Beach Volleyball Announces 2018 Signees

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona head beach volleyball coach Steve Walker announced the signing of six players, four high school seniors and two transfers, that make up UA's 2018 recruiting class. Arizona is set to welcome Sarah Blacker, Ainise Havili, Georgia Kobel, Dana Parker, Madison Rigdon and Jasmine Safar for the 2018-19 season.

Blacker, Kobel, Parker and Safar will all begin their collegiate careers this fall in Tucson while Havili and Rigdon transfer to Arizona after successful indoor careers at Kansas, where they were honorable mention AVCA All-Americans as seniors.

"As we're ushering in a new beach volleyball era at The University of Arizona, this 2018 recruiting class is one that is going to provide a great deal of depth and talent," said Walker. "I really like the makeup of the group in terms of proven on court talent and off the court maturity and leadership. I expect several of these young ladies to compete for starting positions immediately and make a serious impact during our 2019 campaign."

The six incoming Wildcats will join nine returning letterwinners from a team that went 20-12 in 2018 and finished the season ranked 14th in the AVCA Coaches Poll.

Sarah Blacker
5-9; Split Blocker; San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic High School)

2014 BVCA U14 gold medalist
2014 Beach AAU Junior Olympic silver medalist
2016 USA HP U19 National Team A2

Coach Walker says: "Sarah was our first commit in this recruiting class and brings an expansive amount of beach volleyball experience to the table for a true freshman. She's competed at the highest level at the juniors level and has proven she can win playing at both blocker and defender. I look for Sarah to come in, work at her craft very hard and elevate our teams' play in a number of ways."

Ainise Havili
5-10; Defender; Fort Worth, Texas (Kansas)

Three-time Big 12 Setter of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017)
Four-time AVCA All-American (2014 - HM; 2015 - 1st; 2016 - 3rd; 2017 - HM)
Averaged 11.35 assists and 2.82 digs per set in her career at Kansas.

Coach Walker says: "I don't think there is a coach in the country that would say Ainise wasn't one of the elite players in the country at her position the last 4 years. What was clearly evident during her recruitment was that she is a very well rounded player who could have played multiple positions. And not only is she a great leader of young women, but she is also looking forward to getting a post-graduate degree in Marketing. We're looking forward to getting her in the sand and working with her."

Georgia Kobel
5-9; Defender; Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa High School)

Was a member of Mira Costa's back-to-back state championships
Named MVP of her indoor volleyball team as a freshman

Coach Walker says: "Georgia is a tireless worker that has posted several terrific results in the most competitive region of beach volleyball in the country. She's a very good teammate that will bring a built-in, high degree of understanding of this game that will translate very well as she moves to the next level. We're thrilled to have Georgia on board and she can't wait to get to Arizona and get to work."

Dana Parker
5-7; Defender; Flagstaff, Ariz. (Coconino High School)

Named to USA Volleyball HP U15 A1 National Team and two-time member of the USA Volleyball HP U17 A2 National Team
Recipient of the Coconino High School Outstanding Career and High School Scholar Athlete of the Year
Holds the Coconino school record for career kills (1,224) and kills in a season (532) as well as career digs (1,018) and digs in a single season (477).

Coach Walker says: "Dana is one of the most dynamic athletes playing the sport in the country and we're thrilled she wanted to stay in-state and don the Block A. She's been a lifer at our summer camps and possesses the kind of work ethic and competitiveness in players that we've built this program on. I know Dana will stay on that path and be a serious player for us in her time at Arizona."

Madison Rigdon
6-0; Split Blocker; Pflugerville, Texas (Kansas)

Two-time honorable mention AVCA All-American (2016, 2017)
Three-time all-Big 12 performer (2015 - 2nd; 2016 - 1st; 2017 - 1st)
Averaged 3.59 kills in 106 sets as a senior

Coach Walker says: "Madison was the first of our two graduate transfers to commit to us and possesses all of the athletic ability and skills that translate really well to this game of beach volleyball. She was a major standout in her time with the Kansas volleyball program and never shied away from a big moment. We're excited to see Madison, coupled with all of that mental toughness, develop her skills in the sand. On top of all of that, she will also walk away with a graduate degree in Public Health."

Jasmine Safar
5-11; Blocker; Burlington, Ontario, Canada (Nelson High School)

Two-time Ontario Volleyball Association All-Star (2016, 2017)
Canadian U19 National Team for 2018 World Championships
Led Nelson High School to regional championships in 2015 and 2018

Coach Walker says: "Jasmine is a very skilled and steady handed player that can also play both as a blocker or split-blocker. She had a very decorated high school career on the hardwood and in the sand; and we're thrilled she chose to take the leap and play NCAA Beach Volleyball at the next level. She's an incredibly hard worker, a great teammate, wants to get better and will provide us a plenty of flexibility as we develop lineups in her time here."

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