CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball head coach Aaron Smith announced the addition of Czhen Beneby to the Cavaliers’ recruiting class on Friday (April 17).
 
“Since my first phone conversation with Czhen she has blown me away in every aspect,” Smith said. “She has a contagiously positive personality, one that people are easily attracted to. She is incredibly motivated and bright. Simply, Czhen is a great fit.
 
“If you would have asked Czhen a year ago if she would be attending UVA, I don’t think that option would have been on her radar. Having challenged Czhen as a prospect and seeing her commit, sacrifice and fight for this opportunity, I am eager to see how that determination translates onto the court.”
 
A 6-foot-4 middle blocker, Beneby originally hails from the Bahamas and joins the Cavaliers out of West Palm Beach, Fla., where she led Dreyfoos School for the Arts to its most successful season in program history. Beneby guided the Jaguars to the Region 4A quarterfinals after capturing the school’s first district championship since inception in 2011.
 
Beneby was named the team MVP as a senior, when she averaged better than six kills per match. She averaged 2.2 kills per set and added 1.2 blocks per set in her final season. Her performance earned her All-County recognition.
 
“Wahoo fans will notice Czhen right away when they walk into Memorial Gym,” Smith said. “Standing at 6-foot-4 with long limbs and incredibly gifted physical skills, Czhen has the upside that very few athletes possess. Czhen understands there is work to be done, and we know there will be a learning curve, but having worked with her in camps, we love how engaged she is as a learner. The staff believes that learning curve will be much smaller than most.
 
“This is an exciting day, to announce someone who already feels so much like family. We are excited to add her to an already strong 2020 class and to get Czhen on Grounds to get to work.”
 
Beneby is the fifth member of Virginia’s incoming class, joining setter Hannah Prendergast, defensive specialist Madison Morey, middle blocker Laila Rogers and outside hitter Mary Shaffer.