Chattanooga volleyball was excited to announce the additions of two players out of the transfer portal on Friday afternoon, when the Mocs were able to land Florida State transfers Laila N’diaye and Ashley Reynolds, head coach and director of volleyball Julie Torbett Thomas confirmed.
N’diaye and Reynolds, both of whom were members of FSU’s 2023 Co-ACC regular season championship squad, will look to make an immediate impact on UTC’s 2025 indoor volleyball roster and beyond. Both arrive to the Scenic City with two years of eligibility remaining as N’diaye joins the Mocs as a redshirt-junior and Reynolds as a true junior.
N’diaye adds a towering frame to UTC’s front row, as the Orlando, Florida, native stands at 6-foot-2 at the middle blocker position.
While she missed the 2024 season due to injury, granting her a medical redshirt, N’diaye has gained some playing time while with the Seminoles including logging her first career start for the Noles in 2023, logging a career-high six blocks in that match.
Prior to signing with Florida State, N’diaye was a standout for Lake Brantley High School, putting together a dominant senior season that saw N’diaye be named the 2021 Seminole County Player of the Year while also raking in all-conference honors. N’diaye graduated from Lake Brantley ranked as a Top 15 middle blocker prospect in the entire state of Florida.
Born July 26, 2004, Laila is the daughter of Mamadou and Nicole N’diaye. She also has two siblings: Amina and Adam. Laila’s father, Mamadou, played at Auburn University from 1996-2000 on the men’s basketball team before being the 26th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. Her mother, Nicole, also played at Auburn on the soccer team. Her sister Amina is committed to play volleyball at Miami (FL) beginning in 2025. Laila intends on earning her masters in engineering management from UTC.
“Laila is an exceptional athlete with a ton of potential,” Torbett Thomas said. “She brings size, versatility and a strong work ethic to our front row and we’re excited to see her develop in our system. Her presence at the net will make an immediate impact and she’s the kind of competitor who elevates the level of play around her.
“We know she hasn’t even begun to tap into her true potential as a collegiate athlete, but she’s already benefitted from training in a high-level gym for the last three years. Coming from a family of college athletes with her father coaching DI basketball, she understands the dedication and mindset it takes to succeed at this level. Off the court, her teammates describe her as one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, which speaks volumes about her character and leadership potential.”
Reynolds joins the Mocs having played the previous two years at FSU. The Saraosta, Florida, native checked into a handful of matches for the Seminoles since joining the team in 2023, including logging a career-high two aces in a 2024 match versus Syracuse.
During her high school playing days, Reynolds split time at Venice High School and Pine View High School, where she cemented herself as one of the state’s most dominant setters. In 2022, Reynolds helped guide Venice to the Florida Class 7A state title while also picking up Florida Class 7A Player of the Year honors for her efforts.
Reynolds was ranked as the No. 4 prospect from the state of Florida in her graduating class while also being a PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American. Reynolds also excelled in the classroom as a two-time AAU Academic All-American with a 4.8 GPA, which has carried over to her making Florida State’s Dean’s List in every semester since arriving on campus.
Born July 26, 2005, Ashley is the daughter of Jeff Reynolds and Sara Wollard. She also has two siblings: Emma and Falyn. Ashley intends on majoring in psychology while attending Chattanooga.
“I am beyond thrilled to bring Ashley into our program,” Torbett Thomas said. “She has been growing as a player and a leader off the court, and I know she is ready to take that next step as a leader on the court. Her connection with Laila after two years of training together will be an immediate asset to our team.
“Their shared commitment to team chemistry and a high-level work ethic will elevate everyone around them. In addition, Ashley’s strong character and kind personality off the court will resonate with her teammates and further strengthen our team culture.”