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Beach Volleyball

Get to Know Our 2023 Incoming Freshman Class

TUCSON, Ariz. - Head coach Steve Walker and the Arizona beach volleyball program signed seven student-athletes in November of 2022, one of the top recruiting classes in the country and in the history of the program according to various recruiting rankings.  
 
Below we take a look at each of the seven signees from across the country as they prepare to join the program this Fall. 
 
Brooke Boyko 
5-10 | Split Blocker 
Gilbert, Ariz.  
Campo Verde High School 
 
  • Played two seasons of indoor volleyball and one season of beach volleyball in high school 
  • Earned all-region honors for indoor volleyball as a freshman and sophomore 
  • Played club volleyball with Volley4Life 
  • Won the AVPA & p1440 Triple Crown Series and the West Coast Championship qualifier in 2022 
  • Qualified for the AVP Junior Nationals in 2022 
  • Has finished first or second in 13 different club beach volleyball tournaments over the past two years 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "I love the coaches and the whole atmosphere of the team. And it's also not too close to home but not too far either." 
  • Potential career ambition: registered nurse or orthopedic surgeon 
 
Jess Horwath 
6-1 | Split Blocker 
Barrington, Illinois 
Barrington High School 
 
  • Played four seasons of indoor volleyball in high school 
  • Selected to the U17 U.S. National Team Development Program in 2021 & 2023 
  • Named 2022 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention for indoor volleyball 
  • Was a three-time all-state honoree in Illinois Class 4A 
  • Played club beach volleyball for Progression Beach Volleyball in Darien, Ill. 
  • Father, Rich, was a goalkeeper for the men's soccer programs at UConn and DePaul 
  • A five-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and track & field, where she qualified for the Junior Olympics in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "I chose the University of Arizona because I believe Coach Walker and the culture he's developed will maximize my potential as a player. The opportunity to play in the Pac-12 and the beautiful campus were also positive factors in my decision." 
  • Potential career ambition: Sports psychology because it combines my fascination with the human mind and helping athletes 
 
Olivia McElroy 
5-10 | Split Blocker 
Cornelius, N.C.  
William A Hough High School 
 
  • Named to Fab 50 list by VolleyballMag.com 
  • Played four years of indoor volleyball, two years of basketball and one season of track and field (long jump, high jump) 
  • Named to the 4A All-State team as a senior and was All-Lake Player of the Year 
  • Won four conference championships in indoor volleyball at William A. Hough High School 
  • Didn't start playing beach volleyball until her sophomore year of high school (2020) 
  • Named Defensive Player of the Year on the basketball team as a sophomore 
  • Played club beach volleyball for Sinjin Beach Club in Raleigh, N.C. 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "I chose UofA for the competitive athletic program, the resources and facilities that are available for athletes, the wide variety of academic programs offered and the campus." 
  • Potential career ambition: interested in Real Estate because she enjoys interacting with others and exploring different types of architecture  
 
Kate Phillips 
6-1 | Blocker 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Valley Christian High School 
 
  • Named to the Fab 50 list by VolleyballMag.com  
  • Played four years of indoor and beach volleyball in high school 
  • Won Arizona state championship in indoor and beach volleyball as a junior 
  • Named Arizona 3A player of the year for beach volleyball in 2021 
  • Played club beach volleyball for One Beach in Tempe, Ariz.  
  • Placed fifth at the BVCA pairs championship in 2021 and 2022 
  • Father, Jimmy, played college basketball at Dawson Community College 
  • Brother, Logan, plays college basketball at Southern Arkansas University 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "It's been my dream ever since I was a little girl to be able to play collegiate volleyball, so to be able to do that at the University of Arizona is a dream come true. It's also amazing because it's so close to home but just far enough away that I'm able to be independent." 
  • Potential career ambition: a marketing representative helping a company create a global brand and growing their business because I love being creative. 
 
Stephanie Rondon Davila 
5-10 | Split Blocker 
San Juan, Puerto Rico 
Colegio Maristas de Guaynabo 
 
  • Finished third at King of the Court at Miami in 2023
  • Took third place at the AVP America East Coast Championships in 2021 and second place in 2022
  • Logged a second place finish at the Olympic committee Beach Gams in Puerto Rico in June 2022
  • Finished 17th at 2022 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Turkey while representing Puerto Rico 
  • Also represented her home country at the Norceca Open in 2022 
  • Finished third at the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance (PRHSAA) tournament in 2021 and 2022 
  • Father, Antonio, played indoor volleyball as a student at Rutgers 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "I decided to attend the University of Arizona because it has excellent athletic and academic programs and they treat the student-athletes really well." 
  • Potential career ambition: I would like to look into a career in sports medicine. 
 
 
Tanon Rosenthal 
6-0 | Defender 
Hermosa Beach, Calif. 
Mira Costa High School 
 
  • Named to the Fab 50 list by VolleyballMag.com 
  • Played three seasons of indoor volleyball and one year of beach volleyball in high school 
  • Named all-district twice and First Team All-Bay League as a senior 
  • Indoor team went 38-5 as a senior and advanced to the state semifinals 
  • Played club beach volleyball for MBsand out of Manhattan Beach, Calif., where she won BVCA tournaments twice 
  • Father, Mike, played football at Notre Dame and eight seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings (1999—2006) 
  • Mother, Lindsay, played volleyball at Notre Dame 
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: "I loved the program and coaches as well as the overall culture of the university and the city of Tucson." 
 
Ashlyn Zilliken 
6-2 | Blocker 
McKinney, Texas 
Bishop Lynn High School 
 
  • Named to the Fab 50 list by VolleyballMag.com  
  • Played four seasons of indoor volleyball in high school 
  • Won TAPPS Sand Volleyball state championship in 2021 and 2022 
  • Earned TAPPS Second Team All-District as a senior and honorable mention as a junior 
  • Advanced to indoor state championship game as a senior, and received all-tournament team honors 
  • Played club beach volleyball with MadSand in Plano, Texas 
  • Placed fifth at BVCA pairs national championships 
  • Competed on the 2021 Fall Training Series USA Volleyball  
  • Reason for choosing Arizona: The volleyball program and coaches are very strong, but the atmosphere of the school and the campus are great and it offers a variety of majors. 
  • Potential career ambition: interest in criminal law, psychology or human studies 
 
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