TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Beach Volleyball head coach Steve Walker has added eight players to the 2025-26 roster, announced by the program on Thursday.
 
"This recruiting class has legitimate depth and the potential to impact our program immediately and well into the future," Walker said. "We've added some players that have already achieved tremendous success at the juniors and collegiate level, and we are adding some young athletes to the mix. They all come from terrific, supportive families, do very well in the classroom and wanted to bring their talents to the University of Arizona and Bear Down Beach. We can't wait to get started this fall."
 
Kylie Bartel
6-0 | Blocker | Mesa, Ariz. | Benedictine University

• Went 16-4 during the 2025 season at Benedictine
• 2025 All-GSAC first team
• Three-time first-team All-CalPac in beach volleyball
• Two-time CalPac Academic Team
• 2023 and 2024 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete  
• Helped Benedictine Beach Volleyball reach the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament in 2022, 2023, and 2024
• Also played indoor volleyball at Benedictine, earning first-team all-conference honors in 2024 and 2025
• Earned AVCA NAIA All-American third team honors in 2025 for indoor volleyball

Coach Walker says: "Kylie brings elite athletic ability to the table and can pose a number of challenges for the opposing team at the net. She is gifted with great athletic genetics and works extremely hard to push her potential as far as she can. She has improved all parts of her game during her time at BU and posted some truly impressive wins last season. Kylie has the potential to do a lot of good things for our team."
 
Kylie says: "I chose Arizona for the competitive environment, great coaching staff and team, and excellent academics."
 
Taylor Dobbs
5-8 | Defender | La Cañada, Calif. | La Cañada H.S.

• VB Magazine Fab 50 Underclassmen to Watch List
• Rated AA by the California Beach Volleyball Association
• Played for Elite Beach Volleyball in Manhattan Beach
• Placed first at the Beach Elite SoCal Series Fall 2024 18U
• Picked up three first place finishes with her club team in 2023 and 2024

Coach Walker says: "Taylor is a very exciting addition to our recruiting class.  She trains and competes regularly with and against the highest level of juniors beach volleyball athletes in the country. She's very versatile and plays the game with a real ease, but what separates her from many her age is her ability to pursue and cover a lot of ground defensively. We look forward to getting her here and working with her on a daily basis."
 
Taylor says: "I chose Arizona because it was the perfect school for me because of the strong school culture, passion for sports, and exceptional athletic programs!"
 
Kylie Helm
5-10 | Defender | Gilbert, Ariz. | Highland H.S.

• Played club with Volley for Life Beach Volleyball Club
• Helped her club team to first place finishes at Galveston BVCA and RPM BVCA
• Named the Offensive Player of the Tournament for BVCA Club v Club in 2025
• Played beach volleyball and indoor volleyball at Highlands High School
• First-team 6A honoree in beach volleyball at Highland  

Coach Walker says: "Kylie is a very explosive athlete and has the potential to be a very good point scorer at the defender position for us. She was an early commitment and we are very excited to keep such a hardworking, talented prospect from the state of Arizona close to home. Like any other young player, Kylie will adapt to the collegiate level and what comes along with that. We're looking forward to seeing her bring her game to Bear Down Beach."
 
Kylie says: "I chose the University of Arizona because the moment I stepped on campus, it just felt like home. The energy, the vibe, and the sense of community pulled me in right away. But what really made my decision easy was the beach volleyball program. I've always loved the sport, and seeing how dedicated, supportive, and passionate everyone is made it clear this was the right place for me, not just to grow as an athlete, but as a person too. The coaches, the team, and everything about the program motivates me to work hard and keep getting better every day. The campus is beautiful and the University of Arizona is the kind of place that makes you feel excited to be there every day. I can't wait to be a Wildcat. Bear Down!"
 
Regan Holmer
5-11 | Defender | Aurora, Ill. | Grand Canyon University

• Went 27-8 during her two years at GCU
• Picked up 10 top 25 wins during the 2025 season
• Was named an AVCA Top Flight recipient at No. 5
• 2025 MPSF All-Academic Team
• Played club with Team One Volleyball in Aurora, Illinois
• Under Armour All-American in 2021

Coach Walker says: "It will be a pleasure to have Regan on our side of the net for the next couple of years. I've always been a fan of her steady, unwavering play and she conducts herself that way in everything she does. Regan has great leadership skills on and off the court and we really want to tap into that while she's a Wildcat. She is ready to get to work and take our program and her game to another level."
 
Regan says: "I chose Arizona because of the amazing coaching staff and team culture, as well as the support for all the athletic programs on campus."
 
Holly Matchinsky
5-10 | Blocker | Phoenix, Ariz. | Xavier H.S.

