LRSC Volleyball Signs Four in 2026 Recruiting Class

The Lake Region State College Royals Volleyball program is pleased to announced the first four signess to their 2026 recruiting class: Sophie Cunningham, a defensive specialist and setter from Glenburn, North Dakota, Kenzie Neighbors, an outside hitter from Surrey, North Dakota, Taylor Cyr, a middle blocker from Stavely, Alberta, Canada, and Myia Knox, a middle hitter from Ray, North Dakota. The first group of signees includes a high level of skill and experience for the Royals, and each of these players will add to the strong core of returners from this past season's historic performance. 

Sophie Cunningham, 5'5" Defensive Specialist/Libero/Setter, Glenburn, North Dakota 

Sophie Cunningham is a scrappy defender with very strong ball control and a very high volleyball IQ; she will bring a lot of depth to our back row, and she also adds depth to our setter position. She has amassed some very impressive stats over her career, and she led her team to a District Championship this past season. 

Cunningham's Career Stats: 

Assists: 1808 

Digs: 1077

Ace Serves: 124 

Kills: 160

Cunningham's Career Awards: 

Most Assists in a Season - Three Seasons in a Row 

Most Digs - Junior Season 

Best Hustle - Three Seasons

Communication Award - Two Seasons

Panther Pride Award - Two Seasons

All-District - Senior Season

All-Region - Senior Season

Holds the school record for career assists 

When asked why she chose LRSC, Sophie had this to say: "I chose LRSC because of the amazing environment from the entire school, but especially the volleyball team. I am so grateful that Coach Waddell has chosen to put his faith in me to be a part of this program. From my first visit, all of the players made me feel welcomed, and I knew it was the place for me." 

Coach Waddell had this to say about Sophie: "Sophie is exactly the type of player that we look for to be a part of our program. She is a hard worker, incredibly team-oriented, has a ton of potential for our level of play, and she is just an all around great person! She will bring a huge level of skill to our gym, and she knows the game extremely well. She has been setting for much of her high school career, and I am excited to see what she can do in the back row! I'm confident that she will continue to improve and make our program even better!" 

Kenzie Neighbors, 6'1" Outside Hitter, Surrey, North Dakota 

Kenzie Neighbors is a dynamic outside hitter who knows how to score. She is also a strong passer in serve receive and plays great defense. She will add size to our pin hitters, and she will terminate for the Royals on the outside. She has the ability to hit from anywhere on the floor, and she will be very exciting to watch. She also led her team to the North Dakota State Tournament this year! 

Neighbors' Career Stats: 

Kills: 999

Digs: 1112 

Neighbors' Career Awards: 

All-District - Three Seasons 

All-Region - Two Seasons

Most Valuable Player - Three Seasons

Most Improved Player - One Season

All-Region Tournament Team 

All-State Tournament Team 

Northwest Conference All-Tournament Team 

Neighbors had this to say about why she chose LRSC: "I chose LRSC volleyball because it's a whole different environment. The players and coaches are unexplainably welcoming, hardworking, and driven. Coach Waddell has seen more potential in me as a player than any other coach I've had, which is so exciting as a future Royal!" 

Waddell had this to say about Neighbors: "We are so excited that Kenzie has chosen to be a Royal! She is an extremely dynamic outside who knows how to score. She has an incredibly high ceiling, and we know that she will continue to improve as she becomes more comfortable with the college game. She hasn't even begun to hit her full potential, and we are so glad that we will have her on our squad next year! She will add to our already dynamic offense, and her defense is also going to add so much to our team." 

Taylor Cyr, 5'8" Middle Blocker, Stavely, Albert, Canada 

Taylor Cyr is a strong middle blocker who works extremely hard both offensively and defensively. She is a fierce competitor who will add to our talented front row. She is the type of player who is eager to learn and grow in the sport, and she will push to fill one of our middle blocker roles that we lost to graduation this year. 

No Career Stats are available for Taylor Cyr. 

Cyr's Career Awards: 

Heart and Hustle Award - 2023/2024 

Most Valuable Player - 2024/2025 

Gold AVA 3 Division 4 ACE Okotoks - 2023/2024 

Bronze AVA 2 Division 3 ACE U18 Black Calgary - 2024/2025 

Numerous Player of the Game Awards 

Player of the Month - March 2023/24 and January 2024/25 

West Winds League All Star - 2025/26 

When asked why she chose LRSC, Taylor Cyr had this to say: "I chose to become a Royal because of the welcoming environment of the school. The faculty, coaches, and players were all beyond kind, and I instantly felt at home. I feel it is going to be the best overall fit for me both on and off the court. I really admire the teams competitiveness and have no doubt they will help me grow as a player." 

Waddell had this to say about Cyr: "I was immediately impressed with Taylor from our first contact. When she came to campus, and I was able to meet her and watch her play, I knew that she was a perfect fit for Royals Volleyball. She is the type of player who will do whatever it takes to help her team succeed, and she shows a lot of grit and determination, which is exactly what we look for in our middle blockers. Taylor will be a great asset to our program both on and off the court, and I am excited for the opportunity to work with her in our program!" 

Myia Knox, 5'10" Middle Blocker, Ray, North Dakota 

Myia Knox is a middle blocker who can score both offensively and defensively. She reads the ball well, and she can hit around blocks in a very effective way. She also moves well in the back row, and she is constantly pushing herself to improve. She is a fierce competitor who has a lot of experience in tough matches. 

No Career Stats are available for Myia Knox. 

Knox's Career Awards: 

All-District Team - Two Seasons

All-District Tournament Team - Two Seasons

All-Region Team - One Season

All-Region Tournament Team - One Season 

On why she chose LRSC, Knox said this: "I chose to play volleyball at LRSC because it felt like the right fit for me. The coaches and team were super welcoming, and I knew it was a place where I could grow, get better, and actually enjoy the game. The environment is competitive but supportive, and I really like the energy there. It just feels like home, and I am excited to be a part of it." 

Waddell had this to say about Knox: "I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with Myia. I have seen her play over the past three seasons, and the growth that she has made is phenomenal. I know that she will continue this trend as she becomes more comfortable with our level of play, and she has the ability to be a very strong player for us. She can score from anywhere on the court, and she is a natural blocker. I can't wait to see how she continues to grow!" 

The Royals are coming off a 29-11 season where they were the outright second place team in the tough Mon-Dak Conference. These incoming players, along with the returners, will continue this trend, and they should provide more excitement for Royals Volleyball fans for the 2026 season!