BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Following a 2018 season that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs advance to the Big South Conference championship and tie its highest win total since 2009 with 12 victories, head coach Mike Varga welcomed nine newcomers during November's National Signing Day.
 
Abby Atchley (Honaker HS / Honaker, Va.), Olivia Benner (Blue Mountain HS/ Orwigsburg, Pa.),  Darby Bevis (Community School of Davidson / Mooresville, N.C.), Ella Bianco (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek HS), Kellan Culver (Charlotte, N.C. / Providence HS), Ayse Demirci (Summerfield, N.C. / Northwest Guilford HS), Robin Jackson (Indian Trail, N.C. / Porter Ridge HS), Kiana Rivera (Cary, N.C. / Green Hope HS) and Ally Varga (Shelby, N.C. / Crest HS) will join the 'Dogs for the 2019 campaign.
 
"With the success the team had this year, it was important to continue to bring in student-athletes that are committed to succeeding in the classroom and on the field and student-athletes that represent Gardner-Webb in a first-class manner," said Varga. 
 
Below are details on each signee
 
Abby Atchley – Midfielder/Goalkeeper – Honaker High School
 
About Abby:  Atchley led Honaker High School to its most wins in school history in two seasons, while also having the least number of goals allowed in a single season. For her efforts, she earned All-Conference honors as a midfielder her freshman and sophomore year. At the club level, she played for coach Matt Berry and Tri Cities United Soccer Club, winning a region and state championship in 2017, while finishing third in the country in that year as well. This past summer, Atchley led Tri Cities to a second-place finish in the state of Virginia. At GWU, she plans to major in exercise science.

Quoting Coach Berry (Club Coach): "Abby is an amazing player. Her goalkeeping ability gives confidence and motivates her teammates on the field. Abby is a terrific leader both on and off of the field. She is the first person to hold the team accountable in training and games and leads team building and social functions off the field. We are proud to say she is from Tri-Cities United Soccer Club and we look forward to her excelling at Gardner-Webb."
 
Olivia Benner – Midfielder – Blue Mountain High School
 
About Olivia: A decorated three-sport athlete at Blue Mountain High School, Benner scored 21 goals through her first three seasons at the varsity level and led her team to three league and district titles. She is currently working on a state championship, having recently won a semifinal playoff match. Benner has received All-Area recognition twice, including First-Team honors last year. She has played club soccer for both Reading Rage Morgan '01 under the director of Eric Puls and for the Elite Soccer Academy Showcase Team, which was coached by John Gregg. Benner played four years of EPYSA ODP soccer. Over the past four seasons, she has led her club teams to 11 different championships, and a first-place ranking in Pennsylvania last year. Internationally, Benner has had the chance to travel to England, Italy and Scotland to play. At Gardner-Webb, she will major in exercise science with the intent to pursue physical therapy following graduation.

Quoting Coach Puls (Club Coach): "Olivia is an intelligent midfielder with quality technical skills and is very composed on the ball. Her best attribute has always been her intelligence on the field and understanding of knowing where to be and getting into good positions. I expect her to thrive at the next level."
 
Darby Bevis – Midfielder – Community School of Davidson
 
About Darby: Bevis had a storied prep soccer career, earning numerous honors on the pitch at the high school and club level. As a midfielder for coach Mike Yascur, she scored 60 career goals and added 42 assists, earning All-Conference recognition during her four seasons, as well as All-Tournament honors her freshman year. She was a letter-winner each season. She also competed for the Charlotte Soccer Academy and was named to the ODP NC State Team 1, while earning NC Player of the Week honors over her tenure with the CSA.
 
Quoting Coach Phillip Poole (CSA Director): "Darby has been tremendous for us at CSA. Darby has shown a work ethic and desire to improve since the moment she has been here. Her versatility and ability to play multiple positions will stand her in good stead as she embarks upon her college soccer career. Darby is a phenomenal teammate, and her positivity and winning mentality make her a prized asset for any locker room."
 
Ella Bianco – Centerback – Beavercreek High School
 
About Ella: Bianco becomes the second member of her family to join the Gardner-Webb athletics family. Her father, Al Bianco, was a four-year member of the Runnin' Bulldogs football team. At Beavercreek HS, Bianco played for Steve Popp and was a First-Team All-Conference selection her junior and senior seasons while earning All-Area recognition during her sophomore, junior and senior years. She capped off her senior campaign with First-Team All-Area recognition and a state championship last week. She scored two goals in the 4-2 championship win. Bianco competed at the club level for Ohio Premier.

Quoting Coach Popp (High School Coach): "Ella is a dominating central defender who controls the middle of the field. She is strong to the ball and in the air. She is one of the most talented centerbacks in Ohio. 

