CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia volleyball head coach Shannon Wells announced the signing of middle blocker Veresia Yon (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln HS) on Saturday (April 16). Yon, a transfer from the University of West Florida, was named the AVCA’s 2021 South Region Player of the Year and a First Team All-American at the Division-II level.

“We are very excited to have Veresia join the UVA volleyball family,” said Wells. “Veresia has spent the last four years at one of the premiere Division-II programs in the country with a well-respected coaching staff that assisted in her development as one of the best players in program history. Her experience, athleticism, and ability to terminate the ball at a high level will allow her to compete immediately for our program. Veresia has only known winning at the collegiate level, and we cannot wait for her to bring that type of experience to our program.”

Last season, Yon led West Florida to the round of 16 in the Division-II NCAA Tournament as the Argonauts finished with an overall record of 35-2 and went a perfect 16-0 in conference play. Yon was recognized as the D2CCA Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, which is awarded to the top player in all of Division-II women’s volleyball. Additionally, she was named the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Player of the Year and led the Argos to their 10th GSC title after posting 23 kills and five blocks in the championship match against Montevallo. Last season, Yon finished first in the nation in hitting (.462), 10th in blocks (1.28/set) and 41st in points (4.22/set).

In 2019, Yon set UWF’s single-season record with 142 blocks before shattering her own record in 2021 with 157 total blocks. Her .462 hitting percentage last season was also single-season program best. In just two seasons at UWF, having redshirted her freshman year in 2018 and the 2020 season being cancelled due to COVID-19, Yon finished her career first all-time in program history in hitting percentage (.394) and fourth in career blocks (299).

Yon earned GSC Player-of-the-Week honors on three separate occasions in 2021 and became the first-ever AVCA National Player-of-the-Week recipient in UWF history.

In addition to her on-court accolades, Yon garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2021 for the second time in her career.

Yon is set to earn her undergraduate degree in Communications/Public Relations from West Florida in May before enrolling at UVA in the Fall.