UC Irvine

[gouci]

[gouci]

Amanda Albertini

6-2/Freshman/Middle Blocker/Villa Park, Calif./Orange Lutheran High School

Helped Orange Lutheran to the 2017 CIF-ss 2017 Championship…All-Trinity League honoree in 2018 and 2019…Played for Laguna Beach Volleyball Club where she was a member of the 2019 18's National Championship team.

"Amanda is an energetic, hard-working player that moves well laterally and gets off the ground quickly," Hain said. "We believe she can compete and do well in our conference right away."


Marianna Bertolone
6-0/Outside Hitter/Freshman/Markleeville, Calif./Douglas High School

Northern Nevada Sierra League Player of the Year in 2019 at Douglas High School…first team all-conference as a senior… Northern Division 4A Volleyball First Team All-State in 2016…played at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC as a sophomore, earning District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association Player of the Year as well as DCIAA All-League and Washington Post All-Metro Washington DC First Team…also tabbed Most Valuable Player of the DCIAA Championship match…Played for Rage Volleyball Club, placing third at the Junior Nationals 17s national division…earned all-tournament honors…member of USA High Performance Volleyball A-1Team…National Honors Society junior and senior year.

"Marianna is a poised and mature young women who excels in each area of the game. She has an eagerness to learn and improve her game and I am excited to get to work with her in the gym."


Grace Colburn
6-1/Outside Hitter/San Juan Capistrano, Calif./San Juan Hills High School

All-South Coast League honoree at San Juan Hills High School…Played for A4 Volleyball Club…was a AAU Beach National Champion…won gold and was an all-tournament selection at inddor Junior Nationals in 2017…also played basketball and was a member of the track and field team as a prep…Dean's List and Scholar-Athlete…mother Joni (Easterly) was an All-American basketball player at USC.

"Grace is a true competitor that plays with heart and fire. I think she will help drive the competitive gym culture we strive for each day. She will help with ball control and improve our serve receive and defensive right away."


Carly Richter
5-3/Libero/Freshman/Whittier, Calif./La Habra High School

Played her prep career at La Habra High School where she was named Freeway League MVP her junior and senior years as well as first-team all-league three times…team was Freeway League Champions her last two years…named to the Dave Mohs Division 2 All-Tournament Team as a junior…Played at Laguna Beach Volleyball Club…named to the AAU National Championship All-Star Team in 2017…finished second at the SCVA in 2019…graduated from La Sierra High School.

"Carly has really come into her own this past year as a full time libero on her club team Laguna Beach VBC. She is consistent in receive and makes some big time plays defensively. She strives to be a good teammate and student of the game. I enjoy Carly as a person and look forward to seeing her come into her own as a collegiate player."


Caitlin Kikta

5-9/Sophomore/Setter/Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon HS/Rutgers

Transfer from Rutgers…Appeared in 12 sets for the Scarlett Knights, recording 39 set assists overall…posted a season-high 13 assists against No. 5 Penn State…added 10 set assists versus No. 2 Nebraska…added nine digs and three aces…member of Rutgers Honors College and a recipient of the SAS Merit Scholarship…Played for Coast Volleyball Club where she was a Junior National 18U Open Division All-American as her team finished fifth…member of Coast's team that earned a silver medal at Junior National 15U…Also the co-president of Female Athlete Volunteers 2018-2019.

"Caitlin is a mature and cerebral player that prides herself in getting her hitters in good situations. She is thoughtful in each area of the game and has a high volleyball IQ. She will give us the ability to run a different offensive system than we have been in."


