FORT MYERS, Fla. – Head coach David Deiros announced the addition of seven newcomers for the 2021-22 roster Monday afternoon. The six transfers and one true freshman will help make immediate impacts in the circle, behind the plate, and in the lineup.

"I'm really pleased with the experience and tools each of our newcomers have to offer right away," said Deiros. "All of them have the ability to make an immediate impact to our roster and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out in the fall and going into the season."

Jordan Almasy | RHP | UCF
Jordan broke Wesley Chapel High School's single-season records for wins, strikeouts in a game and season, and innings pitched in 2019. With a 36-18 record and 428 strikeouts in 360 innings pitched, she was well on her way to breaking the school's career marks despite a COVID-shortened senior season.  Just this summer, Jordan helped her team, the Sarasota Circus, win the 2021 FGCL Championship. Almasy will have four years of eligibility remaining when she arrives in Ft. Myers later this month.

Deiros on Almasy: "Jordan is a talented pitcher with command of multiple pitches. She has an incredible work ethic and unending desire to learn—both are attributes necessary to be a workhorse in the circle."

Cana Davis | Outfielder | Virginia Tech
Davis provides veteran experience to a young FGCU squad after four seasons at Virginia Tech – she had to sit out the entire 2020 season due to injury. The Harrisonburg, Va., native has a career .266 batting average over her 63 starts and 99 games played as a Hokie. She's coming off her best year in 2021 while helping her team earn an NCAA Super-Regional berth. Cana set career highs in batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI while committing no errors in right field. Davis earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and comes to FGCU with one year left of eligibility.

Deiros on Davis: "I'm really excited to see what Cana can do at the plate and in the outfield for us this season. She has shown signs of being a strong power hitter in the past and she is the healthiest she has been since entering college. I am looking forward to seeing what she can accomplish in a full season." 

Tayli Filla | Infielder | USF
The 2018 Bishop Verot graduate and All-State performer returns home after three years just up I-75 at USF. She accumulated 40 starts while appearing in 53 games during that span. Filla jumped onto the scene as a freshman in 2019, where she started 30 of 34 games for the Bulls, lacing four doubles, one home run, and eight RBI. Tayli is on pace to earn her bachelor's degree next year and will have two years of eligibility beginning this season.

Deiros on Filla: "Even though the majority of her experience comes at 3B, Tayli is a versatile defender who can successfully play any of the positions on the infield. More importantly, she can hit for average and power in the middle of our lineup."

Ally Hulme | RHP | State College of Florida
Hulme's two seasons at SCF saw the right-handed pitcher toss nearly 145 innings as she posted a 17-9 record. Hulme earned First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State honors last season posting 10 wins in 22 starts with an ERA of 2.78 in 95.2 innings of work. She earned her associate's degree this past May and will have three years of eligibility.

Deiros on Hulme: "Ally has the size and strength to eat up a lot of innings for us this spring. She improved in each of her two seasons at SCF and I know she is eager to keep progressing in the Green and Blue."

Samantha Leski | Catcher | Calvary Christian High School
Leski hit .374 with four homers and 32 RBI in her first two seasons at Calvary Christian. After hitting .483 in her first season at Calvary, she earned All-State honors as a catcher and shortstop this past year hitting .346 with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI while helping to lead her team to the Class 3A regional final. 

Deiros on Leski: "I think Sam's athleticism and ability to play different positions has helped make her a better defensive catcher. At the plate, she will compete every pitch of every at-bat which will make her a very difficult out for our opponents."

Riley Oakes | RHP | Radford
The Oviedo, Fla., native and All-State performer is returning to the Sunshine State after two seasons in the circle and center field at Radford. She started and played in all but seven games in her two seasons with the Highlanders posting a career ERA of 3.00 and batting average of .316. This past spring, Oakes collected three wins in the circle as she batted .305 with 50 hits and 28 runs scored. Oakes arrives in Ft. Myers with three years of eligibility remaining.

Deiros on Oakes: "Riley is arguably the best athlete in our 2021 class—she can run, pitch, defend, and hit. She has a chance to be a very special player for us with regards to the many roles she can fill on our team this year."

Neely Peterson | Catcher/First Base | Colorado State/Santa Fe
After earning All-State honors at Cypress Creek High School in Wesley Chapel, Peterson made nine starts in 14 games primarily behind the plate at Colorado State. She returned to Florida to earn her associate's degree and play at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. Peterson hit .339 last season with 11 homers and 35 RBI which earned her First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State team awards. She will have three seasons of eligibility remaining beginning in 2021-22.

Deiros on Peterson: "Neely has the physical attributes and mental acumen to control the game from behind the plate. She has the strength and power to be a valuable run-producer in the middle of our lineup." 

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the-minute information on the FGCU softball program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_Softball and Instagram at fgcusoftball and stay tuned at FGCUAthletics.com.

COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros is in his 20th season as head coach entering the fall of 2021. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 689-364-3 (.654), going 162-93 (.632) in the ASUN, having 14 seasons with a winning record, and nine campaigns with 35 wins. Deiros is a former head coach at the 1998 Florida State Runner-up Lely High School in Naples and is the founding head coach of the 1999 District Champion/2001 Regional Runner-up Gulf Coast High School in Naples.

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 42 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 21, 2020-21), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 23 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, and 2020 Fall semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM—