CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston volleyball head coach Jason Kepner has announced the addition of Elli Kinney and Deanna Dollar to the Cougar roster for the fall of 2023. Kinney and Dollar join previous signees Savannah Scott and Morgan Cobb.

Kinney, a 5-8 libero from Chattanooga, Tennessee, played for the Baylor School and K2 Volleyball Club. An outsider in high school, Kinney unleashed 22 kills and added 19 digs, three aces and a pair of blocks in the Division II-AA state quarterfinals this season while helping her team advance to the state championship game. She was a named to the TSSAA Division II East Region team and the Division II-AA East Region MVP after recording 419 digs, 303 kills and 66 aces during the 2022 season and 1,000 career digs. Kinney was also named to the JVA Watch List.

"We can't wait to have Elli here in Charleston.  She is a great student and will be a wonderful addition to our culture.  She has the right work ethic and mindset to be successful at the next level.  Elli has tremendous touch and the mentality she can get to any ball defensively.  This is exactly what we are looking for in a libero.  Put all this together and we are getting an outstanding person and player, who can have an impact on and off the court." 

Dollar is a 5-11 pin hitter from Burbank, California. She was a three-time letter winner at Village Christian School and a member of the 2021 2021 Ann Kang Invitational Championship Team. She also led Calvary Christian (Florida) to the Florida 3A district 10 title, leading the team with 258 kills and 71 Aces. She was named to the AVCA High School All-Region Team and an AVCA Third Team All-American. She played club for San Gabriel Elite and qualified for the 2022 Open Division Qualifier Junior Nationals.

"I am so excited to have Deanna join our program.  She is such a great person and Teammate on and off the court.  Her personality really makes her a joy to watch play.  Combine that with her volleyball skills and competitive drive, you have a player everyone would want as a part of their program.  Deanna is an explosive and dynamic attacker, that I am excited to have her in our gym.  The day she committed was definitely a happy one for me and my staff."