The Utah volleyball team solidified its 2017 roster with the addition of four players, head volleyball coach Beth Launiere announced on Thursday.
Joining the Ute roster this coming fall will be Kristen Abels (Chula Vista, Calif.), Lauga Gauta (Garden Grove, Calif.), Camryn Machado (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Alexa Van Komen (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) These four players join the class of Dani Barton, Phoebe Grace, Kenzie Koerberand Shannon Scully, that were added to the 2017 roster during the early signing period back in November.
| Kristen Abels • L/DS • 5-10 • Chula Vista, Calif. (Eastlake High School) |
| Abels was a four-time, first team all-league at Eastlake High School, where she tallied 295 kills, 37 aces and 403 digs as a senior. A three-time Mesa League Player of the Year, Abels helped lead her squad to the league championship in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Her team went 23-9 overall and 10-0 in league-play this past season. She was a San Diego All-CIF second team selection in 2015 before earning first team honors in 2016.
Abels is the daughter of Richard and Melissa Abels and she has one sister, Allison. Abels will major in business when enrolling into the U. |
| Lauga Gauta • 5-11 • OH • Garden Grove, Calif. (Northwest College/Garden Grove High School) |
| Gauta will transfer to Utah following a two-year playing career at Northwest College (Powell, Wyo.). She eclipsed 904 kills, 492 digs and 157 total blocks in her two seasons at NWC, which included 575 kills in 2016, which ranked second-most in the nation. Gauta, who earned NJCAA National Player of the Week honors back on Oct. 3, 2016, went on to earn WCCAC and Region IV North Player of the Year honors. She was a two-time All-WCCAC First Team selection, a two-time All-Region IX honoree and a two-time NJCAA All-American, earning honorable mention in 2015 and then being named to the first team in 2016.
Gauta was a two-year letterwinner at Garden Grove High School where she helped lead her team to a 23-1 overall record. She was a First Team All-CIF Division 4AA selection following her senior season. Gauta is the daughter of Peselao and Muluea Gauta. She has nine siblings: Isha, Roderick, Howard, Alihandra, Drucilla, Sive’a, Peselao, Alizae and Tafisi. Gauta will major in anthropology when enrolling at Utah. |
| Camryn Machado • 5-9 • S • Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon High School) |
| Machado was a three-year letterwinner at La Costa Canyon High School where she went on to register 1,509 assists, 460 digs, 115 kills and 92 service aces in her career. A first team all-league selection as a junior and senior, Machado would help lead her squad to the CIF State Championship in 2015 and a second-place finish this past season. Her 1,041 assists this past season ranked first overall in San Diego County and No. 9 overall in the entire state of California, which led to her being named to the All-CIF First Team.
Machado is the daughter of Justin and Jamie Machado, who were both collegiate athletes at Sonoma State. She has one brother, Austin. Machado is currently undecided on a major. |
| Alexa Van Komen • 5-8 • S • El Dorado Hills, Calif. (Oak Ridge High School) |
| Van Komen was a two-year letterwinner at Oak Ridge High School where she helped lead her squad to a 37-9 overall record and a 12-0 mark in league play this past season. Her team would go on to place third in the state among Division I teams and finished the 2016 campaign ranked No. 19 in the state and No. 89 in the nation. Her squad would place second in the San Juaguine section this past season, but were back-to-back Foothill League champions in 2015 and 2016.
Van Komen is the daughter of Steve and Brooke Van Komen. She has three siblings: Bryn, Drew and Garrett. She plans to major in information systems and computer science when enrolling into the U. News courtesy of Utah Athletics. |
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