FAIRFAX, Va. - Head coach Aylene Ilkson announced four new members to the women's volleyball program. Each player signed their National Letters of Intent this past week and will be listed as freshman for the 2018 season, giving them four years of eligibility. 

ShaLi Niu (Laie, Hawaii), Siron Hardy (Centreville, Va.), Peyton Ehmke (San Clemente, Calif.) and Katie Parmalee (Tallahassee, Fla.) begin Ilkson's first recruiting class as the Mason volleyball head coach. The primary positions for early-period class features two middle blockers, an opposite and an outside hitter.

"I am very excited to welcome the newest members to the Patriot family," Ilkson said. "All of these athletes are going to provide depth and competition in each of their positions and I expect will make an immediate impact on the program. These student-athletes are not only exceptional athletes but they are wonderful people coming from terrific families."

See below for information regarding each individual signee.

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Name: ShaLi Niu
Position: Opposite/Setter
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Laie, Hawaii
High School: Kahuku 
Club Team: North Shore

Niu earned four varsity letters playing on the Kahuku High School volleyball team. While there, she was selected to the OIA East First Team, the State Tournament All-Tournament Team and participated in the OC16 Senior Showcase in 2017.

"ShaLi is a gifted athlete who can dominate on all sides of the ball," Ilkson said. "Her presence at the net as a blocker is tremendous and her attacking has elevated her to become one of the elite Hawaiian players in the class of 2018."

Niu's 2016 season was filled with accolades as well, being named OIA East Honorable Mention, Star Advertising Fab 15 Honorable Mention and Scoringlive All-Hawaii Team Honorable Mention. The opposite hitter has a knack for performing well in the clutch, as Niu posted back-to-back triple doubles in the Hawaii state tournament her senior year. A native of Laie, Hawaii, Niu plans on majoring in nursing while attending George Mason. 
 
"I am excited to see the impact she will have on our program and the volleyball IQ that she can bring to our program here at Mason," Ilkson said.

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Name: Siron Hardy
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Centreville, Va.
High School: Flint Hill
Club Team: Virginia Elite

Hardy played varsity volleyball for three seasons at nearby Flint Hill high school. While there, she helped guide Flint Hill to a prefect 35-0 record en route to winning the VISSA Division I state championship, Metro City Championship as well as the ISL Championship. This past season, Hardy was named Virginia Private School State Player of the Year, Virginia First-Team All-State and the ISL First Team All-Conference in 2016 and 2017.

"Siron is an exciting addition to our program coming right from our backyard," Ilkson said. "She has become a top player in Northern Virginia and will definitely be making an impact on our program with her blocking and attacking."

Additional awards and honors for Hardy include being named Flint Hill team Most Valuable Player, MaxReps Virginia Player of the Week for Oct. 3 and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Garden State Challenge, Flint Hill Invitational and Loudon Valley Invitational. The 5-10 outside hitter posted stats of 4.10 kills per set, 51 total blocks and a .358 hit percentage during her senior year. A native of Centreville, Va., Hardy plans on majoring in forensic psychology.
 
"She is an extremely physical athlete who has an outstanding work ethic and will certainly elevate the level in the gym," Ilkson said.

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Name: Peyton Ehmke
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-1
Hometown: San Clemente, Calif.
High School: Santa Margarita Catholic
Club Team: Laguna Beach

Ehmke is a three-year varsity volleyball letterwinner at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. The 6-1 middle blocker compiled numerous accolades, including a 2x Nike California Classic All-Tournament recipient (2016-17), Trinity League Honorable Mention (2017), led the Trinity League in total blocks during the 2017 season and helped guide her school to the state championship in 2016. 

"We are thrilled to have Peyton as part of our program this coming fall," Ilkson said. "She has been training at a high level for years now, and I have watched as she has improved with every time she plays."

A highly sought after recruit in her 2018 high school graduating class, MaxReps ranked Ehmke the 5th best prospect in California and the 28th best prospect in the country while PrepVolleyball.com ranked her the 38th best player in the country. A native of San Clemente, Calif., Ehmke plans to major in criminology with a focus in law and society while attending George Mason.
 
"Peyton is exceptionally hard working and I know the fundamentals she has a middle blocker now will make her extremely valuable to us next fall," Ilkson said.

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Name: Katie Parmalee                                                                                                             
Position: Middle Blocker/Right Side
Height: 6-1                                                 
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.                                                                         
High School: Lawton Chiles
Club Team: Prostyle Volleyball Academy
       
Parmalee is a four-year letterwinner at Lawton Chiles High School in both indoor and sand volleyball. While at Lawton Chiles, she was a team captain in 2017 and her accolades include being named to the 2017 Under Armour All-America watch list, 3x All-Big Bend team selection and was selected as a 2016 Under Armour Phenom. The 6-1 middle blocker competed in the USAV Nationals from 2015-17 and placed third in 2017.

"Katie is an extremely versatile athlete who can play any position across the front row," Ilkson said. "I know that her ability to attack from any position will make an immediate impact on our team and will definitely raise the level of competition in our gym."

Parmalee put up stellar numbers in high school, ranking third in school history in career blocks, fourth in career kills as well as the team leader in blocks and hit percentage from 2015-17. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Parmalee has not decided yet on what she will major in at George Mason.
 
 "Katie has an outstanding work ethic and we are excited for her arrival," Ilkson said.