Behonick Adds Five Ahead of 2023 Season

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Ahead of her first season leading the Oregon State volleyball team, head coach Lindsey Behonick announced five additions to the team for the 2023 season.

Ava Pitchford
Setter | 5-9 | Norcross, Ga. (Florida State)

Pitchford, a setter, comes to Corvallis from Florida State with two years' worth of eligibility and will pursue her Masters of Business Administration. In 2022 with the Seminoles, she appeared in 86 sets and tallied 413 assists, which ranked as the second highest on the team. On nine occasions – including four ACC matches – she recorded at least 20 assists. She helped lead the Seminoles to a pair of appearances in the NCAA tournament, including a sweep of Kansas State in 2021.

Helping take Virginia the distance in October, she had a season-best 26 assists. She notched a season-best five service aces in a sweep of conference foe, Boston College. On the defensive side, she tallied a season-best 18 digs in a five-set match against Creighton.

The Georgian recorded 34 and 32 assists, respectfully, in two of the final three matches of her first season with the Seminoles in 2021. She appeared in 19 sets across 10 matches after enrolling in spring 2021.

What Coach Behonick is saying: "It excites me to get to coach a player I have spent time in the ACC competing against. Ava has had NCAA playoff experience and much success with Florida State, and we know she has a knowledge of what it's like to compete on a big stage. She is comfortable running a fast tempo offense, and we know she will bring a confidence and maturity to our team. Her bright and inclusive personality will greatly contribute to the positive culture we desire to embody, and we couldn't be more excited to get her for two years as she completes her MBA degree at OSU."

Elizabeth Schuster
Setter | 5-7 | Long Beach, Calif. (Cal State Fullerton)

The Long Beach, California, native – and a 2022 Big West Honorable Mention honoree - joined the program in the Spring 2023 term and will spend her final year of eligibility with the Beavers. A setter, Schuster led the Titans in assists in her two full seasons of competition – totaling 984 and 980 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
She had seven matches with over 40 and a pair over 50 in 2022. In the penultimate match of 2022, she notched 51 in a five-set tilt that she coupled with 14 digs.

Schuster additionally totaled 619 digs, 337 coming from her junior season. A large majority (178-of-272) of her digs came against conference opposition, including 22 in a five-set setback to UC Davis.

What Coach Behonick is saying: "Liz is someone who has anchored an offense at Fullerton for the last four years. I am thrilled she has been able to start training with us this spring, and already has embodied the role of leading, guiding, and directing her new teammates. She is well experienced with running a fast tempo offense and does a fantastic job of creating scenarios for her hitters to be successful. During the recruiting process, it is clear she is confident, yet still a team player and most excited about the potential of the group's success. Her leadership, maturity, and poise are all reasons we are excited to have her at Oregon State."

Amanda Burns
Opposite / Setter | 6-1 | Manhattan Beach, Calif. (LMU)

Burns, a setter and transfer from Loyola Marymount, comes to Corvallis with two years' worth of eligibility. She appeared in 76 sets across the 2022 season that saw the Lions appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Manhattan Beach, California, native tallied 11 aces last season, including match-high of two last November against San Diego.

She appeared in seven sets in five matches during the 2021 season, where she notched an assist, a kill and a block.
Her father, Tony, is an Oregon State alumnus.

What Coach Behonick is saying: "Amanda is a player that excites me to get in the gym, as she will train as both an opposite attacker and setter for our team. She has had high level training and experience coming from LMU, and she played for decorated programs in the high school and club settings. What has impressed me about Amanda is her loyalty to my vision here, and her excitement to have influence and be a part of the legacy being built. Her joy and positivity are contagious, and I know she will help push this program forward to new heights."

Peyton Suess
Outside Hitter | 6-1 | Kasson, Minn. (Wake Forest)

A graduate transfer from the ACC's Wake Forest, Suess will use her final year of competition playing for the Beavers. Helping lead the Demon Deacons to an appearance in the 2022 NIVC, Suess was second on the team in kills with 284, kills-per-set at 2.56 and fourth in blocks with 49. A dependable teammate, she missed just five matches throughout her last three seasons in Winston-Salem, including appearances in 50 of 52 throughout 2021 and 2022.

Suess attained double-figures in kills – including 21 – in a five-match stretch that saw Wake Forest go 4-1 in the timeframe. In her last five matches wearing a Wake uniform, she had at least 14 kills.

As a junior in 2021, her 150 kills were good for fifth on the team and fourth with 186 digs.

She made an instant impact when she led the Deacons with 383 points scored and 327 kills.

What Coach Behonick is saying: "Peyton is an athlete with a storied resume both in high school, club and college volleyball. She has been a pivotal player for Wake Forest during her undergraduate time there, and I am thrilled she is spending her final graduate season as a Beaver. She has experience on both the outside and opposite attacking positions, has played and been successful in the ACC at a high level, and provides versatility for us in the offense we want to run. Her competitive drive, tough resilience, and approachable demeanor are qualities that I have admired about her and ones I know will better our team on and off the court."

Megan Sheridan
Opposite| 6-1 | Zionsville, Ind. (Butler)

A graduate transfer from Butler out of the Big East, Sheridan was a strong contributor to the Bulldogs in her four-year career in Indianapolis. Sheridan played in 113 sets across all 31 matches in her senior season in which she racked up 266 kills on 806 attacks, 283.5 points – third-best on the Bulldogs – 84 digs, 31 block assists and a season-high 17 kills in a September match versus Eastern Washington.

On the way to an appearance in the 2021 NIVC, Sheridan contributed 136 kills and finished second on the team in hitting percentage at .234 with at least 100 kills (114). Additionally, she added 51 digs, 20 blocks and four assists.

Making an instant impact for Butler, the Zionsville, Indiana, native recorded 155 kills, which ranked fifth on the team.

Epitomizing a student-athlete, Sheridan was named to College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District team in 2022.

What Coach Behonick is saying: "Megan has been a standout player for Butler University and has made an overall impact in the Big East conference the last four years. Her creativity on the court is a quality that stood out to me the very first time I saw her play, as she is comfortable playing as an opposite and outside hitter. She knows how to carry a big load on teams. A 6-rotation lefty with lots of talent, she will immediately make an impact in the gym and in our culture alike, as she displays a relentless and infectious drive to work hard and wants to win. We are excited to not only get the person that she is but also the athleticism that she will bring to our offense."

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