Michaela Morris, Jesse McKenna and Raevyn Jack Bailey complete the first full recruiting class for UNLV women's soccer head coach Chris Shaw, as they have all signed national letters of intent to play for the Rebels starting in the fall of 2015.

Highlighting the class is Morris, as she was named the Gatorade Nevada Women's Player of the Year last week after a stellar season with Coronado High School in Henderson. The 5-6 forward posted state-highs in goals (45), assists (18) and points (108) while leading the Cougars to the Division I state championship game. The Southeast League Player of the Year and a three-time All-Southern Nevada, All-Sunrise region selection, she concluded her prep soccer career with 89 goals and 37 assists. She helped the Cougars to a total of two state semifinal appearances, as well as two regional championships and two league titles.

“Michaela is a very talented local player that we are excited to keep in town," said Shaw. "As a striker she possesses both great athleticism and skill and has a knack for scoring goals. She has the ability to play central with her back to goal or play out wide as a winger. We fully expect Michaela to make an immediate impact for the UNLV women’s soccer program.”

A member of Players SC 97 Elite in Las Vegas, Morris has spent time on the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Olympic Development Program team. She was selected to play in the 2014 ODP Thanksgiving Interregional in Boca Raton, Fla., and earned a spot on the All-Star team. While on the Players squad, she led the club team to the 2013 regional semifinals and the 2014 regional title.

She has excelled in the classroom as well, maintaining a 4.6 weighted GPA in the classroom. A candidate for valedictorian at Coronado, she has volunteered locally at the Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach Catholic ministry and has also donated her time to Make it Personal Love Bags, gifting wellness items to homeless people.

McKenna, a native of Thorton, Colo., is the second recruit in the class. A 5-6 midfielder for Mountain Range High School, she is a two-time all-conference selection that is also a two-time team MVP. McKenna plays for Colorado Storm, ECNL National playoff finalists in both 2011 and 2013.

“Jesse is our lone out of state recruit for this class," said Shaw. "She is a holding midfielder with great vision and technical ability, and a possession player that has the ability to slip a penetrating pass into the run of a forward. Jesse will be a great addition to our team.”

Bailey is the final recruit, a center back from Las Vegas. “Raevyn is another very talented local player," said Shaw. "As a central defender, Raevyn has great size and athleticism coupled with good composure on the ball. She has fantastic make up speed and has the potential to be an impact player in our conference.”

She attends Palo Verde High and is a current member of the Heat FC 97 squad, having competed for their ECNL teams for the past four years. While playing in the very demanding Southwest Conference in the Elite Clubs National League, Bailey established herself as one of the top center backs in the conference, while helping to lead her team to winning the Gold Group at the 2014 Surf College Cup this past Thanksgiving. Heat FC Coaching Directors Amanda Schmutz and Tom Amick had this to say on Raevyn’s commitment to UNLV, “We are very excited that Raevyn has chosen to play her college soccer at UNLV. Naturally, we are always happy when the best players in our club elect to stay home and play at UNLV. Raevyn is a phenomenal center back and we know she will be able to make an immediate impact for Coach Shaw’s team. Everyone at Heat FC congratulates Raevyn and her family.”

UNLV finished with a 9-8-2 mark in 2014 in its first full-year under Shaw, who took over as head coach in May of 2014.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13