Huskies Announce Five Additions For 2025 Season
May 05, 2025 | Volleyball
SEATTLE โ Washington Volleyball has added five women to its roster ahead of the 2025 season, with two transfers and three freshmen on the way. Head Coach Leslie Gabriel announced the signing of transfers Alex Markley, from Penn State, and Taylor Simpson, from Colorado, and the addition of freshmen Simona Mateska from Serbia, Addy Azavedo from Lake Oswego, Ore., and Ava Jo Berry from Wenatchee, Wash.
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Markely and Mateska are outside hitters, Simpson is a setter, and Azavedo and Berry are defensive specialists. Those five join with Maija Howse, a freshman outside hitter who enrolled early this spring.
2025 Washington Newcomers
Markley just earned an NCAA Championship ring with the Nittany Lions. She appeared in 11 matches as a junior during the 2024 championship season, but her most extensive playing time came as a freshman and a sophomore in 2022 and 2023. Markley was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2022 when she had 165 kills in 87 sets (1.89 k/set) and she won two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. As a sophomore she had 118 kills over 58 sets (2.03 k/set). She had a career-high 17 kills in 2023 against Iowa.
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A native of Peachtree City, Ga., Markley was a highly rated recruit, with a No. 23 overall ranking in her class by Prep Dig and a No. 32 Senior Aces ranking from PrepVolleyball.com. She was a two-time AVCA All-American at McIntosh High School, earning First Team honors in 2021 and Second Team in 2020.
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Coach Gabriel On Markley: "Coming from a championship program like Penn State, Alexa brings a winning mindset and knows how to compete at the highest level. She's incredibly physical at the net, a team-first player, and just a joy to be around. We're so excited she chose to be a Husky."
Alexa Markley On Washington: "I chose Washington because of the numerous opportunities to grow as an athlete and as a person in Seattle. The team and coaching staff have been so welcoming to me and I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this historic program in the best conference. I can already feel the community's support for athletics, and I am excited to be on campus this summer."
Simpson amassed 3,060 assists for the Buffs, appearing in all but three sets from 2022-24 and leading Colorado in assists all three years. Last season, Simpson ranked eighth in the Big 12 with 9.16 assists per set, and in 2023, in the final Pac-12 season, she finished sixth overall with 9.54 assists per set. She was named to the Buffs Classic All-Tournament Team last year, as well as earning MVP honors at the Buffs Invitational. The Huskies have had many up-close looks at Simpson, as she has faced UW five times as starting setter, tallying 156 assists in those matches.
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Simpson calls Calabasas, Calif. home where she attended Sierra Canyon High School and was ranked No. 73 in the 2021 Prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces.
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Coach Gabriel On Simpson: "Taylor's experience running a fast offense at Colorado stood out right away. She's a true competitor. Every coach I spoke with talked about her love for the game and her drive to win. We can't wait to have her in the gym."
Taylor Simpson On Washington:ย "I chose Washington because of the incredible staff and team. I knew it would be a place where I could thrive and continue to grow in all aspects of life. I am excited to become a part of such a historic volleyball program and compete at the highest level."
Addy Azavedo is a senior at Jesuit High School and plays club for Athena Volleyball Academy. Jesuit won the Oregon 6A state title each of the past two seasons, going undefeated against in-state competition in 2024. As the libero, Azavedo was named 2024 Metro League Player of the Year, a testament to her impact from the back row. Her squad won the league title all four years of her career.
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Coach Gabriel On Azavedo: "Addy brings great energy and toughness to the backcourt. She has a great feel for the game and elevates the play around her. We're excited to add her grit and competitiveness to the Husky family."
Addy Azavedo On Washington: "I chose Washington because the coaches and my future teammates treated me like family from the start, and it felt like home. UW gives me the opportunity to compete at the highest level athletically and academically in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! I cannot wait to start my journey and be a part of Husky Nation. Go Dawgs!"
Ava Jo Berry was the setter on a Wenatchee High School squad that won the Washington 4A state championship in 2023 and placed third in 2024. She was named the Max Preps Washington High School Player of the Year in 2023 and the Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference Player of the Year. She will likely transition to a DS role with the Huskies.
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Coach Gabriel On Berry: "We love having in-state Washington kids on our roster. Ava Jo is competitive, positive, and totally locked in every time she steps on the court. She brings a spark we're really excited about."
Ava Jo Berry On Washington:ย "Attending Washington has been a lifelong dream of mine. It combines excellent programs in academics and athletics while keeping a strong Dawg culture. The coaches and players provided a welcoming environment making me love the school even more. I was drawn to Seattle's natural beauty and UW's competitive spirit. I can't wait to compete at the highest level with such an amazing group of people! Go Dawgs!"
Mateska is from Belgrade, Serbia, with extensive experience on the Serbian junior and youth national teams. She played the past three years for club team Crvena Zvezda and was on the senior level Serbia roster for the 2024 Volleyball Nation's League. Mateska played a significant role on the Serbian team at the 2023 U19 World Championships, scoring 115 points. In 2024 she again competed for Serbia at the U20 European Championships.
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Coach Gabriel On Mateska: "Simona's love for the game was obvious โ even over Zoom, her face would light up she talked about volleyball. She's coming from Serbia with a deep understanding of the game, maturity, and a real team-first approach. We can't wait to see her in purple and gold."
Simona Mateska On Washington:ย "I chose Washington because from the very first conversation, I felt honesty, warmth, and genuine care โ and that meant so much to me. With every call and interaction that followed, I felt more connected and more certain that this was exactly where I wanted to be. Talking with the coaches and players, hearing their stories, and feeling the pride they have for UW, I realized this is a place where I can truly grow โ not just as an athlete, but as a person. Each day, it became more clear that this is the right home for me. I'm beyond grateful and incredibly excited to officially join the Husky family!"
