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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University volleyball coach Jen Greeny has enthusiastically revealed the remarkable addition of three talented student-athletes for the upcoming 2025 calendar year as part of her vision for the team’s growth and future success.
The Mountaineers are excited to welcome Anna Barr from Allen, Texas, Sarah Pfiffner from Frisco, Texas, and Abby Tucker from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to their ranks.
Coach Jen Greeny expressed her excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to sign these extraordinary players and young women for the class of 2025. Collectively, they bring a lot of volleyball skill and competitiveness that we are looking forward to coaching. They will have a significant impact in building this program into something truly special.”
Anna Barr / Allen, Texas / Right Side
Hailing from Allen, Texas, Anna Barr showcased her volleyball prowess while attending Lovejoy High School under the guidance of coach Natalie Puckett Bates. An accomplished right side hitter, Barr made waves playing for the Excel Club volleyball team, led by coach Shea Jenkins. During the 2021-22 season, Barr was instrumental in her team’s remarkable run to clinch the UIL Texas 5A State Championship. Her outstanding skills earned her a spot on the prestigious Prep Volleyball Class of 2025 watch list, along with a title on the USA Volleyball North Texas Region All-Star Tournament Championship team. As a sophomore in the 2022-23 season, the accolades continued, as she was placed on the AVCA Phenom Watch list and received honors on the Volleypalooza Show Stoppers List, as well as the Prep Dig 2025 Best Overall Prospects list. Barr’s contributions helped her team secure district honors, earning not only an honorable mention but also academic all-district recognition. At the national level, Barr was part of the Madfrog volleyball clubs’ fifth place finish at Nationals. As she stepped into her junior year, she garnered all-team right side honors at the Ann Kang Invitational Tournament while continuing to shine for Lovejoy High. Barr was recognized on the AVCA Phenom Watch List for the second consecutive year and earned first team all-district honors alongside her team’s triumph at the UIL Texas 5A State Championships. Her contributions with Excel saw her land a spot on the Red Hat All-Star team at the 2023 Triple Crown tournament, as well as with the 19U North Texas Region All-Star team. Now, in her final season at Lovejoy High, Barr has once again gained recognition as she was named to the AVCA Watch list in 2024. She played a pivotal role in her team’s all-tournament team honors at the North West ISD tournament, leading the Lovejoy Leopards to district championships, and they are currently gearing up for the state championships in Texas. Anna is the daughter of Laura and John and is undecided on her major at West Virginia.
Sarah Pfiffner / Frisco, Texas / Setter
As a dynamic setter from Frisco, Texas, Sarah Pfiffner honed her skills under the tutelage of coach U’iLani Womble at Wakeland High School, competing at the varsity level for three successive years. Additionally, she plays at the club level for Skyline 18 Royal under the guidance of renowned coach Mark Flores. Pfiffner’s achievements include winning a silver medal at the 14 Open TAV 14 Black USAV GJNC in 2021. Her impressive sophomore year saw her named to the 2022 TAV 15 Black USAV GJNC All-Tournament team, later earning a bronze medal, and she also made the 2022 all-district second team. Her reputation continued to grow as she was recognized in 2023, named to the SportsDayHS’ Preseason All-Area volleyball team, and collected 2023 Northwest ISD Volleyball Class All-Tournament team accolades. Pfiffner brilliantly capped her successful senior season by being honored as the 2023 District 9-5A Setter of the Year. Moreover, during her 2023 club season, she showcased her talents as a member of the U17 NTR All-Star team in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where her squad clinched gold. In her senior year, Pfiffner’s commitment was further recognized as she was chosen to compete this summer on the 2024 TGCA All-Star Red team alongside the U19 NTR All-Star team. Complementing her athletic achievements, Pfiffner has demonstrated consistent academic excellence, being named academic all-district in both 2022 and 2023, and is a proud member of the Spanish and National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Tara and David, with aspirations to major in engineering at West Virginia.
