FAIRFAX, Va. - After signing four players to the 2018 signing class in November, head coach Aylene Ilkson added four more in the late period - two out of high school and two Division I transfers.
 
Marlanna Bozicevich (San Marcos, Calif.), Erin Derick (Wilmington, Del.), Kayla Anderson (Baltimore, Md.) and Alessia Del Romano (Bologna, Italy) round out Ilkson's full recruiting class and will be eligible to play in the 2018 season. While Bozicevich and Derick enroll straight from high school, Anderson and Del Romano transfer from Alcorn State and Georgia Tech - giving them three years of eligibility with the Patriots.
 
"This group of athletes along with our early signees make up a very strong incoming class, and will certainly elevate our program this coming fall," Ilkson said. "I think these four make great additions to the program and have diversity in ability that will help our team be stronger and more of a threat in the upcoming years."
 
See below for information regarding each individual signee.
 
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Name: Marlanna Bozicevich
Position: Libero / OH
Height: 5-10
Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
High School: San Marcos High School
Club Team: Wave Volleyball
 
Bozicevich played on the San Marcos High School volleyball team for five years. While there, she became the all-time single season kill leader with 404 kills and was awarded the Team MVP and First Team All-League in 2016.
 
"Marlanna is the player every coach wants because she is a fearless defender who is super competitive," Ilkson said. "She brings a very high volleyball IQ from her days playing both indoor and sand, and we are so happy to have her with us."
 
Bozicevich's 2017 season was filled with accolades as well, being named the Avacado East League MVP, Second Team All-State, and Max Preps Player of the Year. The libero finished her final season at San Marcos with a hitting percentage of .383, 145 digs, and 65 aces. A native of San Marcos, California, Bozicevich plans on majoring in mathematics while attending George Mason.
 
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Name: Erin Derick
Position: Setter
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
High School: Saint Mark's High School
Club Team: Delaware United Volleyball
 
Derick played on the Saint Mark's High School Varsity Volleyball team for four years. While there, she was awarded Second Team All-Catholic her sophomore year and First Team All-Catholic her junior year.
 
"Erin epitomizes the term hard worker and is going to be someone who pushes our team to be better every day," Ilkson said. "She is a talented setter who will do a great job playing in our offensive system."
 
This past season, Derick was named First Team All-Catholic and Third Team All-State. Additional achievements include being a member of the first 18s club team to qualify for nationals in the state of Delaware while playing for the Delaware United Volleyball Club. A native of Wilmington, Del., Derick plans on majoring in Forensic Science while attending George Mason.
 
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Name: Kayla Anderson
Position: RS/OH
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
High School: Dulaney High School
Previous School: Alcorn State
 
Anderson transfers from Alcorn State University after having played on the Eastern Technical High School volleyball team from 2013-2016, and for the Dulaney High School volleyball team her senior year. While at Dulaney, she led the team in kills and was second on the team in digs her senior year.
 
"Kayla is a natural athlete who puts up big blocks and can deliver a kill when needed," Ilkson said. "We have had the pleasure to get to know her and train her this spring and I know she will continue to make an impact in her next 3 seasons."
 
Additional achievements include being named All-Conference her junior year along with MVP. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Anderson enrolled early at George Mason for the Spring 2018 term and is majoring in Cyber Security.
 
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Name: Alessia Del Romano
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Bologna, Italy
High School: Istituto Paradisi
Previous School: Georgia Tech
 
Del Romano played on the Georgia Tech volleyball team her freshman year. While there, she competed in 21 matches, making two starts, and recorded a career-high 15 digs in a win over Wake Forest. While attending her high school, Istituto Paradisi, Del Romano helped her team to a second-place finish in the national high school championships in her final season and was selected as one of Italy's top volleyball players.
 
"Alessia is such a versatile player who can really do a lot on all sides of the ball," Ilkson said. "She brings a year of college experience playing at a very high level which will be a great asset for our rather young squad. "We are excited to have her join us for the rest of her career."
 
On the club circuit, Del Romano competed in the U18 National Volleyball Championships with a pair of top-10 finishes, and led her team to two fifth-place finishes at the U19 National Beach Volleyball Championships. A native of Bologna, Italy, Del Romano plans on majoring in either Biology or Biomedical Engineering.