Auburn Volleyball adds three transfers to bolster roster

Auburn Volleyball adds three transfers to bolster rosterAuburn Volleyball adds three transfers to bolster roster
Zach Bland

AUBURN, Ala. – An already talented Auburn Volleyball roster just got that much better as head coach Brent Crouch announced the signing of three transfers.
 
Bella Bell, a middle blocker from Kentucky, Kyla Swanson, a middle blocker from Illinois and Peyton Dunn, a setter from Oklahoma have each found a new home on the Plains.
 
Bella Bell | Middle Blocker | Blythewood, S.C.

A former national champion with Kentucky, Bella Bell has been a dynamic middle blocker for the last couple of seasons for the Wildcats. Originally from Blythewood, South Carolina, Bell arrives on the Plains with a bevy of experience. Bell played in over 50 matches during her tenure in Lexington, amassing over 225 kills, and more than 175 blocks.
 
Last season alone, Bell totaled 107 kills to go along with 77 blocks, eight of them solo. She'd set career-highs in kills with 13 against SEC foe Missouri and saved her best blocking performance of her career for the NCAA Tournament with 10 against eventual runner-up San Diego.
 
Prior to Kentucky, the four-year letter winner was voted to the All-State and All-Region teams and ranked No. 51 in Prep Volleyball Senior Aces.
 
What Crouch had to say…
"Bella is extremely physical, putting up on the largest blocks in the country from the middle position. Routinely shutting down explosive pin hitters by reading and reacting, she is going to upgrade our defense significantly. She arrives with national championship experience from Kentucky's win in 2020-21."
 
Kyla Swanson | Middle Blocker | Wahoo, Neb.

Kyla Swanson makes her way to Auburn by way of Illinois. A standout middle blocker in each of the last three seasons, Swanson is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, appearing in over 50 matches for the Illini.
 
In 2021, Swanson and her Illinois squad pieced together one of the best seasons in recent memory in Champaign. Starting 26 of 27 matches, Swanson piled up nearly 150 kills coupled with over 100 blocks and a .329 hitting percentage in an effort to collect 22 wins, including a 12-8 mark in Big Ten play. The Illini would go on to upset Kentucky before falling to Nebraska in the Sweet 16.
 
Swanson has totaled over 225 kills and more than 175 blocks throughout her career. The Wahoo, Nebraska native arrives on the Plains averaging 0.9 blocks per set and holds a .289 hitting percentage with over 500 attempts.
 
Prior to Illinois, Swanson was ranked as the No. 1 recruit from the state of Nebraska by prepdig.com. A four-year letter winner, Swanson led her Wahoo High School team to state championships in 2017 and 2018. A focal point in the Volleyball Club Nebraska program, Swanson guided them to multiple top finishes around the country and was named an AVCA Under Armor All-American Second Team honoree in 2018.
 
What Crouch had to say…
"Kyla is a dynamic player who is a force at the net both blocking and attacking. In particular, her lateral speed will be an asset in defending increasingly fast-tempo offenses. She arrives with tremendous experience competing in the BIG Ten, including a key role and performance in Illinois' second-round victory over Kentucky in 2021 to make the Sweet Sixteen."
 
Peyton Dunn | Setter | Parker, Colo.

The Parker, Colorado native stepped into the limelight almost immediately. Dunn started all 27 matches as a freshman and was the only player on the team to play in all 107 sets. Piling up at least 40 assists in 10 separate matches, Dunn totaled 997 assists (9.32 per set) to go along with 12 aces, 63 blocks and almost 200 digs. A member of the All-Big 12 Rookie Team, Dunn earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week four different times and was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
 
In her sophomore campaign for the Sooners, Dunn played in seven matches, averaging a monstrous 10.50 assists per set. She also totaled 57 digs and 11 blocks.
 
Prior to Oklahoma, Dunn was a four-year letter winner from Legend High School. A two-time state finalist, Dunn was named to the Under Armour All-American Third Team and was a two-time All-Conference honoree. The AVCA All-American Watch List member totaled over 1,400 assists, more than 400 digs, over 300 kills and piled up more than 100 aces throughout her high school career.
 
Playing for Colorado Juniors, Dunn was named Newcomer of the Year in 2016 and was a Top-150 recruit nationally according to PrepVolleyball.com.
 
What Crouch had to say…
"Peyton just ran one of the fastest offenses in the country at Oklahoma last season. Since we expect to increase our tempo this coming season, she will be in her comfort zone. She also has the ability to set long balls against the flow, especially behind to the opposite attacker. I have been impressed by her commitment to playing and competing at the highest level."