Abby Tucker / Canonsburg, Pennsylvania / Middle Blocker
A proud native of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Abby Tucker left her mark at Canon McMillan High School, where she played for esteemed head coach Sheila Mitchell, earning varsity letters over four remarkable years. Tucker’s prowess as a middle blocker extended beyond high school, as she played for the Skyline Elite Volleyball Club under coach Zaza Storm, and will soon join the Renaissance Volleyball Club under the guidance of coach Mackenzie Greene. Notably, she holds the school record for blocks in a single season at Canon Mac, receiving all-section athlete honors throughout her high school career. Her junior year accolades included selection to the first team Big 56 conference, the first team WPIAL 2AAAA all-star, and the first team PIAA All-State. In her senior season, her exceptional skills led to a repeat selection on the Big 56 Conference First Team. Tucker has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s elite hitters and blockers for the class of 2025 by PA Preps, in addition to making the 2023 AVCA Phenom Watch List. She also received an invitation to participate in the prestigious Under Armour Next Camp Series, marking another highlight in her impressive journey. Abby is the daughter of Lisa and Ivan, and she plans to study exercise physiology at West Virginia.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
How can a strong commitment to academics influence a student-athlete’s recruitment opportunities in collegiate sports?
Strong commitment to academics, maintaining a solid GPA throughout high school. She plans to pursue a degree in exercise science or sports management at West Virginia University.
Abby Tucker / Canonsburg, Pennsylvania / Outside Hitter
Abby Tucker, an outside hitter from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has made her mark at Canon-McMillan High School with her exceptional skill set and leadership on the court. Playing under coach Jeff Canny, Tucker’s accolades include being a standout in her senior season, where she led her team to a section championship and earned her selection to the All-WPIAL team. Her impressive club career with the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Club further solidified her status as a top prospect, contributing to numerous tournament victories, including a gold medal at the 2023 Big South Qualifier. With her competitive spirit and drive, Tucker hopes to major in business at West Virginia University.
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**Interview with Coach Jen Greeny**
**Editor:** Coach Greeny, thank you for joining us today! Excitement is in the air with the announcement of these three new recruits. What do you see each player bringing to the team moving forward?
**Coach Greeny:** Absolutely! We couldn’t be more excited about Anna, Sarah, and Abby. Each player brings unique strengths to our program. Anna, as a right-side hitter, has a tremendous offensive skill set and competitive edge; she’s proven to be a real game-changer on the court. Sarah, our setter, demonstrates exceptional court vision and leadership skills. She’s got a fantastic ability to distribute the ball effectively and rally the team. And Abby, as an outside hitter, has an incredible work ethic and serves as a fierce competitor, bringing energy and determination every time she steps onto the court.
**Editor:** It’s great to see such diversity in talent. How do you foresee their addition impacting the team’s dynamic and overall performance?
**Coach Greeny:** Their addition is significant not just in terms of skill but also in the culture they’ll help build. These players are not just talented athletes; they’re great individuals who embody the values we promote at West Virginia University. I anticipate that their competitive nature will elevate everyone’s performance and help push the team to new heights as we continue to strive for excellence.
**Editor:** With such impressive achievements on their resumes, what do you think makes them a good fit for WVU specifically?
**Coach Greeny:** WVU has a tradition of hard work and dedication, and these players exemplify that spirit. They’re not just athletes; they’re student-athletes who excel in academics too. Their names are already known in the volleyball community, and I believe they will thrive in our program. We focus on developing not only great players but also great leaders, and it’s clear that they have all the qualities we’re looking for in our future Mountaineers.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, how do you envision the Mountaineers’ future with these recruits?
**Coach Greeny:** We’re building something special here at WVU. With Anna, Sarah, and Abby on board, along with our existing roster, we are looking at a more competitive season ahead. Our goal is to take the program to the next level, and I genuinely believe that their contributions will be pivotal in reaching that vision. I can’t wait to see how they grow and evolve as Mountaineers!
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Greeny, for your insights. We’re excited to see how these talented recruits will shape the future of WVU volleyball!
**Coach Greeny:** Thank you! We’re equally excited and can’t wait to get started with them!