Carly Moreno

6-1/Outside Hitter/Junior/Yorba Linda, CA/El Dorado High School/Boise State

Transfer from Boise State where she earned Academic All-Mountain West and was a Mountain West Scholar Athlete both years…Totaled 36 kills, two assists, two service aces, 19 digs and 12 blocks in 19 matches as a sophomore…Made three starts and had a season-high seven kills, seven digs and two blocks versus Fresno State…the Broncos advanced to the NIVC where she also added seven kills against Weber State…as a freshman in 2018, she tallied a career-best 11 kills against Utah State…averaged 0.67 kills and 0.79 digs over 19 matches…Was also a member of the Boise State Beach team…Prepped at El Dorado High School where she was a second team All-Orange County and All-CIF Southern Section Division 2 honoree…OC Varsity All-County Girls Volleyball second team as a senior…Century Conference MVP, helping the Golden Hawks to a state tournament appearance, three sectional tournaments and two North Hills League championships…Played for Goldenwest Volleyball Club (2016, 2017) and Impact Volleyball Club (2013, 2014, 2015)…earned an AAU National silver medal in 2013.

"Carly has experience as an outside hitter playing at Boise State in the Mountain West Conference and will be an upperclassmen on our young team. She excited to help lead this team to a successful season and finish her career closer to home."

[gouci]

Megan Hanson, a Napa County Volleyball Player of the Year finalist in 2019 has committed to UC Irvine.

Napa Valley Register

Andy Wilcox Aug 1, 2020

Justin-Siena’s Megan Hanson was probably the second-best volleyball player in the Napa Valley last year as a junior behind Vintage senior Maddie Klungel, the Napa County Player of the Year.

Now that Klungel has moved on to Division I Cal State Northridge, Hanson could almost coast to the county’s top award during her pandemic-delayed senior season in spring 2021.

Hanson led the Braves with 333 kills last fall, 14.5 per match and 4.3 per set, along with 141 digs, 57 aces and 20 blocks. But it’s hard to become a Player of the Year without making your teammates better, and Justin-Siena skidded to a fourth-place finish in the Vine Valley Athletic League after winning it outright the year before in Julia Sangiacomo’s senior year, before the 6-foot-3 star went on to star as a freshman at Division I Santa Clara University.

The 5-foot-10 Hanson’s coaches always see room for improvement — especially those with Absolute Volleyball Club, the Marin County organization she’s has played for since she was 10, and Hanson feels she has improved in leaps and bounds.

“They are truly my family over there, and they’ve shaped me into the player I am today. All of the head coaches I’ve had at the club, especially Konrad Ott and Katie Pease, have had such a huge impact on me. They’ve all pushed me so hard and have made me stronger than I ever thought I could be,” Hanson said last week. “However, the head coach that I felt like most affected me was my coach this past year, Jake Spain. He was just a coach who understood my personality and encouraged me to use it on the court. He helped me so much when it came to recruiting and was always so excited when I’d get results. I really think he’s changed me as a player and ultimately showed me how to be confident on and off the court, brought out the best in me, and helped me grow as a player.”

On top of that, the pressure of impressive college scouts is off now that Hanson has made a verbal commitment to walk on at Division I UC Irvine.

“UC Irvine was a school I was always very interested in, ever since I was 15 years old, but I didn’t know it was going to be my top choice until I visited last November,” Hanson recalled. “It felt like I partly grew up in San Diego when I was younger because half of my mom‘s family lived down there. We would go down at least three times a year, and it was always my favorite place to be.

“Irvine is not too far from that area, so it all was very familiar. I just felt like I immediately fit in. UCI was my first choice out of the four colleges that were recruiting me. My Uncle Matthew Sileralso attended UC Irvine, finished with an outstanding senior award in 1996, and is now an executive at Amazon.”

Hanson hasn’t declared a major yet, but said she’s interested in are computer science and biological science.

“I am considering going into cyber security or genetics,” she said.

Her most recent club team, Absolute 17 Black, finished first in Northern California. Her 12 Black, 13 Black and 15 Black teams all qualified for the Junior Nationals and placed 26th, ninth and 21st, respectively, in the American Division. Her 14 Black squad was fourth in Northern California and ninth in the National Division at Junior Nationals. Her 15 Black team placed 13th in Northern California, and her 16 Black squad was 56th in the Open Division at AAU Nationals.

