AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn volleyball and Head Coach Brent Crouch announced three signees from the 2027 class, set to join the team next season. The Tigers add Sasha Cromer, Jenna Brooks, and Kampbell Niepagen. All three signees bring national and state recognition to the program, filling out depth around the entire rotation.
Sasha Cromer | 5-11 | Setter | Overland Park, Kan.
Cromer was named the 2026 MaxPreps Kansas Player of the Year at Blue Valley West High School in Stilwell, Kan. Cromer led her team to a 32-4 record as back-to-back Class 6A state champions. Cromer was named to the Kansas State All-Tournament team during her team's championship run. Cromer logged 619 assists, 90 digs, 62 kills, 43 blocks, and 12 aces in her senior season at Blue Valley West. Cromer was named to the All-Eastern Kansas League First Team. Across her high school career, she totaled 1,337 assists, 210 digs, 161 kills, and 76 blocks.
Cromer played club volleyball for KC Power in Overland Park. She was honored to the 17 Open National Championship All-Tournament Team at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship. Cromer was named to the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Academic First Team.
Associate Head Coach Jack Burton on Cromer: “Sasha has been a standout in every facet of the game. She brings a physicality to the setter position that is rarely matched nationwide. She has a high contact point, allowing her to be offensive and also deliver sets with great tempo and location. She's been involved in the USA pipeline and will bring a presence of maturity that will impact our program in a big way.”
Why Auburn: "I chose Auburn because I instantly felt at home. The family-like community was something I knew I wanted to be a part of. The tradition and pride rooted in the town itself are what led me to Auburn. I knew Auburn would allow me to grow not only as an athlete, but as a person as well. But most importantly, it felt like a place where I belonged. War Eagle!"
Jenna Brooks | 5-7 | Libero/Defensive Specialist | Minneola, Fla.
Brooks attended South Lake High School in Groveland, Fla. Brooks logged over 1,000 career digs in high school and surpassed the 200-career ace mark as a senior. She averaged 4.4 digs per set as a senior, with a 4.1 digs per set mark across her entire career.
A two-time AAU All-American, Brooks played club volleyball at Top Select in Orlando, Fla. Brooks was named to the AAU All-Tournament Team three times, from 2022-2024. Brooks was also honored to the 2026 Florida Gems All-Tournament Team.
Burton on Brooks: “When Jenna steps on the court, she makes the game of volleyball look easy. She has an unbelievable touch on the ball that allows her to put contacts right on the net both in her passing and defending. Across years of big matches, she has always controlled the entire backcourt for her teams with poise and confidence. On top of that, she possesses the speed and athleticism to cover a large portion of the court. Jenna’s skills will translate into the Auburn program quickly, making the players around her better.”
Why Auburn: "I chose Auburn because the decision was more than just playing a sport, but finding a home I knew I could thrive and grow in. Between the campus environment and the opportunities I've gotten to be with the team and coaches, everything felt so welcoming, and I couldn't see myself wanting to be anywhere else. War Eagle!"
Kampbell Niepagen | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Bloomington, Ill.
Niepagen was a two-time AVCA All-American and All-Region player at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, Ill. Niepagen was named unanimously to the Illini Prairie Conference first team three times in her career. Across her career, Niepagen logged 1513 kills, hitting .300 with a 48.2% kill percentage. She totaled 878 digs and 161 total blocks across her four-year varsity career. Niepagen also received IVCA First Team All-State recognition twice in her high school career.
Ranked fourth in Illinois in her class by PrepDig, Niepagen was named to the IHSA All-Tournament team in 2025. Niepagen played her club volleyball with Illini Elite VBC and Sports Performance VBC.
Burton on Niepagen: “Kampbell is an unbelievably well-rounded volleyball player. She has the ability to dominate at the net attacking, while also holding down the backcourt with a high level of touch in her passing and defending. Not to mention, she serves bullets that will make SEC passers struggle. She competes at an extremely high level and is committed to constantly improving. We love Kampbell’s athleticism and think she will impact our program greatly.”
Why Auburn: "I chose Auburn because it felt like home the second I stepped on campus. I fell in love with the community, the players, the coaching staff, and the opportunity to grow not only as a volleyball player but also as a person. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the future holds. War Eagle!"
—War Eagle—