Kellan Culver – Defensive/Holding Mid – Providence High School
 
About Kellan: A defender from Providence High School and the Carolina Rapids, Culver will make the move to Boiling Springs from nearby Charlotte. The fourth of fifth children, Culver is an honor roll student with a 3.86 GPA and a member of the PHS academic team. She was a member of the NC Olympic Development Team and attended the regional camp in Montevallo, Ala. She plans to major in criminal justice.
 
Quoting Coach Conlon (Director of Club Development for Midwest United): "Kellan is a coach's dream.  Since she started playing the game her goal was to simply get better every day and outwork every player she competed against.  During the 10 plus years I have known her she hasn't taken a day off from the game.  Her drive and desire to be a great player is as high as any player that I have worked with.  Likewise, her selflessness and work rate make her the consummate teammate. Kellan is the example that I use with young players on what it takes to be "great.""  
 
Ayse Demirci – Midfielder – Northwest Guilford High School
 
About Ayse:A four-year starter for Terrance Murphy at Northwest Guilford High School, Demirci led her team to three straight 4A  conference championships. During her junior year, Demirci was the guiding force behind NGHS' Elite 8 playoff run, something that the school had not done in more than 20 years. She earned All-Conference recognition during her final two seasons. Demirci played for the NC Fusion on the club level, making a tremendous impact on the field by leading the fusion to a championship at the 2018 Labor Day Shootout. Off the field, she helped organize a fundraiser to help cancer patients. She plans to major in Biology.
 
Quoting Coach Murphy (High School Coach): "Ayse has grown into an intelligent and powerful player.  After a few setbacks with injuries in her freshman and sophomore years, last year as a junior Ayse became a leader and impactful player for our team.  She helped to dominate the defensive and midfield lines allowing our team to play an aggressive attack minded game.  Her ability to win balls in the midfield, drive at defenders, and shooting range make her a headache for opposing teams."
 
Robin Jackson – Forward/Midfielder – Porter Ridge High School
 
About Robin: A two-year member of her high school team, Jackson scored 29 goals and added 33 assists before turning her attention to club soccer. During her two years of high school soccer, she earned All-Conference honors, while also being named to the NC Southwestern 4A and All-Region (Region 8) teams. From 2013-16 she was a member of the North Carolina Olympic Development State team, and played for the ODP Region III team from 2014-15. She led the Charlotte Soccer Academy to the ENCL state playoffs for straight three years from 2014-16.
 
Quoting Coach Philip Poole (CSA Director): "Robin has a soccer brain; she is able to think the game on a higher level than most players. Knowing that goals change games, I can categorically say that if you give Robin a chance in front of goal - she will take it. Robin can pop up and win a game in an instance.  Robin has been an inspirational ambassador in the community and someone that have a very successful future."
 
Kiana Rivera – Striker – Green Hope High School
 
About Kiana: Rivera, a striker, played at the club level for North Carolina FC and coach Pete Sadin. She led her team to a No. 2 ranking in the state of North Carolina, while helping NCFC earn a top-20 ranking in the region. At the high school level. Rivera led Green Hope to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs and a SWAC championship. She earned First-Team All-Conference as a junior. At Gardner-Webb, she plans to major in nursing.
 
Quoting Coach Sadin (Club Coach): "Kiana is a hard-working player who's able to consistently score goals.  She's athletic and strong in the air. Her transition to the college game will be seamless, and there is no doubt she will be successful at Gardner-Webb."
 
Alli Varga – Forward – Crest High School
 
About Alli: A forward from Shelby, N.C., Varga played prep soccer at nearby Crest High for head coach Zachary Wortman, while also spending time on the club circuit with the GGCSA Cobras. She was a letter winner and earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in 2016 and 2018. Varga was selected to the Olympic Development Program team for the state of North Carolina. As a member of the GCCSA, she led her club squad to the 2016 Riverside Summer Shootout Championship.

Quoting Coach Wortman (High School Coach): "Alli is a tenacious player and a fierce competitor. Whether it was a competition in practice or a match, Alli's efforts generally lead to her side being the winning side. I'm excited to see Alli's game progress at Gardner Webb."
 
Final Thoughts from Coach Varga
 
Varga, who will enter his sixth year as head coach when the fall 2019 season begins, is pleased with the additions to the Runnn' Bulldogs soccer program and believes that the staff found players who will make an impact on the field and also great individuals who will impact Gardner-Webb's campus.
 
"Not only is the class of 2019 a group of exceptional soccer players, but they are incredible young women," Varga said. "We identified areas of need with our large class of graduating seniors, and I think we have checked every box with what we were looking for as we started shaping this class. One of our strengths this year was our depth and our ability to train at a high level.  This group comes in with a high level of experience that will enable them to compete at the Division I level immediately. I look forward to getting this group on campus.  I have no doubt that they will blend in incredibly with the talented group we have returning as we continue to build a program that can consistently compete for Big South Championships"