Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.

That may be the new motto of first-year Campbellsville (Ky.) University volleyball coach Amy Eckenfels as her search for players took her deep into the Sunshine State for recruit Lexis Lloyd.

"You guys got an incredible athlete," said her coach at Martin County (Fla.) High School, Marty Bielicki. "She was a defensive mainstay for us and a big reason for our success."  

The Martin County Tigers finished with a 2009 state championship, a 31-1 record and No. 9 state ranking while playing in Class 5A. Lloyd was also on a state championship team at Jensen Beach High School in 2007 prior to transferring before her senior season. Lloyd had 23 digs in the state championship game, said Bielicki.

"Oh, it's going to be nice to have the same mascot," said Lloyd when reminded she was going to be a Tiger in college too. "I just fell in love with the campus and everything. It's going to be far from home, but a nice change."

Lloyd holds three state championship rings, according to her high school coach, one in basketball and two in volleyball. Bielicki noted that Lloyd set a school record for digs in a season (435), something her new CU coach knows a little something about.

Eckenfels holds the NAIA career mark for digs - 3,569 during her 2003-2006 career.

"Lexis is a very strong defender who will make an immediate impact on our team," said Eckenfels. "She has tremendous potential, a wonderful personality and a strong will to win."

As far as honors are concerned, Lloyd received:

Best Defensive Player, 2008; Team MVP, 2006; State Champions for 4A-JBHS 2006; State Champions for 5A-MCHS 2009; 1st Team All Area; 1st Team All Conference; Rated No. 1 Defensive Player in area; Broke single season record in digs 473 in 2009. Her senior season she compiled these statistics: 415 receptions, 473 digs and 75 service points.

At 5'7", Lloyd also played for volleyball club teams in Florida - Palm Beach Junior 18s, and Treasure Coast Junior 18s and Senior 18s. But her interest in sports didn't end there. She also played basketball (winning a state title in 2006) and softball.

A 3.76 GPA student, Lloyd is undecided on her major, but is leaning toward something in sports management or sports medicine. She was a member of her school's Honor Roll and the Spanish Honor Society. In here spare time, she participated as a volunteer at the YMCA, Volleyball Camp Counselor at Martin County Parks and Recreation, and a Youth Volunteer at VA Medical Center.

When Lloyd gets to campus, she will join six returnees from a 38-13 NCCAA national title team and five other recruits: Monica Chernichan, 6'0" outside hitter from Winnipeg, Canada; Genevieve Collette, 5'10" right-side-hitter from Winnipeg; and Kelly Moyer, 5'10" middle blocker from Oldham (Ky.) County High School; Audrey Sanders, 5'5" libero from Pikerington, Ohio; and Giselle Hernandez, 5'10" outside hitter from Bogota, Columbia.