BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University head volleyball coach Diane Flick-Williams has announced the addition of six student-athletes that are set to join the program for the 2018 season.
The class is composed of one setter, one middle, three pin hitters and one defensive specialist/libero. All six players are from the Puget Sound area of Washington and will report to the Western campus in early August to start preparing for the 2018 season.
This freshman class will be joining a program that won the 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, has advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last six seasons and has played for the West Region title in each of the last three seasons. WWU returns 11 letterwinners and 5 starters from last year’s squad, in addition to All-American middle blocker Kayleigh Harper returning to the court for her junior season. The incoming class of the six players was the result of the hard work of WWU’s coaching staff, including 18-year assistant coach James Suh and former Viking defensive specialist Bryce Larson.
MALIA ALEAGA Burien, WA (Kennedy Catholic)
Athletic 5-7 setter out of Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Wash….two-time team captain…as a senior in 2017 named to the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Team (2nd team) and was an honorable mention All-State pick by the coaches association and PrepVolleyball.com…three-time First Team NPSL Cascade Conference…helped lead Kennedy to 3A state championship as a sophomore in 2015…high school coach was former WWU volleyball player Liz (Bishop) Quitiquit…father, Ink, played football at the University of Washington and in the NFL (New Orleans Saints) and CFL (BC Lions).
RYLEE BORN Gig Harbor, WA (Bellarmine Prep)
An athletic 5-11 player that will make the switch from middle hitter in high school to pin hitter at Western…was a 2017 4A South Puget Sound League All-League selection (2nd team)…two-time team captain at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash….played club volleyball for Puget Sound Volleyball Academy…helped lead Bellarmine to the state tournament during junior and senior seasons…in junior and senior seasons averaged 2.5 kills and 0.8 blocks per set, including 3.2 kills per set during her senior season.
CALLEY HEILBORN Auburn, WA (Auburn Riverside High School)
Four-year letterwinner at Auburn Riverside and two-time team captain…also played four years of varsity tennis and was a three-time team captain…helped lead Auburn Riverside to four consecutive volleyball league titles and was a three-time state champion (2014, 2016-17)…played club volleyball for Puget Sound Volleyball Academy…named the 2017 Seattle Times Player of the Year and was the Gatorade State Player of the Year…2016 and 2017 Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year…2017 PrepVolleyball.com All-State Player of the Year…during senior season was named the 4A State Tournament MVP, tallying 27 kills and 18 digs in the championship match (also state tournament MVP as a junior)…recorded 516 kills her junior season (.280 hitting pct.) and 484 kills as a senior (.301)…four-time all-league selection, including three first-team selections.
TUPU LOLOGO Federal Way, WA (Federal Way High School)
Versatile player that can fill a variety of roles for the Vikings…was a two-time First Team North Puget Sound League Olympic All-League selection…standout career at Federal Way High School where she was coached by former WWU player Donja Walker…named honorable mention All-State as a senior in 2017…PrepVolleyball.com All-State honorable mention..
ANNA MARACICH Auburn, WA (Auburn Riverside High School)
The lone middle in the 2018 signing class that hails out of Auburn’s Riverside High School…teammate of Calley Heilborn in High School and club…helped Auburn Riverside to back-to-back titles as a junior and senior…2017 Tacoma News Tribune Second Team All-Area…First Team NPSL Olympic Conference junior and senior year…2017 honorable mention All-State…also played tennis during prep career, placing 9th at state as a junior.
KASEY WOODRUFF University Place, WA (Curtis High School)
Athletic defensive specialist that can do it all on the court…four-year letterwinner at Curtis High School in University Place, Wash.…two-time Tacoma News Tribune First Team All-Area at the libero position (2016-17)…also a two-time First Team 4A South Puget Sound League selection…named First Team 4A All-State and PrepVolleyball.com First Team All-State as a senior…helped lead Curtis to 4A state championship during sophomore season in 2015…also a four-year starter at second base in softball during prep career…product of Puget Sound Volleyball Academy.
