University of Georgia Athletics
Left to right: Phoebe Awoleye, Mallory Downing, Mackenzie Norris, and Regan Tinkle
Volleyball Adds Four to 2020 Roster
November 25, 2019 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – Head women's volleyball coach Tom Black has announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2020 roster.
The class includes 6-2 middle hitter Phoebe Awoleye, 5-7 libero Mallory Downing, 6-2 middle hitter Mackenzie Norris, and 6-1 opposite Regan Tinkle.
"We are incredibly excited about this class," Black remarked on the class. "They are a well-coached, competitive group of young women who want to see how good they can be and what kind of impact they can have on Georgia volleyball. We expect great things from them, and we know they're willing to do what it takes."
Phoebe Awoleye | Middle Hitter | 6-2 | Marietta, Ga. | Walton HS
Georgia native Phoebe Awoleye comes to UGA from Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. The Second Team Under Armour and Prep Volleyball All-American guided Walton to a 152-18 record over four seasons. Walton has won four-straight state championships and a 2017 Prep Volleyball National Championship.
She played club for A5 Volleyball.
Awoleye will graduate in December and plans to early enroll at UGA. She intends to major in Management and Information Systems at Georgia.
Phoebe is the daughter of Tobi and Ade Awoleye. She has an older sister Naomi and two younger brothers Jonathan and David.
Black on Awoleye: "Phoebe is a big-time talent and high character person we cannot wait to get into our program. She brings a physicality and desire to grow and build her game that will take her to exciting heights here at Georgia."
Mallory Downing | Libero | 5-7 | Winter Park, Fla. | Winter Park HS
Mallory Downing commits to Georgia from Winter Park High School in Florida. In her rookie campaign, she earned first team all-metro conference honors while breaking the digs record at Winter Park. She followed it up as a sophomore by breaking her own season digs record while breaking the digs per set, digs in a match, and career digs records en route to first team all-conference records once again.
Off the court, she was an active member of student government and National Honor Society.
She did not play her final two prep seasons to focus on her club, Top Select Volleyball, where she competed in two Junior National Championships where she won a silver medal at USAV Nationals and AAU Nationals.
Mallory is the daughter of Lynda and Grant Downing. She has three older brothers: Brad Downing, Kyle McClanahan, and Bryce McClanahan. Her brother Kyle played basketball at Florida from 2008-12.
Black on Downing: "Mallory is a high-level libero who brings a skill level and competitive will we can't wait to add to our program."
Mackenzie Norris | Middle Hitter | 6-2 | Woodstock, Ga. | Woodstock HS
Georgia native Mackenzie Norris comes to UGA from Woodstock High School. Off the court, she is a member of student government, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and has received academic letters and the Lamp of Knowledge. In two seasons of prep, she recorded 219 total blocks, 52 aces, and 220 kills with a .325 hitting clip.
She played club for A5 Volleyball.
Mackenzie is the daughter of Susan and Lamar Norris. She has a younger brother, Ryan. Her cousin, Maddison Norris plays volleyball at North Florida. She intends to major in Finance at UGA.
Black on Norris: "Mackenzie goes for it each and every play. She can score in front and behind and we've been impressed from the start at what kind of teammate she is."
Regan Tinkle | Opposite | 6-1 | Hagerstown, Ind. | Hagerstown HS
Opposite hitter Regan Tinkle commits to Georgia from Hagerstown High School in Indiana. Tinkle has played four seasons for Hagerstown both as a middle and an outside hitter. She's a four-time all-conference honoree while picking up Monroe Central Invite MVP as a freshman. As a junior and senior, she was named the TEC Player of the Year while earning all-district, all-state, and team MVP honors. She helped guide her team to four-straight sectional championships and a regional championship in 2016. Tinkle was invited to the 2018 and 2019 Indiana North/South All-State Game. Off the court, she is a member of the A&B honor roll.
She played club for Munciana Volleyball. She helped guide Munciana to an AAU national championship game in 2017.
Regan is the daughter of Kristi Gunatilake and Brent Tinkle. Her father Brent played baseball at Purdue. She is the oldest of three other siblings: Olivia, Nila, and Rajin. She intends to major in Human Development and Family Science at Georgia.
