Making headway in the 2020 recruiting class, head coach Dave Rubio has done wonders as he signs the No. 7 overall class for Arizona Volleyball.
Lost in the shuffle off not only the Corona Virus, but also the Arizona Basketball recruiting news, quietly making noise this off-season has been the Arizona Volleyball team.
To recap for those who probably don’t know, it wasn’t a stellar 2019 season by any means for Arizona. Rubio and the Wildcats finished the season with a 15-17 (5-15) record.
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona started the year rather hot, but ran into some trouble as they had a daunting and challenging conference slate.
Needing perhaps a new infusion of talent, Rubio went out at did exactly that! Bringing in their best class since 2006, Arizona has now signed the No. 7 overall recruiting class, which tops the Pac-12!
Bringing in a blend of Outside Hitters, Defensive Specialists, Setters and Middle Backers, it looks like the Wildcats are poised to rebound in a big way!
That’s also of course not to overshadow the immense returning talent that they will also have coming back. Returning for Arizona in 2020 will be; Paige Whipple, Zyonna Fellows and Malina Kalei Ua.
We all saw how Arizona had their struggles defensively this last season, as well as needing another solid setter, and it seems like Rubio has addressed that!
According to the University of Arizona Athletics page, here are the nine, incoming freshmen for 2020!
"N’Jiaye Bonwell (DS • San Dimas, Calif.), Jaleesa Caroccio (DS • Bakersfield, Calif.), China Crouch (OPP/MBB • Oceanside, Calif.), Joy Galles (DS • Truckee, Calif.), Emery Herman (S • Georgetown, Texas), Jaelyn Hodge (OH • Queen Creek, Ariz.), Sofia Maldonado (OH • Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico), Shelby O’Neal (OH • Schertz, Texas), Lauren Ware (OPP/MB • Bismark, N.D.)."
That’s also not including the incoming transfers of; Dilara Gedikoglu (Tulsa), Akia Warrior (Belmont) and Merle Weidt (Rutgers).
Heading into 2020, Arizona should have a strong group that could help turn this thing around and quickly!
At Zona Zealots, we’re excited to see our Wildcats do well and can’t wait to see what next year holds for them! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!