• Played club with One Beach Volleyball
• Two-time All-6A Central Conference player at Xavier High School
• 2025 Section Player of the Year at Xavier  
• Two-time All-Academic first team in 2024 and 2025
• 2025 Top Beach Finishes:
  • Team State Runner-Up
  • Pairs State Runner-Up
  • 1st Place - CatBox Classic
  • 2nd Place - BVNE Kauai Bikini West Coast Nationals
  • 3rd Place - Mesa BVCA
  • 3rd Place - p1440 National Qualifier
  • 5th Silver - BVCA Nationals
  • 5th Place - p1440 National Qualifier
• 2024 Top Beach Finishes:
  • 1st Place - AAU National Qualifier
  • 3rd Place - BVCA Clearwater
  • 3rd Place - p1440 National Qualifier
  • 3rd Place - AVP National Qualifier
  • 3rd Place - Womens Open Tournament

Coach Walker says: "Holly is a very exciting addition to our recruiting class. She possesses all of the physical attributes that are required to compete in a conference like the Big 12. We expect Holly to make a lot of strides quickly in her time with us and to be a force at the net. She has tremendous character and will add to our program's established culture of excellence."
 
Holly says: "I chose Arizona because I loved the campus, culture, and community. My older brother is currently a student there, and after visiting him for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the school. Being from Phoenix, I was excited to stay in my home state while still being able to experience a new environment in Tucson."
 
Ella Neubauer
5-10 | Split Blocker | Sammamish, Wash. | Eastlake H.S.

• Played club for Dakine Volleyball Club
• Played four years of indoor volleyball at Eastlake High School
• Two-time first-team All-King County honoree in 2023 and 2024
• 2024 first-team All-Crest District
• Holds the school record for most kills in indoor volleyball at Eastlake
• Also played flag football at Eastlake  

Coach Walker says: "Ella was set on being a Wildcat and we're very glad to have her on board. She has worked tirelessly since her verbal commitment and we've been so happy with her dedication and development in the last year. She's a long-levered player who is quite versatile and is someone we believe will be a tremendous team leader on and off the sand for us. We're looking forward to seeing her continue to develop in her time here."
 
Ella says: "I chose Arizona because Arizona has been my dream school since I was little. Ever since I stepped on campus for the Walker Volleyball Camp in 2023, everything just felt right. From that moment on, I was completely confident that Arizona was where I belonged!"
 
Tylee Shires
6-0 | Split Blocker | Blanco, Texas | Blanco H.S.

• Played club with 210 Beach Volleyball in San Antonio, Texas
• Named the 2023 Houston BVCA Offensive Player of the Tournament
• Helped her club team place fifth at nationals in 2024 for the BVCA Open
• Played indoor volleyball at Blanco High School for four years and ranked second in school history with 1,409 career kills
• Helped Blanco win the Bi-District Championship twice
• Also played basketball and was on the track team at Blanco

Coach Walker says: "Tylee was a June 15th verbal commitment and was always destined to be a SandCat. She has an extremely high beach volleyball I.Q. and is well decorated on the juniors level in an extremely competitive region of the country. She has very high character and is a very caring and giving teammate. We also expect Tylee to be a great locker room leader for our team."
 
Tylee says: "I chose Arizona because I love the atmosphere and all of the great academic programs they provide. I have always wanted to play beach volleyball for a big school, and U of A has a strong athletics program. I have a strong interest for not just the campus itself, but Tucson as well, with many hikes to climb and lakes to swim in. The University of Arizona provides so many opportunities for everyone and I love how involved all of the students are when it comes to sports."
 
Reece Winkcompleck
6-0 | Blocker | Austin, Texas | Westlake H.S.

• Played club with 210 Beach Volleyball in San Antonio, Texas
• Led her club team to a second place finish at the BVCA GCVA Open in Galveston, Texas
• Placed second at the TXBVA Men's/Women's A/BB and the BVNE Girls 2023 West Coast National Championship with 210 Beach Volleyball
• Helped her club place third at the AVP America/P1440 Junior National Tournament
• Placed fifth with 210 Beach Volleyball at the Annual Junior TEXAS CUP and the TXBVA Recruiting Showcase
• Second-team All-District 26-6A in 2023 in indoor volleyball at Westlake High School

Coach Walker says: "Reece is as dogged a competitor as you'll ever find. One of her true talents is her ability to play extremely hard while bringing her partner and teammates along with for the ride. She has strong net play and will only get better given her work ethic. Reece is someone who we believe has the ability to serve on some of the leadership groups our athletic department supports."
 
Reece says: "I chose Arizona because the second I stepped on campus it truly felt like home and was everything I could have possibly asked for. The community is incredible, the coaches are amazing, and my teammates are great people who I know will love and care about me. Also, the campus is beautiful with awesome facilities."