CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri Volleyball has announced the signing of four Redhawks for the 2025 season, the program announced on Thursday morning.
Ellie Burns, Harper Highfill, Reagan Nelson, and Katy St. John will join Head Coach
Julie Yankus' squad next year.
Ellie Burns – 5-9 – Setter – Hudson, Wisconsin
A native of Hudson, Wisconsin, Eliie Burns will join the Redhawks in 2025 as a setter after graduating from Hudson High School where she started and lettered all four years on the volleyball court for head coach Brittany Young-Sanchez.
Burns has compiled over 2,000 assists in her high school career and was named a captain in both her junior and senior seasons. During her junior season, Ellie was named a Second Team All-Conference selection and won the Hudson Raider Award.
In her final season at Hudson, Burns was voted as a First Team All-Conference selection and was named her Conference's Player of the Year. In 2024, Hudson finished as the Conference Champion and was a 2024 Wisconsin State qualifier for the first time in school history.
On the club side, Burns played for Northern Lights 17 where her squad took third at the 2024 AAU National Championship. Individually, she was an Honorable Mention selection by Prep Volleyball.
The daughter of Greg and Annie Burns, Ellie is a standout in the classroom as a member of National Honors Society. She was awarded the WIAA Academic Award and was named an AAU Academic All-American.
She intends to major in business at Southeast.
Harper Highfill – 5-6 – DS/Libero – Wildwood, Missouri
Defensive specialist/libero Harper Highfill will join the Redhawks by way of Eureka High School where she started two seasons for head coach Jodie Fowler.
During her junior season, Highfill was awarded the All-Conference Sportsmanship Award in 2023. In 2024, Highfill received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Best & Brightest First Team award. In addition to the award, Highfill was named team captain in her final year.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Highfill was named first team all-district for her efforts in her final season. As a team, Eureka finished second place in Missouri Class 5 District 2.
On the club side, Highfill played for High Performance St. Louis – 18 Royal where her team won the Gateway League Championship (14U-17U) three years in a row. In 15U, the squad Triple Qualified in the Open Division. A year later, the squad qualified 16U Double Open Division, before concluding the 17U with a qualification into the National Division. She was also named an AVCA All-Region Honor this year.
In the classroom, Highfill is a member of National Honor Society and was a Renaissance Gold Member. In addition, Harper was also an AP Scholar.
The daughter of Rob and Jenni Highfill, Harper intends to major in Physical Education at Southeast.
Reagan Nelson – 6-0 – Outside Hitter – St. Charles, Missouri.
6-0, outside hitter, comes to Cape Girardeau as one of the most decorated volleyball players in the state of Missouri having played four seasons at Pattonville High School for head coach Jenell Franken.
Nelson, a native of St. Charles, Missouri, has been a First Team All-Conference and District selection all four seasons of her high school career. During her time, Reagan has become the State of Missouri's all-time kills record holder with more than 2,000 kills in her career.
This past season, Nelson set the all-time single season record for kills and is her school's record holder for kills, aces, and digs. She was selected as an AVCA Player of the Week, AVCA Best and Brightest award, an All-State selection, and was an All-State Academic selection. She was also voted as the Conference Player of the Year in her final season.
She broke her school's aces record during her junior campaign (2023) en route to becoming the Co-Conference Player of the Year. She finished with 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills in 2023.
On the club side, Reagan played for High Performance 16 Royal where her club won the 2021 National Championship where she was named the 2021 MVP of the National Tournament.
In the classroom, Nelson is a two-time All-State Academic selction and was awarded the AVCA Best and Brightest Award.
The daughter of Barry and Kristi Nelson, Reagan intends to major in business at Southeast with an interest in pursuing medical sales.
Katy St. John – 6-0 – Outside Hitter – Jackson, Missouri
A native of nearby Jackson, Missouri, Katy St. John will join the Redhawks in 2025 after playing four seasons at Jackson High School for head coach Dave Mirly.
St. John has been an All-Conference an All-District selection all four seasons for the Indians including being the SEMO Conference Player of the Year in 2024. During her sophomore, junior, and senior season(s), Katy was named the SEMO Conference Hitter of the Year.
In 2024, St. John earned First Team All-District honors to go along with her conference awards.
She has set the Jackson High School record for kills in a season, kills in a match, and kills in a career. In four years, St. John has also been an Academic All-State selection.
On the club side, Katy has been a member of Pursuit Volleyball where her team won MEQ and finished second in the 18U Under Armour National Championship. She was selected as an AVCA Phenom in both 2022 & 2023.
In addition to volleyball, St. John has played basketball her entire life.
The daughter of Jason and Beth St. John, Katy intends to major in Health Sciences at Southeast.
