Youngstown -- Transfer setter Val Jeffery has joined the Youngstown State volleyball program for the start of the spring semester and will be eligible to compete this fall, head coach Mark Hardaway announced.

Jeffery, who recently completed her freshman year at High Point University, will have three years of eligibility remaining. She is originally from Pickerington, Ohio, and played at Pickerington North High.

“We are very excited and fortunate to have Val join our team this spring,” Hardaway said. “I remember watching her in club tournaments last year and being very disappointed that we missed out on such a good setter from Ohio. She had good size, was athletic, ran the offense well, and was a strong leader on the floor. We were not looking for a setter, but, when we found out she wanted to transfer to a school with a nursing major, we jumped at the chance to add her to the roster.”

“Val is not only a talented setter, but she’s also a quality person and a good student. She will be an asset both on and off the court. The addition of Val to our roster will give us great depth at the setting position next fall with Jessie Gerig returning and another quality setter signing in April.”

Jeffery registered 117 assists over 16 matches as a freshman for High Point as the Panthers went 16-15. She reached double digits in assists in five matches and posted a high of 20 in her collegiate debut against South Carolina State. She added three kills, two aces and 26 digs as a freshman.

Before going to High Point, Jeffery was the first two-time All-Ohio honoree in the history of Pickerington North High. She helped the program to three straight conference, sectional and district titles as well as two berths in the regional finals. As a senior she averaged 6.9 assists per set while adding 94 aces, 264 digs, 73 blocks and 124 kills en route to being named honorable mention all-state. She also played five years with the Columbus Volleyball Club, which was the top-ranked team in Ohio in 2010 and 2010.

Youngstown State finished 16-15 and advanced to the Horizon League Tournament Semifinals in 2013.