Washington Beach Volleyball Adds Six Newcomers For 2025-26 Season
July 01, 2025 | Beach Volleyball
SEATTLE – Washington beach volleyball is set to welcome six newcomers to the program for the 2025-26 season. The incoming class features a graduate transfer and five freshmen, bringing a mix of collegiate experience, international competition and standout high school accolades.
"Ellis stood out to us on the recruiting trail due to her relentless pursuit of becoming as good of a player as she possibly can," head coach Derek Olson said. "We know she is someone that is hungry to be great and is willing to do what it takes. She has a Dawg mentality and will push our roster instantly. She embodies so many characteristics that we want in our athletes."
"Sammy has trained and competed with the best junior players for the last few years and instantly brings high-level beach skills to our team," Olson said. "She is a smooth player with excellent ball control that I think will shine in our program. We also love how she is able to get along with anyone she plays with."
"I have known Zoe's dad for quite some time now, and the Pabarcus family is as genuine of a family that you will ever meet," Olson said. "Zoe has been working really hard over the last few years and she has really elevated her game. She can do it all on the court and she is a class act off of it. She will add so much value to our team instantly and we can't wait to work with her."
"Mariana is someone who has been playing at a high level in the Czech Republic and is going to come in and instantly make us better," Olson said. "She is a full-time blocker and has a really good feel for the game. She handsets well and is more than capable siding out at this level. She is going to continue our pipeline of international prospects that are instantly ready to contribute on the court and whom bring a level of professionalism into our program."
"I first got to work with Avery a few years ago through USA Volleyball, and she was always someone who would win anytime we were competing at those camps," Olson said. "She has a killer instinct and knows how to win. She has played at a high level for a long time and knows what it takes. UW was her dream school, and we can't wait for Huskies fans to welcome her into our community."
"Ella was someone that was very familiar to us as we have competed against her over the last few years," Olson said. "She always played us tough and gave our teams problems so it was a no-brainer to try and add her to our roster. She reads the game well and makes really good decisions when she plays. We are fortunate to have her skill and leadership for next year."
The Huskies will compete in pairs tournaments this fall before opening the regular season in early spring. With a talented group of newcomers joining the squad, Washington looks to build on three straight seasons of being ranked in the top 20.
For the latest updates on Washington beach volleyball, follow @UW_BeachVB on Instagram, X and TikTok.
Ellis Hay, from Austin, Texas, played for Quicksand Beach Volleyball Club and was a varsity athlete in both volleyball and track and field. Hay was named to the p1440 Fab 50 and was a member of the National Math Honor Society. She will arrive in Seattle alongside her Great Dane, Charlotte.Another Dawg added to the pack ??#GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/AYrocHcfvn
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 12, 2025
"Ellis stood out to us on the recruiting trail due to her relentless pursuit of becoming as good of a player as she possibly can," head coach Derek Olson said. "We know she is someone that is hungry to be great and is willing to do what it takes. She has a Dawg mentality and will push our roster instantly. She embodies so many characteristics that we want in our athletes."
Sammy Hsu, from Palos Verdes, California, competed for Spiker Beach Volleyball Club and Elite Beach Volleyball Club and attended Chadwick School. A cum laude graduate, she earned multiple top-three finishes at AAU Nationals and the Junior Olympics. Hsu was a two-time Prep League First Team selection and participated in the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program.Signed, sealed, & delivered! ?? Husky Nation, meet Samantha!#GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/Hh9G5Ar4YL
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 16, 2025
"Sammy has trained and competed with the best junior players for the last few years and instantly brings high-level beach skills to our team," Olson said. "She is a smooth player with excellent ball control that I think will shine in our program. We also love how she is able to get along with anyone she plays with."
Zoe Pabarcus, of San Diego, California, played for Wave Beach Volleyball Club and competed for the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. A four-year varsity letterwinner in indoor volleyball, she was named team MVP and earned All-CIF and All-League honors. A beach sports enthusiast, Pabarcus also enjoys surfing, snorkeling and swimming.?? in! Welcome Zoe ??#GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/R1tvr69sGq
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 11, 2025
"I have known Zoe's dad for quite some time now, and the Pabarcus family is as genuine of a family that you will ever meet," Olson said. "Zoe has been working really hard over the last few years and she has really elevated her game. She can do it all on the court and she is a class act off of it. She will add so much value to our team instantly and we can't wait to work with her."
Mariana Tomasová, from Prague, Czech Republic, joins the Huskies after competing for Olymp Indoor Volleyball Club and Beach Volleyball School Prague. Her accomplishments include a fifth-place finish at the Beach Pro Tour Futures, a first-place finish at the Czech Indoor Championship and podium finishes at the Middle European Championship. She also earned academic honors through 11th grade.Officially a Husky?#GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/tl4x1uU9qW
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 14, 2025
"Mariana is someone who has been playing at a high level in the Czech Republic and is going to come in and instantly make us better," Olson said. "She is a full-time blocker and has a really good feel for the game. She handsets well and is more than capable siding out at this level. She is going to continue our pipeline of international prospects that are instantly ready to contribute on the court and whom bring a level of professionalism into our program."
Avery Towne, from El Dorado Hills, California, competed for MBSand and was named the CIF Senior Showcase MVP. She earned All-CIF First Team honors in 2023 and 2024 and Second Team honors in 2022.Say hey to our newest Dawg, Avery! ??#GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/DgMdB84sJS
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 10, 2025
"I first got to work with Avery a few years ago through USA Volleyball, and she was always someone who would win anytime we were competing at those camps," Olson said. "She has a killer instinct and knows how to win. She has played at a high level for a long time and knows what it takes. UW was her dream school, and we can't wait for Huskies fans to welcome her into our community."
Ella Tyus, a graduate transfer from the University of Oregon, joins the Huskies after a record-setting career in Eugene. The Laguna Beach, California, native holds the Oregon program record for most wins in a single season and ranks third all time in career victories.Officially a Dawg ?? Welcome, Ella! #GrittyByNature pic.twitter.com/WyJxR04vsG
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) June 9, 2025
"Ella was someone that was very familiar to us as we have competed against her over the last few years," Olson said. "She always played us tough and gave our teams problems so it was a no-brainer to try and add her to our roster. She reads the game well and makes really good decisions when she plays. We are fortunate to have her skill and leadership for next year."
The Huskies will compete in pairs tournaments this fall before opening the regular season in early spring. With a talented group of newcomers joining the squad, Washington looks to build on three straight seasons of being ranked in the top 20.
For the latest updates on Washington beach volleyball, follow @UW_BeachVB on Instagram, X and TikTok.
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