Aztecs Add Three More Newcomers for 2024 Season
SAN DIEGO – San Diego State volleyball head coach Brent Hilliard has rounded out the Aztecs’ roster for the 2024 season with the addition of Division I transfers Andrea Campos and Keira Herron, along with former prep standout Gianna Bender.
Campos arrives on The Mesa after spending the past four seasons at Villanova, while Herron was a two-year competitor at Oregon State. Not to be outdone, Bender starred for perennial powerhouse Hudsonville High School in Michigan.
A 5-8 setter, Campos started 58 of 79 matches during her tenure at Villanova, dishing out 2,103 career assists, which ranks ninth in program history. The Pacific Palisades, California, native also racked up 497 digs and 70 service aces in a Wildcat uniform while completing 16 career double-doubles.
As a senior at Villanova, Campos ranked second in the Big East with a team-high 1,161 assists (9.84/set), which was slotted 47th nationally. She broke the 30-assist barrier on 20 occasions last year, including a career-high 59 helpers in a five-set thriller over Milwaukee at the Western Michigan Tournament.
“Andrea brings a wealth of experience to our setting position, and we are very fortunate she has joined our Aztec family for her final year of collegiate volleyball,” Hilliard said. “Ranking among the Big East leaders in assists is an amazing accomplishment, but it doesn't stop there. Not only is Andrea a quality setter, she is also an elite defender with a great serve. Add the fact that Andrea has four years of setting experience at a high Division I level, and I would expect her to compete immediately for our starting position.”
A 5-7 libero/defensive specialist, Herron played 130 sets across 42 matches during her two seasons at Oregon State, compiling 150 digs, 20 setting assists and 15 service aces.
As a sophomore in 2023, Herron started 14 of 19 matches, posting career highs with 113 digs (1.61/set), 14 setting assists and eight service aces. She surpassed the double-digit dig barrier on three occasions, including a collegiate-best 18 scoops against California.
An alumna of College Station High School in her native Texas, Herron received PrepVolleyball.com High School All-America honorable mention as a senior and twice appeared on the AVCA Phenom list.
A two-time all-district first-team honoree, Herron was named Conference 5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after helping her squad to its second consecutive top-five state finish. She was also a Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state selection that same season and garnered second-team all-state accolades from the Texas Sportswriters Association.
“Keira will be a welcome addition to our backcourt,” Hilliard said. “Having passed in a two-person serve receive for most of last season at Oregon State, we are confident Keira will have the experience needed to improve our team's reception from day one. She is a fearless defender who can play across all positions of the back row. Finally, she has a great personality that combines intensity on the court and being upbeat outside the gym. We are extremely grateful she chose San Diego State for the next chapter of her college career.”
A 5-6 defensive specialist, Bender brings a winning pedigree with her to The Mesa, helping her Hudsonville High team to an aggregate 141-16-1 record over her final three seasons, including a 42-1 mark against league competition, highlighted by a trio of Ottawa-Kent Red conference championships.
Bender earned second-team AVCA All-America honors following her senior season after leading Hudsonville High to a 45-3 overall record, as the Eagles finished with a No. 1 state and No. 19 national ranking, according to MaxPreps. She also garnered all-state, all-region and all-conference accolades after racking up 635 digs (5.3/set) during the 2023 campaign.
For her career, Bender collected 1,890 digs (4.00/set) and 194 service aces (0.40/set), according to MaxPreps, propelling her Hudsonville High squad to three Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division I state tournament appearances, including a Final Four berth during her sophomore season in 2021.
"Gianna comes to San Diego State as one of the best liberos in the state of Michigan," Hilliard said. “She can already pass two-thirds of the court and can defend at a very high level. Although only an incoming freshman, we expect Gianna to complete right away for court time. Through the recruiting process, it was obvious that she was exactly the type of libero we were looking for. She is extremely independent and unafraid of any situation a high-level program can throw at her. Again, Gianna is someone who brings an amazing intensity to the court, and when it's all said and done, she presents herself confidently off the court as well.”
With their additions, Campos and Herron give the Scarlet and Black four Division I transfers in its 2024 recruiting class, joining Jasmine Davis (UConn) and Shea Rubright (Washington State), while Bender represents the Aztecs' second incoming freshman for this season, along with former Arizona prep star Talea Mitchell, who signed with the program last fall.
San Diego State opens its 2024 season with an exhibition match against UC San Diego on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym. The Aztecs commence their regular-season schedule the following weekend when they compete in the Idaho State Tournament, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, battling the host Bengals, CSUN and Seattle in succession.
Season tickets for SDSU's 12-match home schedule on now on sale and may be purchased here.