Arizona sand volleyball announced the three signees of its first recruiting class Tuesday. The UA’s newest sport will debut next spring. Madison and McKenna Witt and junior college transfer Allie Cook signed with the Wildcats Tuesday morning.

“I couldn’t be more excited to sign these three to the first-ever sand team here at the University of Arizona,” head coach Steve Walker said in a press release. “Any coach, regardless of how short or long of a time period they had to recruit a class of prospects, would be thrilled to bring in a collection of able athletes like this group.

“They are all people of great character who will bring in a nice blend of athleticism, skill and experience that really make this a very good and competitive recruiting class. I will be anxiously awaiting the time when I am able to put this group on the sand and in front of our Wildcat athletics followers.”

The Witts are from Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Ariz. Madison was named first-team all-section, all-state, defensive player of the year, all-division second team and all-section second team.

She leads her high school and club teams in blocks and led Mountain Ridge to a third place finish in the state two years in a row.

McKenna is an outside hitter who was named first-team all-division in 2012 and second-team all-division in 2011. She was the MVP this year, the offensive player of the year in 2011 and the team leader in kills on both her club and high school teams.

“Madison and McKenna are household names when it comes to volleyball in the state of Arizona,” Walker said. “They are exceptional athletes who have excelled on the hardwood for their respective high school and AAU club teams the last several seasons. They came up playing the sand game before ever stepping onto the hardwood and have enjoyed a great deal of success in both settings. Look for them to be paired up in our inaugural season. I am excited to see them transition back into the sand game permanently and develop their games.”

The 5-foot-8 Cook will transfer from Irvine Valley College.

As a freshman, Cook was named First-Team All-Orange Empire Conference and as a sophomore earned all-region honors. Cook ranked third in the state of California with 334 kills, while hitting .300 during the indoor season.

Cook finished third in school history for career hitting percentage, kills and digs. She was also a team captain and the team’s MVP following her sophomore season.

“Allie is a very experienced and savvy sand player, having already earned the highest rating of ‘AAA’ with the California Beach Volleyball Association,” Walker said. “Her junior college team this 2013 spring season has had dual meets against a good number of teams that will be on our schedule in coming years, and she has shown very well for herself in those matches. She will make an immediate impact, and we will certainly count on her to provide our new team with some direction when we kick-off our first season next spring.”