KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball program and head coach Colleen Munson have announced the signing of five student-athletes to the program's class of 2024. Outside hitters Elana Erickson (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Camille Morrison (Aurora, Ill.), Annalise Patchett (Appleton, Wis.), libero Carley Piercefield (Ionia, Mich.) and setter Leah Richmond (Indianapolis, Ind.) are all slated to suit up for the Brown and Gold beginning with the 2024 season.
 
"We could not be more thrilled to welcome these five student-athletes to the Bronco Volleyball family," coach Munson said. "The commitment, dedication, and effort they put forth towards being successful in the classroom and on the court embodies exactly what we believe in as a part of our program. We're looking forward to getting them on campus and helping them as they continue to develop as students, athletes, and champions on and off the court!"
 
Elana Erickson • 5-10 • Outside Hitter • Grand Rapids, Mich. • Forest Hills Northern HS
An in-state product from Grand Rapids, Erickson has racked up more than 1,500 kills, 1,000 digs and 250 service aces in her career. She is a four-time All-Conference and two-time All-Region selection.

Following her sophomore season, Erickson earned Honorable Mention All-State, and followed that up with a Second Team All-State selection her junior year as she helped Forest Hills Northern reach the MHSAA Division I state semifinals. She is a finalist for Miss Volleyball and a Player of the Year candidate.
 
Erickson plays her club ball for Far Out Volleyball Club in Grand Rapids. Owner of a 3.4 GPA, she intends to major in Special Education upon arriving at WMU.
 
Camille Morrison • 6-0 • Outside Hitter • Aurora, Ill. • Metea Valley HS
Ranked #83 overall by 2023 Illinois PrepVolleyball and #26 in the Class of 2024 by PrepDig Illinois, Morrison is a three-year letterwinner at Metea Valley, where she helped the team win a 2021 IHSA 4A state championship. She is a three-time All-Conference performer, including First Team nods each of the last two seasons for the Mustangs.

The Aurora, Ill., native has picked up numerous other accolades throughout her career at both the high school and club levels, including being named to the AVCA Phenom List and UltraAnkle JVA Watchlist on multiple occasions. Morrison's junior campaign saw her claim Dupage County All-Area Special Mention, Naperville Sun All-Area Second Team, Beacon/Courier News All-Area Second Team and Illinois PrepVolleyball All-State Special Mention, and then help her club team to a third-place finish in the 18 Premier division at AAU Nationals. As a senior this year, she's been selected to a pair of All-Tournament Teams, picked up a Chicago Tribune Player of the Week and was Metea Valley's September Female Player of the Month.
 
A two-time DVC Academic All-Conference selection and a PrepVolleyball Academic All-American, Morrison owns a 3.5 GPA. She intends to major in Political Science at WMU.
 
Annalise Patchett • 5-11 • Outside Hitter • Appleton, Wis. • Fox Valley Lutheran HS
Patchett is set to arrive at Western Michigan from Fox Valley Lutheran High School, where she played under head coach Wendy Bixby. 

Going into her senior campaign, Patchett was named to the Post-Crescent Terrific 10 Preseason All-Valley Senior Volleyball Team. Her senior season did not disappoint, as she helped lead the Foxes to a conference championship this fall. Patchett was recently named a First Team All-Conference selection for the third consecutive year, and also added AVCA All-Region, AVCA Best and Brightest First Team, and AVCA All-America Third Team to her accolades. Ranked #11 in the state and #4 at her position according to Prepdig.com, she has also been named to the 2023 JVA Watchlist.
 
Academically, Patchett boasts a 3.8 GPA and has owned the distinction of Highest Honors since 2020. Also a member of the National Honor Society, she plans to be a Pre-Med major at WMU.
 
Carley Piercefield • 5-4 • Libero • Ionia, Mich. • Lakewood HS
Another in-state product, Piercefield has collected more than 2,700 digs, nearly 500 assists and 175 service aces throughout her high school career. During her time at Lakewood, Piercefield has helped the Vikings win four league championships, three district titles, three regional championships and make two appearances in the state semifinals.

Piercefield boasts a litany of individual accolades as well, having earned three All-State, two First Team All-State, three All-Barry County, three All-Ionia County and three All-Region honors. She has also been named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team three times, a finalist for MIVCA Miss Volleyball, AVCA All-Region and to the AVCA All-America Second Team. At the club level, Piercefield teamed up with Erickson to help Far Out win the Emperor's Cup National Championship and finish third at the AAU 17 Open. She was selected as an AAU All-American and to the JVA All-National Team.  
 
An All-State Academic honoree, Piercefield boasts a 3.639 GPA and is a member of the Honor Roll, National Honor Society and Circle of Excellence. She plans to major in Elementary Education at WMU.
 
Leah Richmond • 5-8 • Setter • Indianapolis, Ind. • Lawrence North HS
Richmond has been a four-year letterwinner for head coach Nick Cox at Lawrence North High School. Throughout her career at Lawrence North, Richmond has racked up over 2,400 assists, more than 500 digs, nearly 400 kills and over 200 blocks.

She received both All-Conference and All-County accolades in 2022 and again in 2023. This season, she helped lead the Wildcats to an MIC championship and was a 4A Second Team All-State selection.
 
Richmond, whose father, Charles, played one season of basketball at Western Michigan and brother, CJ, is a current member of the Bronco baseball team, has been on the Distinguished Honor Roll throughout high school. An Academic All-State selection, she ranks in the top-30 in her class with a 4.7 GPA. Upon arriving at WMU, she intends to major in Exercise Science.