Kate Reilley, who has been promoted from assistant coach to head coach since her sister, Chelsea Reilley, stepped down after last season to take the Napa Valley College helm, couldn’t be happier for Hanson.

“She’d been talking to three other schools, too, but she went to one of Irvine’s camps and got to know some of the coaches and just kinda fell in love,” Kate Reilley said.

Hanson said wanting to be on one of the coasts narrowed down her possibilities.

“Some schools on the East Coast that I was interested in included Dartmouth and MIT,” she noted. “They had great volleyball programs as well, but I decided UCI was the right place for me. It has excellent academics, Division I athletics, and California was where I felt most comfortable. I was also interested in UC Santa Cruz and I really liked their program and coaches, but I felt that UCI was the whole package and best fit for me.”

Reilley, a Santa Clara alumnus like her sister, doesn’t mind that Sangiacomo is also playing for the Broncos. But she’s also thrilled that Hanson will be playing as close as an hour away when the Anteaters hit the road in the Big West Conference.

“We’re all thrilled that she’s staying in California, and they will be playing UC Davis,” the coach said. “That’s pretty close, so we can hop over to Davis and watch them play. Maybe we’ll do another team outing like we did last year, where the majority of our varsity team carpooled down to Saint Mary’s (in Moraga) to see Julia play them.

“I’d love to do that again and get them some exposure to a higher level of volleyball and also to see a former teammate.”

Hanson said she went on a “full campus tour” of UC Irvine and met with head coach Ashley Hain.

“Coach Ashley reminded me a lot of my club coaches, and her value for hard work and togetherness made me feel very comfortable and excited to potentially be a part of the 2021 volleyball team,” she said. “I not only admired the volleyball program, but I immediately fell in love with the campus. It’s absolutely beautiful!

“I didn’t get to see the full athletic facilities until I was invited back to attend a volleyball camp in January. The sports facilities and the support that they have for the athletes of UCI is very impressive. At that time, I also met the rest of the coaches, as well as a few players on the team. They were all very welcoming and kind and answered any questions I had.”

Hanson’s only organized sport these days is volleyball, though between high school and club, in non-pandemic times, had had her playing 12 months a year.

“When I was younger, I did play basketball for a couple years. I had the height, vertical and speed for it, but as time went on it began to conflict with the time demands of volleyball,” she recalled. “However, I did also love to run track in middle school. It didn’t conflict as much with volleyball, so I ran for St. Francis Solano School (in Sonoma) until I graduated.”

Hanson played as a freshman with her sister, Nicole, who graduated with Hannah Chau, now the top cross country runner at UC Irvine.

“I do not personally know Hannah Chau but from what I’ve heard, she’s very nice and a great athlete,” she said. “It will be very comforting to know that I’ll have another Brave on the UCI campus with me.”

[HawaiiVB]

Aug 7, 2020 20:30:47 GMT -5 gouci said:

Megan Hanson, a Napa County Volleyball Player of the Year finalist in 2019 has committed to UC Irvine.

Napa Valley Register

Andy Wilcox Aug 1, 2020

Justin-Siena’s Megan Hanson was probably the second-best volleyball player in the Napa Valley last year as a junior behind Vintage senior Maddie Klungel, the Napa County Player of the Year.

Now that Klungel has moved on to Division I Cal State Northridge, Hanson could almost coast to the county’s top award during her pandemic-delayed senior season in spring 2021.

Hanson led the Braves with 333 kills last fall, 14.5 per match and 4.3 per set, along with 141 digs, 57 aces and 20 blocks. But it’s hard to become a Player of the Year without making your teammates better, and Justin-Siena skidded to a fourth-place finish in the Vine Valley Athletic League after winning it outright the year before in Julia Sangiacomo’s senior year, before the 6-foot-3 star went on to star as a freshman at Division I Santa Clara University.

The 5-foot-10 Hanson’s coaches always see room for improvement — especially those with Absolute Volleyball Club, the Marin County organization she’s has played for since she was 10, and Hanson feels she has improved in leaps and bounds.

