Head coach Geno Frugoli is entering his second season in charge for Lady Lions Volleyball, and he has added six new players to his roster.
The most recent addition to the Lady Lion program came in late May as former McNeese State setter Becky Bekelja announced that she will be transferring to Southeastern.  
“We found out from one of our own players, Cherish Krohn, that Becky had been released by McNeese State,” stated Frugoli in a lionsports.net press release. “Cherish and Becky went to high school together, and when she was released, she checked into where her friend was playing.”
Bekelja, a native of League City, Texas, finished tied for fourth in assists per set (10.13) in the Southland Conference last season after finishing second (10.08) as a sophomore.
“She was the team leader, and against us, she dismantled our defense,” said Frugoli. “I’m very excited that she has the experience to see the floor and knows the competition.”
Bekelja was the third of three players added in the month of May. On May 4, the Lady Lion program added a pair of back row players. Morgan Todd and Katie Garrity were the two. Todd, out of Fontainebleau High School in Mandeville, La., was named to the Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association All-State team, and helped lead Fontainebleau to a state title as a junior.
“Morgan has a constant motor,” stated Frugoli.” “I think she is among the best back row players in the state of Louisiana.”
However, Garrity is a native of League City, Texas where she played at Prince of Peace High School. As a junior, Garrity helped her team to an undefeated record and state title.
“Katie is an incredible athlete with a true instinct for the game and a high volleyball IQ,” said Frugoli.
Lady Lions struck local talent in St. Thomas Aquinas signee Brooke Balser. The Hammond Native was an all around athlete at STA where she also played softball and soccer.
“She’s a winner,” Frugoli said. “She makes everyone around her better. We can’t have enough of those kinds of players.”
All of these players come after Frugoli added three signees in November after the season. The three players included setter Mikayla Shippy and middle blockers Shelby Devlin and Veronica Turk. Shippy, a setter from Pueblo, Colo., recorded 31 kills, 141 digs and 771 assist over 22 matches as a senior at Pueblo West High School. Devlin was ranked the number seven ranked player in the state of Nevada by maxpreps.com, and averaged 2.5 kills per set, and recorded 63 total blocks and 28 service aces, as a senior at Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School. Lastly, the Texas native Turk recorded 27 total blocks her senior season at Pearland High School and MaxPreps.com ranks her as the 66th-best player in the state of Texas.
The Lady Lions open the season on August 24 in Montgomery, Ala. in the Alabama State Tournament.