University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Volleyball Adds Six Newcomers For 2018 Season
4/20/2018 11:35:00 AM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware volleyball head coach Sara Matthews has announced that six newcomers will join the UD program and begin competing for the Blue Hens this fall.
Matthews welcomes incoming freshmen Addie Rivera-Woolard, Grace Underwood, and Sam Davis to the UD program, along with junior Cailey Bracken and Sonja Vukosavljevic, a graduate transfer from LIU Brooklyn. That group joins Andie Hanus, a transfer from the University of Missouri who joined the Blue Hens in January.
Rivera-Woolard, a middle blocker from Macungie, Pa., was a two-time All-Conference, All-District and All-State selection at Emmaus High School. A four-year varsity starter, she set school single match records with 25 kills and nine blocks. Rivera-Woolard is an honor roll student who also competed for the East Coast Power club team.
“Addie is a very dynamic player and we are excited to have her athleticism in our gym,” Matthews commented. “She is a natural blocker with a very good arm. She is also a very versatile player who can have success anywhere in the front row. Addie has a very high ceiling so our staff is excited to get her in the gym to train.”
Underwood, a middle hitter from Mullica Hill, N.J., was a two-time first team All-Conference and All-South Jersey honoree during her final two years while earning third team All-State accolades as a sophomore and senior. A four-year starter, she led Paul VI to four consecutive conference titles and paced the squad in kills, blocks and aces during her final three years.
“Grace is another versatile player who will bring great size and length,” Matthews said. “She is a physical kid who puts up a solid block and can hit both first tempo and second tempo balls. She is a really bubbly kid, but also gets after it and competes hard when the game is on the line. We are looking forward to her making an immediate impact for us.”
Davis, a defensive specialist from nearby Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., was a three-team All-State selection for the Raiders, including first team honors as a senior. A four-time All-Conference pick, Davis set the Ursuline record with 1,300 career digs and also competed on the Brandywine Volleyball Club team.
“(Assistant Coach) Kim (Lambert) and I got lucky when we saw Sam playing in the state finals match,” Matthews explained. “We did not have her on our radar before that, but as soon as we saw her competing, we knew she would bring great energy and intensity to our gym. Sam has that relentless pursuit attitude and will bring some added depth to our back row play.”
Bracken, an outside hitter from St. Louis, Mo., joins the Blue Hens after playing two years at Mineral Area College where she became the first player in school history to earn honorable mention All-America honors. Bracken averaged 3.06 kills per set while leading the team to a 34-2 record and a sixth place finish at Junior College Nationals last fall. Previously Bracken was a four-year All-Conference and All-District honoree at Bishop DuBourg High School.
“When I saw Cailey competing at JuCo Nationals, I knew she was a player who would help our gym,” Matthews stated. “She has great ball control and can effectively also put balls away in and out of system. She is the type of player you want in the trenches with you in a close match. She has an infectious personality that pushes people around her. We are really excited for what she will bring to our team and gives us some much-needed depth on the outside.”
Vukosavljevic, a middle blocker from Belgrade Serbia, arrives in Newark after spending four seasons with the Blackbirds. She appeared in 23 matches while making 13 starts last season for an LIU Brooklyn squad that won 20 matches and captured the NEC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Vukosavljevic, who competed in 82 matches during her career with LIU Brooklyn, registered 47 kills and 26 blocks this past fall for the Blackbirds.
“We are so excited to welcome Sonja to our Blue Hen family,” Matthews noted. “She will be a fifth-year grad student transfer who will add great experience for us, not only on the court but also as a leader off the court. She is great off one foot attacking and gives us more versatility in the middle. She has life experiences that will be a great example for our players and will bring invaluable things to our team culture. We can't wait to get her on campus.”
Hanus, a libero from Omaha, Neb., appeared in all 34 matches last fall for Missouri, which finished with a 22-12 record, placed third in the SEC with a 13-5 mark, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. She posted 98 digs on the year, including a career-high eight against BYU. Hanus played in 14 matches during her freshman season with the Tigers, finishing the year with 16 digs and four assists.
“Andie joined our team at the beginning of the semester and has already made a huge impact,” Matthews said. “Her ball control is at a very high level. She has added some consistency in our serve receive and makes our whole gym better with her defensive effort. It has been a very seamless transition for her since she is such a selfless player who fits in perfectly to our team culture. She is going to do big things for us this fall.”
