The Arizona Wildcats are bringing on a transfer in the form of Kimberly Gutierrez, a libero/defensive specialist who comes by way of San Francisco. Gutierrez will be in her senior season as she is immediately eligible.
The 5’5″ Gutierrez played both on the indoor and beach squads for the University of San Francisco from 2014-2016. Prior to her collegiate experience, she was a four-year letter-winner at Sweetwater High School and competed with the Mexican National Team. She then got things started on a high note in the bay area, earning a spot on the 2014 West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team. She then led the team in digs (292) and digs per set (4.00) as a sophomore on a winning team. After leading the team again in 2016, she leaves the school sixth all-time in career digs (1,114).
Besides Gutierrez, Arizona has five other defensive specialists/liberos on the team. The Wildcats did lose their top three in digs last season though, including libero Laura Larson. Beyond that, only one logged more than 20 digs last season, meaning there is plenty of opportunity for playing time at the position.
Arizona finished with a 20-15 record in 2016 that included a 10-10 mark in Pac-12 play. They made it to the NCAA Tournament and even upset the ninth overall seed in the tournament, Michigan State, in five sets to advance to the Sweet 16.
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