“They are truly my family over there, and they’ve shaped me into the player I am today. All of the head coaches I’ve had at the club, especially Konrad Ott and Katie Pease, have had such a huge impact on me. They’ve all pushed me so hard and have made me stronger than I ever thought I could be,” Hanson said last week. “However, the head coach that I felt like most affected me was my coach this past year, Jake Spain. He was just a coach who understood my personality and encouraged me to use it on the court. He helped me so much when it came to recruiting and was always so excited when I’d get results. I really think he’s changed me as a player and ultimately showed me how to be confident on and off the court, brought out the best in me, and helped me grow as a player.”

On top of that, the pressure of impressive college scouts is off now that Hanson has made a verbal commitment to walk on at Division I UC Irvine.

“UC Irvine was a school I was always very interested in, ever since I was 15 years old, but I didn’t know it was going to be my top choice until I visited last November,” Hanson recalled. “It felt like I partly grew up in San Diego when I was younger because half of my mom‘s family lived down there. We would go down at least three times a year, and it was always my favorite place to be.

“Irvine is not too far from that area, so it all was very familiar. I just felt like I immediately fit in. UCI was my first choice out of the four colleges that were recruiting me. My Uncle Matthew Sileralso attended UC Irvine, finished with an outstanding senior award in 1996, and is now an executive at Amazon.”

Hanson hasn’t declared a major yet, but said she’s interested in are computer science and biological science.

“I am considering going into cyber security or genetics,” she said.

Her most recent club team, Absolute 17 Black, finished first in Northern California. Her 12 Black, 13 Black and 15 Black teams all qualified for the Junior Nationals and placed 26th, ninth and 21st, respectively, in the American Division. Her 14 Black squad was fourth in Northern California and ninth in the National Division at Junior Nationals. Her 15 Black team placed 13th in Northern California, and her 16 Black squad was 56th in the Open Division at AAU Nationals.

Kate Reilley, who has been promoted from assistant coach to head coach since her sister, Chelsea Reilley, stepped down after last season to take the Napa Valley College helm, couldn’t be happier for Hanson.

“She’d been talking to three other schools, too, but she went to one of Irvine’s camps and got to know some of the coaches and just kinda fell in love,” Kate Reilley said.

Hanson said wanting to be on one of the coasts narrowed down her possibilities.

“Some schools on the East Coast that I was interested in included Dartmouth and MIT,” she noted. “They had great volleyball programs as well, but I decided UCI was the right place for me. It has excellent academics, Division I athletics, and California was where I felt most comfortable. I was also interested in UC Santa Cruz and I really liked their program and coaches, but I felt that UCI was the whole package and best fit for me.”

Reilley, a Santa Clara alumnus like her sister, doesn’t mind that Sangiacomo is also playing for the Broncos. But she’s also thrilled that Hanson will be playing as close as an hour away when the Anteaters hit the road in the Big West Conference.

“We’re all thrilled that she’s staying in California, and they will be playing UC Davis,” the coach said. “That’s pretty close, so we can hop over to Davis and watch them play. Maybe we’ll do another team outing like we did last year, where the majority of our varsity team carpooled down to Saint Mary’s (in Moraga) to see Julia play them.

“I’d love to do that again and get them some exposure to a higher level of volleyball and also to see a former teammate.”

Hanson said she went on a “full campus tour” of UC Irvine and met with head coach Ashley Hain.

“Coach Ashley reminded me a lot of my club coaches, and her value for hard work and togetherness made me feel very comfortable and excited to potentially be a part of the 2021 volleyball team,” she said. “I not only admired the volleyball program, but I immediately fell in love with the campus. It’s absolutely beautiful!

“I didn’t get to see the full athletic facilities until I was invited back to attend a volleyball camp in January. The sports facilities and the support that they have for the athletes of UCI is very impressive. At that time, I also met the rest of the coaches, as well as a few players on the team. They were all very welcoming and kind and answered any questions I had.”