Black on Tinkle: "Regan is a strong, physical player who can hit with power from multiple positions. She's not afraid to work and it's brought her game to a good level that will only continue to rise."
The class includes 6-2 middle hitter Phoebe Awoleye, 5-7 libero Mallory Downing, 6-2 middle hitter Mackenzie Norris, and 6-1 opposite Regan Tinkle.
"We are incredibly excited about this class," Black remarked on the class. "They are a well-coached, competitive group of young women who want to see how good they can be and what kind of impact they can have on Georgia volleyball. We expect great things from them, and we know they're willing to do what it takes."
Phoebe Awoleye | Middle Hitter | 6-2 | Marietta, Ga. | Walton HS
Georgia native Phoebe Awoleye comes to UGA from Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. The Second Team Under Armour and Prep Volleyball All-American guided Walton to a 152-18 record over four seasons. Walton has won four-straight state championships and a 2017 Prep Volleyball National Championship.
She played club for A5 Volleyball.
Awoleye will graduate in December and plans to early enroll at UGA. She intends to major in Management and Information Systems at Georgia.
Phoebe is the daughter of Tobi and Ade Awoleye. She has an older sister Naomi and two younger brothers Jonathan and David.
Black on Awoleye: "Phoebe is a big-time talent and high character person we cannot wait to get into our program. She brings a physicality and desire to grow and build her game that will take her to exciting heights here at Georgia."
Mallory Downing | Libero | 5-7 | Winter Park, Fla. | Winter Park HS
Mallory Downing commits to Georgia from Winter Park High School in Florida. In her rookie campaign, she earned first team all-metro conference honors while breaking the digs record at Winter Park. She followed it up as a sophomore by breaking her own season digs record while breaking the digs per set, digs in a match, and career digs records en route to first team all-conference records once again.
Off the court, she was an active member of student government and National Honor Society.
She did not play her final two prep seasons to focus on her club, Top Select Volleyball, where she competed in two Junior National Championships where she won a silver medal at USAV Nationals and AAU Nationals.
Mallory is the daughter of Lynda and Grant Downing. She has three older brothers: Brad Downing, Kyle McClanahan, and Bryce McClanahan. Her brother Kyle played basketball at Florida from 2008-12.
Black on Downing: "Mallory is a high-level libero who brings a skill level and competitive will we can't wait to add to our program."
Mackenzie Norris | Middle Hitter | 6-2 | Woodstock, Ga. | Woodstock HS
Georgia native Mackenzie Norris comes to UGA from Woodstock High School. Off the court, she is a member of student government, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and has received academic letters and the Lamp of Knowledge. In two seasons of prep, she recorded 219 total blocks, 52 aces, and 220 kills with a .325 hitting clip.
She played club for A5 Volleyball.
Mackenzie is the daughter of Susan and Lamar Norris. She has a younger brother, Ryan. Her cousin, Maddison Norris plays volleyball at North Florida. She intends to major in Finance at UGA.
Black on Norris: "Mackenzie goes for it each and every play. She can score in front and behind and we've been impressed from the start at what kind of teammate she is."
Regan Tinkle | Opposite | 6-1 | Hagerstown, Ind. | Hagerstown HS
Opposite hitter Regan Tinkle commits to Georgia from Hagerstown High School in Indiana. Tinkle has played four seasons for Hagerstown both as a middle and an outside hitter. She's a four-time all-conference honoree while picking up Monroe Central Invite MVP as a freshman. As a junior and senior, she was named the TEC Player of the Year while earning all-district, all-state, and team MVP honors. She helped guide her team to four-straight sectional championships and a regional championship in 2016. Tinkle was invited to the 2018 and 2019 Indiana North/South All-State Game. Off the court, she is a member of the A&B honor roll.
She played club for Munciana Volleyball. She helped guide Munciana to an AAU national championship game in 2017.
Regan is the daughter of Kristi Gunatilake and Brent Tinkle. Her father Brent played baseball at Purdue. She is the oldest of three other siblings: Olivia, Nila, and Rajin. She intends to major in Human Development and Family Science at Georgia.
Black on Tinkle: "Regan is a strong, physical player who can hit with power from multiple positions. She's not afraid to work and it's brought her game to a good level that will only continue to rise."
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