Tartans Welcome Five for 2017 Season

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University volleyball team will welcome five newcomers for the 2017 season. The Tartans will return to the court in August after recording 25 victories with a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Tartans, who placed second at the University Athletic Association Championship in 2016, graduated six seniors including three AVCA All-Americans.

The five newcomers hail from five different states: Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.

Jordan Allen (OH/DS, Pearland, Texas/St. Thomas Episcopal School)
Allen played club volleyball for Houston Skyline Juniors and will studying in the college of engineering. She was first team all-district as a junior and senior and earned all-state honors as a senior, along with being named to the state all-tournament team. Allen was also named first team all-academic three times, earned the AP Achievement Award and graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Diana Balta (OH, Media, Pa./Penncrest)
Balta played club volleyball with East Coast Power and will be studying in the college of engineering. Balta received all-Delaware County, all-Central League, all-district 1 and all-state honors for her play on the court and the Congressional Scholar-Athlete Award.

Julia Kim (DS/Libero, Centreville, Va./Chantilly High School)
Kim played club volleyball for Virginia Elite and will be studying in Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Kim's volleyball awards include first and second team all-Concorde Conference, Region 6A North Honorable Mention, Chantilly Varsity MVP, and VA Elite Leadership Award. Kim also earned the following academic awards: Northern Region Scholar Athlete, Chantily Academic-Athletic Award, National Honor Society, and National Society of High School Scholars.

Ali Munden (MB/RS, Wellington, Fla./Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts)
Munden played club volleyball for Palm Beach Juniors, JVC Elite and did private training last year. She'll be studying in Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Munden was a four-year varsity starter and served as captain as a senior. Her academic awards include AP Scholar with Distinction, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Silver Key and Honorable Mention.

Gabriela Tellez (S/DS, Skokie, Ill./Niles West)
Tellez played club volleyball for Sky High Volleyball Club and will be studying in the college of engineering. Tellez earned the Niles West Wolf Award and was a Scholar Athlete. She graduated Summa Cum Laude, was the Tutor of the Year, and was an Illinois State Scholar.