Volleyball Signs Four in 2025 Signing Class

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball has inked four new Cyclones to join the squad in 2025. The squad includes two outside hitters, a libero/defensive specialist and a middle blocker/right side hitter.

Mesaiya Bettis from Minnesota and Alea Goolsby out of Kansas, along with native Iowans Annalise Grant and Reagan Hanfelt make up the class. Bettis and Hanfelt recently made 2024 AVCA High School All-Region teams and will be considered for All-America teams, announced last week.

Mesaiya Bettis, Outside Hitter

Bettis is an outside hitter from Apple Valley, Minnesota, rated as the No. 2 recruit in Minnesota and No. 28 in the nation by PrepDig. Bettis has helped lead Burnsville High School to four straight Class 4A state tournament appearances, including the semifinals in 2021 and 2024 and the quarterfinals in 2023. The outside hitter earned AVCA All-America status and is a finalist for the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. Bettis is a multi-time all-state honoree and currently one of five finalists for the Ms. Baden award, presented to Minnesota's top senior volleyball player.

Bettis totaled 1,611 kills, 721 digs, 115 blocks and 93 aces in her high school career. The incoming Cyclone also set the Burnsville record for career kills and kills in a match putting down 42. Her career kill record took down the record previously held by Tori Dixon, former All-American Gopher and current Omaha Supernovas professional volleyball player.

"When I think of Messi I think athlete; just super smooth, a big jumper and physically so impressive in the air with what she can do," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's carried a big load for her high school team over the years so she's used to taking a lot of swings and carried a huge offensive load which is something we like to look for, especially in outside hitters. Messi has played at a really high level in club and is well trained to play the whole game. She's a great passer, defender and blocker; just a great all-around player."

𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒔🖋️

Welcome to Iowa State, Mesaiya!

🌪️🏐🌪️ pic.twitter.com/5rjpJknvRS
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 13, 2024

Alea Goolsby, Outside Hitter

Goolsby comes to Ames from Olathe, Kansas, the same hometown as current Cyclones Brooke Stonestreet and Rachel Van Gorp. The No. 3-ranked recruit from Kansas has picked up numerous Kansas Class 5A All-State and All-Tournament honors playing for Saint Thomas Aquinas. As a senior, the outside hitter averaged over five kills pet set hitting at .326, while the Saints just took hold of the 2024 state title. This season, Goolsby earned an invite to the Under Armour Next All-America Game and is a finalist for the Evelyn Gates award, given to a volleyball player with top-tier skill, spirit and sportsmanship in the Kansas City area. Goolsby also played basketball, helping lead her team to a state championship in 2022.

"Alea is just an incredible volleyball player," Johnson-Lynch said. "She played club volleyball for quite a few years with Rachel Van Gorp so getting to see them go together here will be exciting. Alea is an elite outside hitter, she plays the whole game. She can pass, she can play defense, she's a great attacker. She has a high volleyball IQ and is a great competitor."

It's official, Alea's a Cyclone.

Welcome to Iowa State, Alea!

🌪️🏐🌪️ pic.twitter.com/maNj2wIMpR
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 14, 2024

Annalise Grant, Libero/Defensive Specialist

Grant joins Iowa State out of West Des Moines, Iowa playing for Dowling. Grant became Dowling's all-time dig leader with over 2,000 through her career. In 2023, the Maroons finished as the runners-up at state. Also that season, Grant was named to the IGHSAU Class 5A All-Tournament team and earned all-state honors. As a freshman, Grant picked up all-state and all-district honors. Grant has totaled nearly 100 career aces at 90 percent efficiency.

"Annalise is all about ball control," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's a great libero/defensive player coming in that has a great platform to direct the ball to target. She will add to that depth of what we have defensively and I love the prospect of her out there with our defensive players returning. She's a great passer and has a really good IQ. She's very well trained and I think she can come in and contribute. Especially as a passer her potential there is pretty elite."

Staying in the 515!

Welcome to Iowa State, Annalise!

🌪️🏐🌪️ pic.twitter.com/HoPIwJAGvO
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 14, 2024

Reagan Hanfelt, Middle Blocker/Right Side

Hanfelt is an Ankeny, Iowa native. At Ankeny High School, Hanfelt earned all-state, all-district and all-conference honors through her career while her team reached the state quarterfinals in 2023. Hanfelt totaled 239 kills and 101 blocks in 2023, and 300 kills and over 100 blocks in her senior season. Playing for the Iowa Powerplex club team, Hanfelt's squad finished third nationally in 2023 and 2024. Hanfelt was placed on the all-tournament team at nationals and is also an Under Armour athlete.

Hanfelt is also a standout track and field athlete. The high jumper has collected a pair of top three finishes at Drake Relays to go along with three top three placements at state including finishing runner up as a sophomore. Her personal best clearance of 5-7 is an Ankeny school record. Hanfelt has Cyclone roots as her mother competed in track and volleyball in 1997 and basketball from 1998-01.

"Reagan is all athlete," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's super fun to watch. When I think of her I think springy athlete; fast off the ground, quick. She's played a lot of middle and some pin hitter, she can kind of do it all. She's fast, she's fun and an explosive athlete. Her connections to our school with being from Iowa and her athletic potential, we are pretty excited to add that to the mix."

From Ankeny to Ames.

Reagan is a Cyclone!

🌪️🏐🌪️ pic.twitter.com/rPF8UBfeOL
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 13, 2024

Volleyball Signs Four in 2025 Signing Class

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Brooke Stonestreet

Rachel Van Gorp

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Volleyball Signs Four in 2025 Signing Class

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