Hanson’s only organized sport these days is volleyball, though between high school and club, in non-pandemic times, had had her playing 12 months a year.

“When I was younger, I did play basketball for a couple years. I had the height, vertical and speed for it, but as time went on it began to conflict with the time demands of volleyball,” she recalled. “However, I did also love to run track in middle school. It didn’t conflict as much with volleyball, so I ran for St. Francis Solano School (in Sonoma) until I graduated.”

Hanson played as a freshman with her sister, Nicole, who graduated with Hannah Chau, now the top cross country runner at UC Irvine.

“I do not personally know Hannah Chau but from what I’ve heard, she’s very nice and a great athlete,” she said. “It will be very comforting to know that I’ll have another Brave on the UCI campus with me.”

What a great recruit.

[gouci]

Carly Richter's CURE-iosity With Pharmaceutical Sciences

September 04, 2020

UC Irvine checked all the boxes for women's volleyball newcomer Carly Richter. The freshman knew it was a beautiful place to live, a chance to play top level volleyball, but more importantly a place she knew she could flourish academically.

She couldn't wait to get to her collegiate experience started so she graduated from La Sierra High School early and enrolled at UCI last spring quarter. Unfortunately, she would have to wait for the volleyball portion of her collegiate experience to begin, but she could jump right in academically.

"At first I wasn't even looking at UCI, I was thinking of going out of state, but after talking to the coaches I was impressed with the culture here. You were dedicated to your athletics and you were dedicated to your academics. You would have someone pushing you not only on the court but off. I wanted to pursue something in the medical field and knew UCI would have just what I needed, plus I love being so close to the beach."

Pharmaceutical sciences was just what Ritcher needed. In August, UCI announced the establishment of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the first public pharmacy school in the Los Angeles-Orange County region.

While not exactly sure which branch of the major she would like to pursue, Richter loves the idea of mixing the medicine with the chance to shape society's health and well-being.

"Right now, I'm interested in being a pharmacy tech or psychiatrist for a prison system. I want to help people come back to society. I want to help people become successful when they get out."

Richter plunged in to the college experience spring quarter and was pleasantly surprised at the level of support provided by UCI.

"I thought it would be challenging, but I felt really supported not only by my team, but by the professors. They were good about asking if we needed help and were open to communication. There was a really good support platform to get me going in college."

Head women's volleyball coach Ashlie Hain knew she would shine at UCI.

"Carly is an enthusiastic player and a genuine student of the game. After coming in early for Spring 2020, she is adjusting quite well to the new learning environment and always has a great attitude about overcoming challenges," Hain said. "She will thrive at this institution athletically and academically because she takes initiative and is proactive in her approach. I look forward to seeing her growth and future successes here."

Her first class was a pharm sci class that explored the depth and opportunities within the major.

"I learned about how to find a path for yourself and focus on finding something you really like. While I don't know what exactly I want to do, I know going to UCI will set me up for a good path and career."

"The college classes have opened my eyes to things I've never taken notice of before. I can't wait to take more classes because I had such a good experience last spring."

The pandemic has fueled her fire, knowing that her major and her future career are things that will make a difference and are vital to creating a healthier future. Pharmaceutical scientists are briskly changing the field of drug development and Richter proudly proclaims she is very nerdy when it comes to taking it all in.

"This moment is exactly why we need people in this field. These are the people that are going to solve this or prevent this. One of my main goals is helping people even though they might not even recognize it or see it."

The first day of class can't come fast enough for Richter. She is excited to take her required pharm sci classes this fall to help her hone in on what she wants to do in the future.

"I can't wait to take this seriously and find things that I'm passionate about and I'm excited for. I know it will be challenging, but I'm up for it because I know ultimately it will benefit the people around me."

The start of school is first up on her list of upcoming events, but beginning to train and being with teammates is also a high priority. Even though it's been a remote introduction to her team, she feels very connected and embraced. Interaction with alumni, a book club and other team bonding calls have her motivated and she is eager to get going.

