DeKALB – Sondra Parys, the newly-hired head coach of NIU volleyball, has made her first addition to the team’s roster as the program announced the signing of Savanah Brandt on Tuesday.

Brandt, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, will join the Huskies as a freshman immediately, serving as the latest addition to NIU’s blocking group of junior Charli Atiemo and sophomore Sarah Lezon.

She spent her first season of college volleyball at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Brandt played in 15 matches and 28 sets, racking up 27 kills, 13 blocks and 34.5 points.

Her career-best scoring performance came against the Bradley University Braves on Oct. 22 where she recorded eight kills on 16 swings to finish with a .438 hitting percentage. She ended her time at Belmont with a career-high five blocks in the Bruins’ season finale versus Murray State University on Nov. 16.

Prior to her time at Belmont, Brandt played outside hitter for the Pearl City High School Wolves but served as a middle blocker for VC United, a club team based out of Rockford.

NIU held its first day of spring practice Tuesday with Brandt, along with the other nine players listed on the roster, in attendance.