MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama head coach Jesse Ortiz announced the addition of three players – Anabelle Cerny (Pleasant Prairie, Wis.), Kathryn O'Toole (Louisville, Ky. and Charlotte Pearce (Saraland, Ala.) – to the fall recruiting class on Wednesday. The group will join the program prior to the start of the 2026 season.

Anabelle Cerny | Pleasant Prairie, Wis. | St. Joseph Catholic Academy | Wisconsin Juniors
6-0 | Setter

Head coach Ortiz on Annabelle Cerny: "Annabelle hails from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., where she was a four-year starting setter at St. Joseph Academy. Annabelle played club volleyball at the prestigious Wisconsin Juniors. Annabelle is extremely bright and excels both in the classroom and on the court. Her coaches told me she was a 'gym rat' and having spent time getting to see her play, I was equally impressed with her leadership. She has great command of the court, and I am extremely excited about her potential."

-    Lettered four seasons in volleyball at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha, Wis., where she was a four-year team captain and MVP for the Lancers
-    Four-time, first-team all-conference selection and earned first-team all-Kenosha County honors (2023, 2024, 2025)
-    Twice named Kenosha News Supernova Athlete (2024 and 2025)
-    Named to Badger Region Power League Watch List 2024, class of 2026
-    Selected Badger Region Power League Top Setter and All-Tournament Team (16 elite division)
-    Two-time JVA Watch List Year selection (2023 and 2024)
-    Prep Dig Top 10 for Wisconsin Class of 2026 ('22 and '23) and ranked as the third setter and sixth overall player in the state by Prep Dig for the class of 2026 
-    Selected to the USAV Badger Region All-Star Team (2022-25)
-    Named to the All-Star all-tournament team as a senior
-    Named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List each of final three prep seasons (2023, 2024, 2025)
-    Selected to the JVA Beach Watchlist (2024) and the JVA Watchlist (2025)
-    Named second-team all-Metro Conference as a freshman
-    Also lettered two seasons in softball at St. Joseph
-    Played club ball for Wisconsin Juniors where she was a member of the team since 2016
-    Saw time at both the setter and right side hitter positions with Juniors
-    Also played club ball with the Badger Region All-Star team where she helped them finish third in the International Division in 2025, as she was also named all-tournament
-    Also helped club team place fifth in the 15 Premier Division at the AAU All-American in 2023

Kathryn O'Toole | Louisville, Ky. | Assumption High School | KiVA Adidas
5-7 | Libero / Defensive Specialist

Head coach Ortiz on Kathryn O'Toole: "Kathryn comes from the competitive state of Kentucky in Louisville where she was a member of one of the top clubs in the country, KiVA. She has played for some of the best coaches that volleyball has to offer. Kathryn comes from a prep program that won state championships at Assumption High School. We are excited by the level that Kathryn has competed in, and the great coaches she has learned under. She stood out to me as a hard worker and as an athlete who loves the game of Volleyball. She is going to be a great addition to our littles."

-    Lettered four seasons at Assumption High School in Louisville, Ky.
-    Led Rockets to a pair of state titles
-    Assumption finished the 2025 season with a 40-4 overall record, and 11-0 in the region
-    Ranked eighth nationally in the SI Top 25 Girls Volleyball National Rankings (Nov. 5)
-    As a senior, 40 matches, 100 sets played, 36 aces and a 93.3 serving percentage, 239 digs and 5.98 digs per match
-    Led AHS to a state KHSAA title as the Rockets defeated Notre Dame in five sets in the championship match
-    As a junior, helped the Rockets recorded a state championship with a 35-8 record
-    Played in 37 matches, recording 66 digs and 20 aces
-    Assumption won state title in 2023 (36-5) 
-    Advanced to the semifinals of the KHSAA state tournament where they finished 34-7
-    Also lettered four seasons in tennis and swimming
-    Played club ball for KiVA Adidas, where she began playing with the organization at the age of eight

Charlotte Pearce | Saraland, Ala. | Saraland High School | Mobile Storm
6-0 | Middle Hitter / Right Side Hitter

Head coach Ortiz on Charlotte Pearce: "Charlotte is a multi-positional athlete from right here in Mobile, Ala. She has played competitively at Saraland High School, and is a member of Mobile Storm Volleyball Club. She's a first-team all-state performer who finished her career with over 1000 kills and 500 assists. Charlotte is an extremely athletic and physical athlete who can play multiple positions on the court. She comes from a competitive sports family, and I am excited about her versatility and drive."

-    Lettered four seasons at Saraland High School in Saraland, Ala.
-    Three-time ASWA 6A All-State selection (2023, 2024, 2025)
-    Selected to compete at the North-South All-Star Game for the South Team in 2024
-    Named the Kiwanis Club Player of the Week on three occasions during her prep career
-    Earned All-Region honors from the Mobile Press Register in 2023
-    Helped Saraland capture three area titles, and both a regional championship and a runner up finish at the state tournament in 2023
-    During her prep career, she competed in 358 sets, compiled 1,038 kills, and had a .334 hitting percentage
-    Also recorded 217 total blocks – including 33 solo during her four-year career with the Spartans, while finishing with 209 aces and 708 digs
-    Posted 389 kills – the most in her four-year prep career, for a 3.20 per set average, and also had a 41.6 kill percentage
-    Credited with 515 assists in 2025, 341 digs (7.8 per match), 40 blocks, and was also a threat from beyond the service line, registering 54 aces
-    Recorded 60-plus total blocks as a junior and as a sophomore, and averaged 3.2 kills per set each of those seasons as well
-    Posted 66 total blocks – 15 solo and 51 assists – as a junior
-    Had a .414 hitting percentage during the 2023 season where she also had 285 kills, 80 aces, 162 digs, and 63 total blocks – six solo and 57 assists
-    Played seven years of club ball for the Mobile Storm
-    Led club team to three championships at the Volley Jolley tournament (2022, 2023 and 2024)
-    Named the MVP at the 2024 'SVT tournament where she helped club team win the team title

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