BALTIMORE – Coming off a MEAC Semifinals appearance and a school-record eight league wins, Coppin State head volleyball coach
Tim Walsh announced on Tuesday afternoon the signing of five new players for the upcoming 2020 season. Among the newcomers are freshman
Chudear Tut (Minneapolis, Minn.) as well as
Romane Cuadros (Saint-Chamond, France),
Kareemah Hopkins (San Diego, Calif.),
Kyndall Johnson (Austin, Texas) and
Sydney Sheppard (Glen Burnie, Md.).
Romane Cuadros
Setter 5-10 Saint-Chamond, France / Lycee Claude Lebois
A 5-foot-10 setter, Cuadros led Saint-Chamond to a pair of French Cup High School Championships (UNSS) and a pair of third place finishes for the French Cup. Cuadros has volunteered with Saint-Chamond volleyball following graduation.
Coach Walsh on Cuadros: "Romane's maturity, decision making and consistency at setter will add a tremendous amount of fluency to our offense. Her knowledge and passion for the game is exactly what this team is yearning for."
Kareemah Hopkins
Setter 5-11 San Diego, Calif. / Coronado HS / San Diego City College
Standing 5-foot-11, Hopkins played the last two seasons at San Diego City College where she was a two-time First Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference selection. Hopkins averaged nearly nine assists per set for the Knights in 2019 while also leading all PCAC setters in both kills (157) and blocks (51). Hopkins was also among the conference leaders with 3.05 digs per set. Prior to her JUCO career, Hopkins was a two-sport athlete at Coronado High School and was a three-time First Team All-League selection. As a senior, Hopkins led Coronado to a CIF Semifinal, a year after she helped Horizon Christian Academy to a State Finals appearance.
Coach Walsh on Hopkins: "Kareemah is an aggressive setter whose excitement will spread throughout the court. Kareemah is confident in her decision making and loves to use all of her offensive weapons. She sets the block well and will be a difference maker for us at the net this season."
Kyndall Johnson
Middle Hitter/Right Side 5-10 Austin, Texas / James Bowie HS / Tuskegee University
Johnson played her freshman season in 2018 at Tuskegee University where she recorded 75 kills and finished third on the team with 32 blocks. Tallying a season-high four blocks against Clark Atlanta and Albany State, Johnson added a season-high eight kills against LeMoyne-Owen. At James Bowie High School, Johnson was a First Team All-District selection as a senior while also earning Academic All-District accolades in her final two years.
Coach Walsh on Johnson: "We recruited Kyndall her senior year of high school and are pleased that she has decided that Coppin is where she wants to complete her education and athletic career! Kyndall is a fierce competitor, who excels in blocking. She will provide a strong physical presence at the net and has the versatility to run multiple offensive plays at the net."
Sydney Sheppard
Right Side/Setter 5-9 Glen Burnie, Md. / Arundel HS / Delaware State
Sheppard played for Delaware State in 2018 as a freshman and appeared in six matches while tallying 44 assists and 15 digs. This included a 14 assist, eight dig effort against Fairfield and a 10 dig performance in the season opener against Missouri. A local product from Glen Burnie, Md., Sheppard led Arundel High School to back-to-back County Championships and State Semifinal appearances while earning All-Academic honors all four seasons. Sheppard attended Anne Arundel CC last season but did not play.
Coach Walsh on Sheppard: "Sydney's knowledge of the game is a huge strength for her. She has lots of volleyball experience and has had great success as a player. In addition, to her high IQ for the game, she will radiate versatile skills and become a positive, contributing member to our squad."
Chudear Tut
Middle Hitter 6-2 Minneapolis, Minn. / Hopkins HS
A First Team All-State selection as a senior at Hopkins High School, Tut earned All-League honors in all four of her seasons and helped the Royals to a State Tournament in 2017 and a Sectional Final in 2019. Tut was selected to the AVCA Phenom List and JVA Watchlist and played for Club 43 Volleyball where she was coached by former Division I All-American Annie Adamczak-Glavan.
Coach Walsh on Tut: "We have always talked about adding height and now we have it! Chudear not only blocks well but is extremely agile and athletic. She loves the game, loves to play and longs to be the best. Chudear should have an immediate impact in our defense and offense this fall!"
2020 Coppin State Volleyball Recruiting Class
Name Ht. Pos. Hometown / Previous School
Romane Cuadros 5-10 S Saint-Chamond, France / Lycée Claude Lebois
Kareemah Hopkins 5-11 S San Diego, Calif. / Coronado HS / San Diego City College
Kyndall Johnson 5-10 MH/RS Austin, Texas / James Bowie HS / Tuskegee University
Sydney Sheppard 5-9 RS/S Glen Burnie, Md. / Arundel HS / Delaware State
Chudear Tut 6-2 MH Minneapolis, Minn. / Hopkins HS
