Northwestern State’s Class of 2016 grew a little earlier than expected.

Second-year coach Sean Kiracofe announced the addition of University of Cincinnati transfer Victoria Harris on Thursday.

Harris, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter/right side, spent the fall semester of her freshman season with the Bearcats but did not appear in a match. She will be eligible to compete for Northwestern State in the 2016 season.

“We are thrilled to have Victoria join the program and very fortunate to be able to have her in Natchitoches for the spring semester,” Kiracofe said. “While getting to know Victoria and her family we knew she would fit in well with our team’s personality and, in just a few days, that has proven to be the case. It has been a smooth transition in a very short amount of time.”

Prior to attending Cincinnati, Harris was a four-year starter at Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas.

In her prep career, Harris helped lead her team to a combined 100-32 record and was a four-time all-district selection and an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior.

Harris’ club resume includes a national runner-up finish with the Houston Juniors Volleyball Club and a championship in the Far Western National Qualifier with the Wave Volleyball Club.

As a sophomore, Harris was named to VYPE magazine’s Who’s Who in Volleyball among outside hitters. She was named to numerous all-tournament teams and honored as the Houston Chronicle’s Player of the Week during her senior season.

As a senior at Oak Ridge, Harris was named one of the top 125 players in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.

“Victoria’s skill set and the incoming Class of 2016 should give us options to correct some deficiencies we had last season and gaps left by a departing senior class that meant so much to this program,” Kiracofe said. “I am excited to have Victoria here and to be able to train her this semester.”