SEATTLE - Seattle University volleyball welcomed three transfers over the winter, adding junior Hailey McEllrath and sophomores Bella Jones and Clara Garcia to its roster ahead of the 2026 season.
McEllrath makes her homecoming debut this year after spending two seasons in Texas with Lamar. The junior middle blocker, a native of Ridgefield, Washington, appeared in 36 matches during her tenure with the Cardinals. As a freshman, she led the team in hitting percentage while logging 27 kills in four starts. McEllrath finished her freshman campaign with 20 blocks, including five solo blocks.
The middle blocker doubled her appearances in her sophomore season, playing in 24 matches while earning the start in 23. McEllrath recorded 59 kills, 60 total blocks, including 44 block assists, while logging 56 digs, 16 solo blocks and 16 aces. McEllrath was a three year varsity letter winner at Ridgefield HS and earned all-region second team honors in her senior season. She led Ridgefield to three straight runner-up finishes and played club volleyball with Athena VB17 and 18 gold.
Garcia and Jones both journeyed in from California, each spending one season in their home state.
Garcia spent one year at Fresno State upon graduation from Buchanan HS. The Clovis, California native was a four year varsity letter winner and named all-league first team in both her junior and senior seasons. She led Buchanan to back to back DII Valley championships in 2022 and 2023 and was also a key piece in the team’s 2023 TRAC conference championship. Garcia holds the Buchanan digs record with 1,315 digs over her career.
At Fresno State, Garcia saw action in 65 sets, where she recorded 148 digs, 44 assists and seven aces with the Bulldogs.
Jones joined the program by way of San Diego State, spending one season in Southern California upon her graduation from Redondo Union HS. The Redondo Beach, California native was a three year varsity letter winner where she guided her team to back-to-back semifinal appearances and three berths to the CIF Division state tournament. In her senior season, Jones recorded 1,000 assists. Jones was also a member of the school’s surf and beach volleyball teams.
At San Diego State, Jones appeared in 25 matches and 93 sets, where she accrued 416 assists, averaging 4.47 assists per set. The setter totaled 16 aces, 150 digs and five kills while with the Aztecs.
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