104 sets in 2025, finishing with 137 total blocks for an average of 1.32 blocks per set. She added 148 kills.

"Jehireh is a fun addition because she has only been playing volleyball for a short time," Paulus said. "She's fast, jumps high and is eager to learn and grow. Blocking is her bread and butter. With her growth mindset and natural talent we are excited to see her develop all areas of her game.

"All three are strong volleyball players, but they are even better people," Paulus continued. "They are all eager to learn and grow as people and players and that fits in perfectly with our current roster."

Hummel, Mann and Williams join early signees Mackenzie Higgins (Mason, Ohio), Charlotte Dudik (Indianapolis, Indiana), Georgia Bresnahan (Westfield, Indiana) and Ashlyn Schulze (Osceola, Wisconsin) announced in November.