"I feel like we have been stepping on the gas, everyone is super dedicated to this team and building a strong culture. Even though we aren't in the gym right now we are all dedicated to having a successful season. I really look forward to team zooms, it is exciting to see my teammates. They're my people."

When asked if she would like to attend Pharmacy School at UCI the answer was "100% yes!"

In a press release announcing the new School, it reads "The college is establishing a new standard for how we train the diverse healthcare workforce of tomorrow."

Richter couldn't wait to be at UCI and after getting a taste of pharmaceutical sciences, she can't wait to be the workforce of tomorrow.

[gouci]

A Passion For The Environment
October 16, 2020

Chloe Hakim knew early on that she wanted to do something involving the environment so when choosing a college an environmental science major was a must.

The defensive specialist for the Anteaters (2014-17) entered thinking she would be an environmental engineer, but switched to an environmental scientist and watched her passion blossom during her time at UCI.

Hakim remembers the many presentations she gave in college helping not only with public speaking, but with the realization that when she was speaking about the environment she felt at ease.

"I remember loving the educating aspect of it. In other words, I loved being able to relay that knowledge to others."


Hakim previously worked at the California State Water Resources Control Board concentrating strictly on streams which fits perfectly with her passion – water.

Dating back to her UCI days, she was focused on clean water especially in Third World countries. Making sure those countries have access is a goal of hers whether it would be creating a non-profit or just volunteering.

A presentation on clean water, the issues and ways to alleviate the problem for a class in her global sustainability minor is a good example of her drive.

"I want to help the less fortunate, that's always been something I enjoy doing on top of focusing on one of the most essential resources for human life-water. It's definitely a side of the environmental realm that I always want to be involved in. Access to clean water in Third World countries is definitely an important issue and something that should be solved."

Hakim is currently an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

She works under the Ecosystem Conservation Division in the Habitat Conservation Planning Branch, focusing on cannabis grows and the impact they have on the environment and making sure they don't negatively impact springs, riparian habitats, wetlands and aquatic habitats. Enforcing code and writing permits that reduce impact on species and field work are just a few of the aspects of the job.

The diversity of her job is exciting. While cannabis is the main focus she is also able to survey/monitor endangered species, such as the desert tortoise in the Mojave Desert, or travel to Santa Barbara to help with a creek cleanup.

"I love the field opportunities. There are so many different trainings and assignments that really help expand my knowledge on our environment and the fish, wildlife and plant species that inhibit it."

Head coach Ashlie Hain knew the work ethic she had on the court would translates into her professional life.

"Chloe was a reliable student-athlete with great work ethic and resilience. I am so proud seeing her doing what she loves. Anyone would be lucky to have her working for them, she was a great teammate on and off the court."

Matches at Hawaii and time with her teammates are fond memories of being an Anteater.

"I've made lifelong friends. When you're on a team in college you are pretty much spending 24/7 with your friends."

For a defensive specialist communication is key. Hakim describes the position as "the eyes of the court".

"Liberos and defensive specialists aren't necessarily the high point scorers for the team. But to even have that opportunity to score, you first have to get the dig. I feel like a big role that we provide is to help build momentum throughout the game by giving 110% on defense, communicating what we see and not letting balls drop on our side of the court. That plays a big role in our setter's and hitters' ability to put balls away and lead us to a win"

Lessons learned on the court and in the classroom have put Hakim in a great position to do what she loves.

"Another thing I took from UCI was to go after what you are passionate about. A lot of how I feel about my job stems from my time at UCI."

With Hakim on the job, we know that our planet is in good hands.

[gouci]

UC Irvine Introduces Class of 2021
May 14, 2021

IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine head women's volleyball head coach Ashlie Hain announced a class of eight newcomers who will join the program in 2021.

