Cats Sign Nihipali, Fellows to National Letters of Intent
11/08/2017 | Volleyball
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona volleyball inked two players on National Signing Day, head coach Dave Rubio announced on Wednesday.
Whittnee Nihaipali, a 6-2 outside hitter from Las Vegas, Nevada and Top-100 recruit nationally, and Zyonna Fellow, a 6-4 middle blocker from Tacoma, Washington, both signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Arizona.
"We're so excited about both Whittnee and Zyonna as well as all the kids that will eventually be a part of this class," said Rubio. "They really fit the needs of our program. They both fit the template that we've tried to follow the last few years, meaning that, while neither of them may be the most polished right now, they have immense potential. They're both athletic and physical, but still raw. Losing McKenzie Jacobson and Jade Turner, we needed to add a middle blocker, and we got one with size and good arm in Zyonna. And you can never have enough potential six-rotation outside hitters, and we feel that Whittnee is that."
Zyonna Fellows
6-4 | Middle Blocker
Tacoma, Wash. (Tacoma H.S.)
Cited as a PrepVolleyball.com "Next 150" (prospects 101-250) … In 2016, she led Tacoma H.S. in kills (166) and blocks (114) … Named first-team all-Pierce County League.
Rubio says: "Zyonna is 6-4 with long arms. She was a basketball player and part-time volleyball player but her length, athletic ability and reach translate really well to volleyball. She has a very natural good arm swing, which is something that, typically, kids that are late coming to volleyball struggle to pick up or never master. But she has a great arm. We were excited to see her and it worked out really well for us. The more that we watched her, the more that we really began to like some of the things that she brought to the table – namely her length and her ability to swing her arm at her size. Any time you can get an athletic, 6-4 middle blocker with a great arm, you're thrilled. We're excited about Z. Just like Whittnee, her best days are down the road, but her potential could be off the charts."
Whittnee Nihipali
6-2 | Outside Hitter
Las Vegas, Nev. (Shadow Ridge H.S.)
Rated the No. 72 prospect nationally and the leading candidate for Nevada State Gatorade Player of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com … Under Armor Preseason All-American … Has 362 kills while leading the league in hitting percentage to go along with 43 aces this season … Two-time MaxPreps AVCA Player of the Week.
PrepVolleyball.com says: "A four-year starter on the Shadow Ridge varsity, Nihipali is a six-rotation player who terminates from the front and back row. She is strong. She can bend. She can move. She can swing her arm. She is aggressive. Her first-step quickness is outstanding for her size. She looks like, and can be, a prototypical terminating L1 at the collegiate level. Nihipali can attack and block on either pin, is adding versatility to her game by adding quick-tempo attacks and is especially effective in transition when her teams needs her to find a hole and terminate. Despite her size, Nihipali is a huge asset in the backrow. She takes up lots of space and is quick enough to pick up and chase down a lot of balls. Nihipali is very much a competitor — one who doesn't like to lose – and brings this attitude with her to every practice and every game and in turn it feeds the other athletes. A terrific student and outstanding teammate, Nihipali is bound for the University of Arizona. She has the size, flexibility, determination, and foundational skills necessary to become a physical, six-rotation outside hitter in the Pac-12."
Rubio says: "Whittnee is somebody that's been on our radar for a while. She comes from an athletic family. Her dad played football at Virginia Tech, her mom was a volleyball player in college and her cousins were excellent volleyball players at UCLA. Whittnee made a big jump between her sophomore and junior year. She's a big, physical kid who can move despite her size. She's got a good arm. She can pass and has good aptitude for the position. She's a potential six-rotation outside hitter – she can pass, score on either pin or out of the backrow and stop people at the net. We're excited about Whittnee's potential. If she continues on the trajectory that she's been on the past year, who knows what could happen? She's somebody that we're excited about. She loves to compete and she loves volleyball."
Follow the Cats
To keep up with Arizona volleyball, be sure to visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team on its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Whittnee Nihaipali, a 6-2 outside hitter from Las Vegas, Nevada and Top-100 recruit nationally, and Zyonna Fellow, a 6-4 middle blocker from Tacoma, Washington, both signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Arizona.
"We're so excited about both Whittnee and Zyonna as well as all the kids that will eventually be a part of this class," said Rubio. "They really fit the needs of our program. They both fit the template that we've tried to follow the last few years, meaning that, while neither of them may be the most polished right now, they have immense potential. They're both athletic and physical, but still raw. Losing McKenzie Jacobson and Jade Turner, we needed to add a middle blocker, and we got one with size and good arm in Zyonna. And you can never have enough potential six-rotation outside hitters, and we feel that Whittnee is that."
Zyonna Fellows
6-4 | Middle Blocker
Tacoma, Wash. (Tacoma H.S.)
Cited as a PrepVolleyball.com "Next 150" (prospects 101-250) … In 2016, she led Tacoma H.S. in kills (166) and blocks (114) … Named first-team all-Pierce County League.
Rubio says: "Zyonna is 6-4 with long arms. She was a basketball player and part-time volleyball player but her length, athletic ability and reach translate really well to volleyball. She has a very natural good arm swing, which is something that, typically, kids that are late coming to volleyball struggle to pick up or never master. But she has a great arm. We were excited to see her and it worked out really well for us. The more that we watched her, the more that we really began to like some of the things that she brought to the table – namely her length and her ability to swing her arm at her size. Any time you can get an athletic, 6-4 middle blocker with a great arm, you're thrilled. We're excited about Z. Just like Whittnee, her best days are down the road, but her potential could be off the charts."
Whittnee Nihipali
6-2 | Outside Hitter
Las Vegas, Nev. (Shadow Ridge H.S.)
Rated the No. 72 prospect nationally and the leading candidate for Nevada State Gatorade Player of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com … Under Armor Preseason All-American … Has 362 kills while leading the league in hitting percentage to go along with 43 aces this season … Two-time MaxPreps AVCA Player of the Week.
PrepVolleyball.com says: "A four-year starter on the Shadow Ridge varsity, Nihipali is a six-rotation player who terminates from the front and back row. She is strong. She can bend. She can move. She can swing her arm. She is aggressive. Her first-step quickness is outstanding for her size. She looks like, and can be, a prototypical terminating L1 at the collegiate level. Nihipali can attack and block on either pin, is adding versatility to her game by adding quick-tempo attacks and is especially effective in transition when her teams needs her to find a hole and terminate. Despite her size, Nihipali is a huge asset in the backrow. She takes up lots of space and is quick enough to pick up and chase down a lot of balls. Nihipali is very much a competitor — one who doesn't like to lose – and brings this attitude with her to every practice and every game and in turn it feeds the other athletes. A terrific student and outstanding teammate, Nihipali is bound for the University of Arizona. She has the size, flexibility, determination, and foundational skills necessary to become a physical, six-rotation outside hitter in the Pac-12."
Rubio says: "Whittnee is somebody that's been on our radar for a while. She comes from an athletic family. Her dad played football at Virginia Tech, her mom was a volleyball player in college and her cousins were excellent volleyball players at UCLA. Whittnee made a big jump between her sophomore and junior year. She's a big, physical kid who can move despite her size. She's got a good arm. She can pass and has good aptitude for the position. She's a potential six-rotation outside hitter – she can pass, score on either pin or out of the backrow and stop people at the net. We're excited about Whittnee's potential. If she continues on the trajectory that she's been on the past year, who knows what could happen? She's somebody that we're excited about. She loves to compete and she loves volleyball."
Follow the Cats
To keep up with Arizona volleyball, be sure to visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team on its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.
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