PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley volleyball's incoming freshman class has been rated as one of the top recruiting classes in the country, earning high honorable mention recognition in PrepVolleyball.com's "Top Recruiting Classes of 2014".

One of four Missouri Valley Conference schools recognized in the recruiting class rankings by PrepVolleyball.com, BU's incoming class earned high honorable mention distinction for the third time in the last five years.  Bradley's freshman class in 2014 includes 6-1 outside hitter Jamie Livaudais (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit), 6-0 setter Afton Sobasky (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) and 5-11 outside hitter Taylor Thiele (Aurora, Neb./Aurora).

Livaudais led the Falcons in blocks each of her four seasons on the varsity squad and paced Rockwood Summit in kills each of the last two years.  A two-time first-team all-conference honoree, she garnered all-conference consideration each of her four prep seasons and was a two-time second-team all-district selection.

An all-state selection as a senior in 2013, Sobasky holds the Crusaders' season (551) and career (1,706) records for assists.  She was named to the AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List and helped St. Croix Lutheran to a conference championship in her final prep season.  In addition, Sobasky earned All-America honors at the USA VB Junior National Championships which were held in Minneapolis, Minn., earlier this month, where she helped her club team to a fifth-place finish.

A three-time first-team all-conference selection, Thiele is the career record holder at Aurora in both kills and digs.  She was selected for the Nebraska High School All-Star game, which was played earlier this week, and helped her team to its highest state finish in school history in her final prep season.

Fourth-year Bradley volleyball head coach Jenny Maurer and her Braves will open the 2014 season Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. against Hampton in the opening match of the DePaul Invitational in Chicago, Ill.