Former UC Riverside outside hitter Mikaela Grove is departing from the program for Cal State University, San Bernardino. Yesterday, VolleyMob reported that Jessica Haynie had transferred out of UC Riverside.
A sophomore-to-be in the fall of 2018, Grove will join CSUSB with three years left of play. It would be likely that she is immediately eligible since she is dropping down from Division I to Division II as San Bernardino plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
A native of Riverside, California, Grove went to her home college after attending King High School where she was an All-League MVP in 2016.
In her lone year with the Highlanders, Grove appeared in 45 sets across 23 matches. She went on to log 88 kills (1.96 per set) on a .197 hitting percentage, 22 digs (0.49 per set) and 13 blocks (0.29 per set). The loss leaves a UC Riverside team that went 10-18 in 2017 with two returning outside hitters in Kaiulani Ahuna – who averaged over two kills and digs per set – and Lauren Newell – who was a rotational player.
One team’s loss is another’s gain, which is the case for Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes finished the 2017 season at 24-8 and 14-3 in the CCAA, good for its 13th conference title as part of the league. They also earned the NCAA West Regional title but fell in the NCAA Quarterfinals and earned a final ranking of #13. CSUSB had six outside hitters on their past season’s roster, although two graduated.
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