Megan Hanson
5-10/Outside Hitter/Sonoma, Calif./Justin Siena High School
Named 2017 All Napa County Newcomer Of The Year and went on to be a finalist for All-Napa County Player of the Year as a junior…her team was the 2018 Vine Valley Athletic League champions, a Northern California Section Semifinalist and a State Qualifier…the outside hitter was team MVP and the team captain...Hanson led the Braves with 333 kills in 2019, averaging 4.3 per set…she also recorded 141 digs, 57 aces and 20 blocks…played for Absolute Volleyball Club…member of the 17 Black team that finished first in Northern California…her 14 Black squad was fourth in Northern California and ninth in the National Division at Junior Nationals, while her 12 Black, 13 Black and 15 Black teams all qualified for the Junior Nationals with the 13s placing ninth in the American Division.

"Megan is a great athlete and committed student-athlete," Hain said. "Her enthusiasm and passion for UC Irvine volleyball is what I look forward to most about having her in the gym. She is an athlete that will improve every day and offer more depth at the pin position."

Indy DeSmet
5-8/Setter/Sunnyvale, Calif./Homestead High School
As a junior, she was tabbed De Anza League MVP… Earned a Prep Volleyball Honorable Nomination in 2018 and Prep Volleyball 2021 Watch List recognition…in 2018, she captured the Cal-Hi Sports Play of the Week…played for Vision Volleyball Club and was a Pacific Northwest Qualifier.

"Indy is an energetic and exciting setter to watch. She is a competitive a reliable player in every aspect of the game. She is a natural leader who has helped her club and high school teams thrive. She will add depth in our setters position and compete for a role right away."

Jesse Syzmanski
6-3/Middle Blocker/Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union High School
Member of the Redondo Union Division I CIF Championship team in 2019…academically, she was a California Scholarship Federation seal bearer…played for Sunshine Volleyball Club.

"Jesse will be able to add depth in multiple areas in the front row. She has a high standard for herself and high expectations for herself. Nobody has to motivate Jesse, she is a go-getter with a big heart. I believe she will bring the intangibles that we need to have a successful and cohesive team culture."

Maren Palmer
5-9/Setter/Des Moines, Iowa/Theodore Roosevelt High School
First-team Central Iowa Metropolitan League choice her junior and sophomore years…earned second team recognition as a freshman…ranked second all-time in assists at Roosevelt…also earned academic all-conference honors twice…played for Iowa Power Plex Volleyball Club.

"Maren wants to be at UC Irvine and is enthusiastic about returning to Orange County where her mother grew up and played volleyball. She is a talented setter that will add depth and dimension to what we are able to do with our offense."

Soana Leaea
6-1/Middle Blocker/Right Side/San Mateo, Calif./St. Francis High School
Selected to the West Catholic Athletic League Second Team in 2019…played for Encore Volleyball Club.

"Soana is a hard working middle that is always looking to improve her game. She has a great attitude and embodies the spirit of the athlete that does well here. She will come in and fight for a starting role right away."

Amanda Leinbach
5-7/Libero/DS/Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount High School
Named second team All-American as a junior…Prep Volleyball Honorable Mention…joins Jesse Syzmanski at the Sunshine Volleyball Club, playing on different teams.

"Amanda is an athlete you love to watch play because of her fight. She impressed us in her determination and grit on and off the court. Amanda will push everyone in the gym to be better every day."

Emma Spindt
6-1/Outside Hitter/Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo Atherton High School
Helped Menlo Atherton to league championships her sophomore and junior year, and then to the NorCal Division I finals as a junior….three-time all-league honoree…Offensive MVP her first two seasons, leading the team in kills…named San Mateo County Athlete Of The Week…played for Vision, but is currently playing at Rage Westside Volleyball Club…competed at Junior Nationals from ages 12-18…named a "Supernova" at the JVA West Coast Cup, and "Others Who Shined" by prepvolleyball.com three times.

"Emma has extensive volleyball experience as a successful high school and club player. She hits a heavy ball and has ball control. She will also be able to help us right away. She competes hard and is a fun player to coach."

