TUCSON, Ariz. –The No. 10 ranked Arizona sand volleyball team has had a very successful second season. With the two pairs of Madi Kingdon and Kaitlyn Leary; Madison and McKenna being selected to head to the AVCA Pairs Sand National Championship and with the skill of next season’s newcomers, the future is looking very bright for the growing program.
Head coach Steve Walker and the Arizona sand volleyball program want to announce the new student-athletes who will join the Wildcats’ roster for the 2015-2016 season. The group introduces 5 new players to the program.
Sam Manley is a hybrid blocker/defender from San Diego, Calif. She serves as team captain for the San Pasqual High School’s volleyball team and is a long time member of WAVE Volleyball Clubs beach program. Manley, who has recently earned her 'AAA' beach rating on the most competitive beach circuit in the California Beach Volleyball Association, has that nice blend of athletic ability, skill, length and experience UA likes to look for in prospects.
"Sam was one of the very 1st verbal commits to the UA sand program.” said Head coach Steve Walker, “she's an incredibly driven student-athlete and it almost feels like Sam has been committed longer than the program has existed, but in all seriousness we can't wait to finally bring her to Tucson, we couldn't be more excited she's a Wildcat.”
Walker believes her confidence and her drive to be an excellent student-athlete will contribute immensely to the sand volleyball programs growing success.
Rachel Wilson, a full-time defender, is from La Jolla, Calif. She attends La Costa Canyon High School and was a part of the inaugural champion high school sand volleyball team at her school. Wilson is a feisty, relentless defender and will bring a good deal of beach volleyball experience to Arizona. Rachel has not decided on a major yet and wants to wait and see what she is interested in. She, like Manley, is also long time member of WAVE Volleyball Clubs beach program.
"Since she's committed solely to the sand game, Rachel has really developed physically from time well spent in the weight room,” said Walker “, she has made big strides in her game this academic year and we're excited to have Rachel join the program this Fall."
Tyler Lucas is also defender from Aledo, TX (692 Beach Volleyball Club). Tyler was the team captain her junior and senior year of high school for Aledo High School. Lucas played for the Texas Image Volleyball team, coached by Ray Borge. She has very many admirable accomplishments for her age and is a very experienced player having also earned her ‘AAA’ beach rating in the California Beach Volleyball Association. She has not chosen a major yet, but has many things she is interested in. Tyler would make a great deal of impact to the sand program at Arizona.
“She's a tough, proud Texan and I am pleased to say she's the 1st player from that state we've ever signed,” Walker said. “Her skill, coupled with her competitive nature will serve the program well daily in practice. She will be a terrific Wildcat."
Jianna Bonomi, who is the Arizona sand programs first ever-graduate student-athlete is a setter from Huntington Beach, Calif. Bonomi is choosing to seek a graduate degree in either Marketing or Journalism and spent her Undergrad at the University of San Diego. She attended Huntington Beach High School and played on the varsity volleyball team for three years.
"Jianna had a well decorated 4 seasons indoor at The University of San Diego, and played a big part in some of best seasons in program history,” said Walker “, she will also bring plenty of beach volleyball experience with her to Tucson having placed very well in numerous AAU and California Beach Volleyball Association tournaments. Jianna possesses very good leadership skills and we’re excited to add a terrific player like Jianna to the program.”
Sara Pantovic, who was born in Serbia, but hails from Vancouver, BC and plays as a full-time blocker. She served as the team captain on her high schools volleyball team and received many honors. Pantovic aspires to be a Lawyer or Pharmacist because she enjoys being challenged academically. As a member of the Sideout Canada Beach Volleyball Club, was a silver medalist at the Canadian Beach Nationals and B.C. Provincials, 2013-2014.
"Sara is an exciting international addition to the program and I look for her to do some great things over the course of her 4 years here at the UA.” Said Walker, “she's an experienced, well-traveled beach player that possesses that unique combination of talent and work ethic on and off the sand court and we are very excited to have her in the fall of 2015.”
The Wildcats head coach; Steve Walker believes that with the continuous growth to the program the new student-athletes will have a very positive impact on the team and the program in its entirety.
Follow the Cats!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona athletics by following us on Twitter (@arizonasandvb), Instagram (arizonasandvolleyball).