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Markely and Mateska are outside hitters, Simpson is a setter, and Azavedo and Berry are defensive specialists. Those five join with Maija Howse, a freshman outside hitter who enrolled early this spring.
2025 Washington Newcomers
Markley just earned an NCAA Championship ring with the Nittany Lions. She appeared in 11 matches as a junior during the 2024 championship season, but her most extensive playing time came as a freshman and a sophomore in 2022 and 2023. Markley was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2022 when she had 165 kills in 87 sets (1.89 k/set) and she won two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. As a sophomore she had 118 kills over 58 sets (2.03 k/set). She had a career-high 17 kills in 2023 against Iowa.
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A native of Peachtree City, Ga., Markley was a highly rated recruit, with a No. 23 overall ranking in her class by Prep Dig and a No. 32 Senior Aces ranking from PrepVolleyball.com. She was a two-time AVCA All-American at McIntosh High School, earning First Team honors in 2021 and Second Team in 2020.
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Coach Gabriel On Markley: "Coming from a championship program like Penn State, Alexa brings a winning mindset and knows how to compete at the highest level. She's incredibly physical at the net, a team-first player, and just a joy to be around. We're so excited she chose to be a Husky."
Alexa Markley On Washington: "I chose Washington because of the numerous opportunities to grow as an athlete and as a person in Seattle. The team and coaching staff have been so welcoming to me and I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this historic program in the best conference. I can already feel the community's support for athletics, and I am excited to be on campus this summer."
Simpson amassed 3,060 assists for the Buffs, appearing in all but three sets from 2022-24 and leading Colorado in assists all three years. Last season, Simpson ranked eighth in the Big 12 with 9.16 assists per set, and in 2023, in the final Pac-12 season, she finished sixth overall with 9.54 assists per set. She was named to the Buffs Classic All-Tournament Team last year, as well as earning MVP honors at the Buffs Invitational. The Huskies have had many up-close looks at Simpson, as she has faced UW five times as starting setter, tallying 156 assists in those matches.
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Simpson calls Calabasas, Calif. home where she attended Sierra Canyon High School and was ranked No. 73 in the 2021 Prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces.
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Coach Gabriel On Simpson: "Taylor's experience running a fast offense at Colorado stood out right away. She's a true competitor. Every coach I spoke with talked about her love for the game and her drive to win. We can't wait to have her in the gym."
Taylor Simpson On Washington:ย "I chose Washington because of the incredible staff and team. I knew it would be a place where I could thrive and continue to grow in all aspects of life. I am excited to become a part of such a historic volleyball program and compete at the highest level."
Addy Azavedo is a senior at Jesuit High School and plays club for Athena Volleyball Academy. Jesuit won the Oregon 6A state title each of the past two seasons, going undefeated against in-state competition in 2024. As the libero, Azavedo was named 2024 Metro League Player of the Year, a testament to her impact from the back row. Her squad won the league title all four years of her career.
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Coach Gabriel On Azavedo: "Addy brings great energy and toughness to the backcourt. She has a great feel for the game and elevates the play around her. We're excited to add her grit and competitiveness to the Husky family."
Addy Azavedo On Washington: "I chose Washington because the coaches and my future teammates treated me like family from the start, and it felt like home. UW gives me the opportunity to compete at the highest level athletically and academically in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! I cannot wait to start my journey and be a part of Husky Nation. Go Dawgs!"
Ava Jo Berry was the setter on a Wenatchee High School squad that won the Washington 4A state championship in 2023 and placed third in 2024. She was named the Max Preps Washington High School Player of the Year in 2023 and the Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference Player of the Year. She will likely transition to a DS role with the Huskies.
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Coach Gabriel On Berry: "We love having in-state Washington kids on our roster. Ava Jo is competitive, positive, and totally locked in every time she steps on the court. She brings a spark we're really excited about."
Ava Jo Berry On Washington:ย "Attending Washington has been a lifelong dream of mine. It combines excellent programs in academics and athletics while keeping a strong Dawg culture. The coaches and players provided a welcoming environment making me love the school even more. I was drawn to Seattle's natural beauty and UW's competitive spirit. I can't wait to compete at the highest level with such an amazing group of people! Go Dawgs!"
Mateska is from Belgrade, Serbia, with extensive experience on the Serbian junior and youth national teams. She played the past three years for club team Crvena Zvezda and was on the senior level Serbia roster for the 2024 Volleyball Nation's League. Mateska played a significant role on the Serbian team at the 2023 U19 World Championships, scoring 115 points. In 2024 she again competed for Serbia at the U20 European Championships.
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Coach Gabriel On Mateska: "Simona's love for the game was obvious โ even over Zoom, her face would light up she talked about volleyball. She's coming from Serbia with a deep understanding of the game, maturity, and a real team-first approach. We can't wait to see her in purple and gold."
Simona Mateska On Washington:ย "I chose Washington because from the very first conversation, I felt honesty, warmth, and genuine care โ and that meant so much to me. With every call and interaction that followed, I felt more connected and more certain that this was exactly where I wanted to be. Talking with the coaches and players, hearing their stories, and feeling the pride they have for UW, I realized this is a place where I can truly grow โ not just as an athlete, but as a person. Each day, it became more clear that this is the right home for me. I'm beyond grateful and incredibly excited to officially join the Husky family!"
Seniors Markley and Hani team up to extend the match with the rejection!! ๐ค
Friday, November 28
Washington 3, Maryland 0 | Huskies Highlights
Thursday, November 27
Thatโs the game โ
Thursday, November 27
Two sets down for the dawgs ๐ฎโ๐จ
Thursday, November 27