Gabi Gomes
5-5/Libero/Defensive Specialist/Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar High School
Member of Corona del Mar's Sunset League Championship team in 2019…earned Sunset League All-Academic Team accolades…played for Orange County Volleyball Club, serving as captain…serves as Associated Student Body Vice President at CDM…brother Gustavo plays on the UCI men's volleyball team.

"Gabi knows more about UC Irvine than most people and she was relentless in her commitment to prove she can help our team in many ways. I think Gabi will help in the gym right away and be the all-in kind of player we need to keep us on track when faced with adversity," Hain concluded.

[gouci]

IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine women's volleyball welcomes six newcomers in the class of 2022.

ELIZABETH MILLER 6-0 Middle Blocker La Crescenta, Calif./Valley Christian High School

Named first team All-Olympic League in 2021…Member of the 2018 CIF and State Championship team… Earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Ann Kang Hawaii Tournament…Selected to the Village Christian All-Time Team…Played on the club team SG Elite for seven years…Scholar-Athlete…Served on ASB and worked in the athletic training program her senior year.

Coach Hain Said: "Elizabeth has a big arm and can play both middle and right side. She will help us keep a quicker offense than we have in the past."

KENDRA MACDONALD 6-1 Outside Hitter San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS

Two-time All-West Catholic Association League first team…Started on varsity as a freshman and led the team in kills…Central Coast Section and WCAL Co-Player of the Year…Led team to the California State Championships and a Nor Cal Championship…Played for Vision Volleyball Club, qualifying for Junior Nationals since 13's.…National Honor Society and Principals Honor Roll…Father Donald played basketball and volleyball at UC Riverside.

Coach Hain Said: "Kendra is the sister of current player Carrissa MacDonald. I look forward to having both Kendra and Riss on the team together. Kendra is explosive and an enthusiastic competitor that plays all phases of the game quite well."

ALLY BOLDEN 6-2 Middle Blocker Arcadia High School

Two-time All-Region as well as All-District…Named to the AVCA High School Region 9 Team and AVCA Best and Brightest…Selected as MaxPreps AZ Player of the Week…Earned the Scottsdale Charros Award for Fall of 2021, chosen by the District schools Athletic Directors…Played for AZ Sky VBC.

Coach Hain Said: "Ally recruited us and I am happy she did. She was persistent in the recruiting process staying steadfast in her desire to be an Anteater. Once she arrived on campus there was an immediate connection between her and the program. Ally can be a great middle in this conference one day and I trust she will work to be that each and every day."

KEELAN WILLIAMS 6-1 Outside Hitter San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo High School

Four time All-League honoree….All-CIF San Diego second Team in 2021…Member of the 2021 CIF Division I runner up San Diego Section…Selected as San Diego Athlete of the Week in 2019…Played at Wave Volleyball Club where 17s took second place in 17-Open at the 2021 Junior Nationals…Also played beach volleyball in high school.

Coach Hain Said: "Keelan is passionate about being an Anteater and truly enjoys the game. She is someone I love to watch play because of the genuine interest and love she has for the game. She has a high ceiling and is just beginning to become the great player I know she will be."

EMMA NAPOLEON 5-10 Outside Hitter Los Angeles, Calif./Village Christian School

Two-time All-League, including first team as a freshman…Most Outstanding Player of the Anne Kang Tournament…Member of Village Christian's League, CIF and State Championship teams…Trained with the USA High Performance…Played for SG Elite VBC.

Coach Hain Said: "Emma is an intense player with natural leadership ability. I think she will elevate the level we compete at practice each day. I look forward to seeing her big jump serve on our home court."

CAMPBELL JENSEN 5-10 Libero Burbank, Calif./Village Christian School

Named All-Area Defensive Player of the Year in 2021…Member of the Dll state championship team in 2018…Three-sport athlete, also playing softball and beach volleyball…Played for SG Elite, making the 17 National All-Tournament Team and All-American in 2018.

Coach Hain Said: "Campbell is one of the top liberos in her class. She has a calm and poised demeanor and will immediately strengthen our receive and defense."