University of Georgia Athletics
Volleyball Adds Trio for 2023 Campaign
November 22, 2022 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia head women's volleyball coach Tom Black has announced the addition of three student-athletes to the 2023 roster.
The class includes opposite Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach, Florida), libero/defensive specialist Makena Lim (Ladera Ranch, California), and setter Kaiya Tyson (Burlington, Ontario, Canada).
"We're beyond excited for this class of 2023's to arrive in Athens," Black said. "They are exceptional student-athletes both on and off the court, and they will help to build on the foundation being laid by our current team."
Ally Cavanaugh | OPP | 6-3 | Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Ally Cavanaugh comes to Georgia from Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida. In four years playing for the Crusaders, Cavanaugh has earned first team nods from First Coast and News 4Jax all four seasons. She's a three-time offensive MVP and was named the 4A Player of the Year following her sophomore campaign. Her senior season included breaking her school's kills record of 1,240. In 2020, she guided Bishop Kenny to a state championship. In the classroom, she's landed a spot on the honor roll every quarter of every year and is a four-time scholar athlete award recipient.
She has played club for OTVA 18J John for five years, helping lift the program to a number two national ranking and multiple tournament medals.
Ally is the daughter of Eileen and Jim Cavanaugh. Her father Jim played basketball at Jacksonville University. She has an older sister, Abby.
Black on Cavanaugh: "Ally is a high and efficient attacker from both pins. She takes up a ton of space as a blocker. More importantly, she works and works and works to get out all her potential. Ally will be a highly productive player for our program, and we can't wait to get her in the gym."
Makena Lim | L/DS | 5-4 | Ladera Ranch, California
Makena Lim signs to Georgia from St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California. She started on varsity all four years for the Tartan. In 2022, Lim received recognition as an Under Armour ranked national player and earned spots on the Prepdig PVL Standout Liberos list and JVA West Coast Top Liberos list. She was also an Under Armour All-American attendee in both 2021 and 2022. She earned second team San Juan league in 2019. She received invitations to the 2018 USA National Select High Performance Training Program and 2019 USA National A2 High Performance Training Program. She competed in track and field her first two years of high school. Off the court, she's a member of peer counseling and a Board Member of R-twelve nonprofit volunteer organization. Lim is also a four-year Head of School honors student.
She's played for A4 Volleyball for eight years as a starting libero, guiding her teams to Gold JVA West Coast Cup Club Division 12U, Silver SCVA Las Vegas Classic 14U, Silver SCVA Las Vegas Classic 17U, and 16U and 17U top 10 finish in Southern California.
Makena is the daughter of Liza and Michael Lim. She has two sisters, Alexa and Kaya.
Black on Lim: "Makena has been very well trained by her coaches and has a lethal serve. Her ball control and setting are going to be huge additions to our program. She treats her academics just as seriously as her athletics and we can't wait to get her on campus."
Kaiya Tyson | Setter | 5-10 | Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Kaiya Tyson signs to UGA from Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario. Tyson brings international experience to Athens as she competed for Team Canada in the U18 Volleyball World Championship and U19 Pan American Cup. She also competed on the beach, earning Gold at the 14U Beach Volleyball Nationals and silver at the 18U Beach Volleyball Nationals. She was voted Most Promising Female Athlete at Corpus Christi and will graduate with honors in June.
She plays club for Defensa Volleyball Club.
Kaiya is the daughter of Felicity and Alec Tyson. Her mother played volleyball including a stint on the Canadian Women's National Team. Her father played football at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She has an older brother, Coltrane, who plays lacrosse at UMass. She intends to major in Business, specifically real estate, at Georgia.
Black on Tyson: "Kaiya is an elite setter and volleyball player who will have a ton of international experience with the Canadian junior national teams under her belt before she arrives. She is an awesome competitor and even better person. Kaiya is determined to do big things at UGA, and we're excited to help her get there."
The class includes opposite Ally Cavanaugh (Jacksonville Beach, Florida), libero/defensive specialist Makena Lim (Ladera Ranch, California), and setter Kaiya Tyson (Burlington, Ontario, Canada).
"We're beyond excited for this class of 2023's to arrive in Athens," Black said. "They are exceptional student-athletes both on and off the court, and they will help to build on the foundation being laid by our current team."
Ally Cavanaugh | OPP | 6-3 | Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Ally Cavanaugh comes to Georgia from Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida. In four years playing for the Crusaders, Cavanaugh has earned first team nods from First Coast and News 4Jax all four seasons. She's a three-time offensive MVP and was named the 4A Player of the Year following her sophomore campaign. Her senior season included breaking her school's kills record of 1,240. In 2020, she guided Bishop Kenny to a state championship. In the classroom, she's landed a spot on the honor roll every quarter of every year and is a four-time scholar athlete award recipient.
She has played club for OTVA 18J John for five years, helping lift the program to a number two national ranking and multiple tournament medals.
Ally is the daughter of Eileen and Jim Cavanaugh. Her father Jim played basketball at Jacksonville University. She has an older sister, Abby.
Black on Cavanaugh: "Ally is a high and efficient attacker from both pins. She takes up a ton of space as a blocker. More importantly, she works and works and works to get out all her potential. Ally will be a highly productive player for our program, and we can't wait to get her in the gym."
Makena Lim | L/DS | 5-4 | Ladera Ranch, California
Makena Lim signs to Georgia from St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California. She started on varsity all four years for the Tartan. In 2022, Lim received recognition as an Under Armour ranked national player and earned spots on the Prepdig PVL Standout Liberos list and JVA West Coast Top Liberos list. She was also an Under Armour All-American attendee in both 2021 and 2022. She earned second team San Juan league in 2019. She received invitations to the 2018 USA National Select High Performance Training Program and 2019 USA National A2 High Performance Training Program. She competed in track and field her first two years of high school. Off the court, she's a member of peer counseling and a Board Member of R-twelve nonprofit volunteer organization. Lim is also a four-year Head of School honors student.
She's played for A4 Volleyball for eight years as a starting libero, guiding her teams to Gold JVA West Coast Cup Club Division 12U, Silver SCVA Las Vegas Classic 14U, Silver SCVA Las Vegas Classic 17U, and 16U and 17U top 10 finish in Southern California.
Makena is the daughter of Liza and Michael Lim. She has two sisters, Alexa and Kaya.
Black on Lim: "Makena has been very well trained by her coaches and has a lethal serve. Her ball control and setting are going to be huge additions to our program. She treats her academics just as seriously as her athletics and we can't wait to get her on campus."
Kaiya Tyson | Setter | 5-10 | Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Kaiya Tyson signs to UGA from Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario. Tyson brings international experience to Athens as she competed for Team Canada in the U18 Volleyball World Championship and U19 Pan American Cup. She also competed on the beach, earning Gold at the 14U Beach Volleyball Nationals and silver at the 18U Beach Volleyball Nationals. She was voted Most Promising Female Athlete at Corpus Christi and will graduate with honors in June.
She plays club for Defensa Volleyball Club.
Kaiya is the daughter of Felicity and Alec Tyson. Her mother played volleyball including a stint on the Canadian Women's National Team. Her father played football at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She has an older brother, Coltrane, who plays lacrosse at UMass. She intends to major in Business, specifically real estate, at Georgia.
Black on Tyson: "Kaiya is an elite setter and volleyball player who will have a ton of international experience with the Canadian junior national teams under her belt before she arrives. She is an awesome competitor and even better person. Kaiya is determined to do big things at UGA, and we're excited to help her get there."
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