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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Add Three During Early Signing Period
11/14/2019 9:08 AM | Volleyball
Utah Adds a Setter, Middle Blocker and Libero
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah volleyball has signed three future student-athletes during the national signing period, head coach Beth Launiere announced.
The Utes have signed setter Sommer Daniel, middle blocker Allie Olsen and libero Vanessa Ramirez.
From Tipton, Iowa, Daniel is a setter that has had a decorated prep career playing for Adrenaline Volleyball Academy. Daniel is the only Iowa player to record 1,000-plus kills, digs and assists. She was named first-team all-state after her junior and senior seasons and second-team all-state after her sophomore season. After her junior season, Daniel was named 3A Player of the Year. On her club team, she was named to the USA National All-Tournament Team after the 2017 and 2018 tournament where the team finished fifth and second. Playing all over the court, Daniel did a little bit of everything finishing her senior year with 382 kills, 452 assists, 277 digs, 27 blocks and 46 aces.
"Sommer is an all-around athlete and volleyball player," Launiere said. "She truly is one of those athletes that can do it all. In high school, she set and hit while passing and playing great defense. She is a dynamic and fast player that understands the game and has the potential to play many positions for us. We're excited to begin working with her and training her in our system."
Olsen is a 6-3 middle blocker from Great Falls, Montana. She was named first team all-state after her junior and senior seasons and second-team all-state after her sophomore season. The middle blocker finished her career with 1,195 kills, 285 blocks, 380 digs and 101 aces at C.M. Russell High School and was named academic all-state all four seasons. Olsen played club at Great Falls Zootown.
"Allie is a tremendous athlete with great potential," Launiere said. "We like her work ethic, how physical she is at the net and her drive to learn. She is the type of player that we have recruited to Utah many times that have had success in our program. We can't wait to get her in our gym to further develop her skills and to help her develop as an athlete and person."
Ramirez is a libero from Pasadena, California. Still waiting to find out her senior accolades, she was named to the 2018 all-area second team by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and to the All-Del Rey League first team the last three seasons. Ramirez was named to the All-Del Rey League second team after her sophomore and freshman seasons. In addition to all of her high school awards, she was named the USAVB junior nationals 17 open "Supernova" in 2019 playing with San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club.
"Vanessa is a passionate volleyball player that takes pride in her defensive role," Launiere said. "She works hard and plays with great energy. She has played Libero for one of the top clubs in Southern California for a long time and comes to Utah with a vast amount of knowledge and experience. We're excited to have V in our program both as a volleyball and person."
Daniel will enroll at Utah this January and Olsen and Ramirez will enroll to be part of Utah's team beginning in the fall of 2020.
The Utes have signed setter Sommer Daniel, middle blocker Allie Olsen and libero Vanessa Ramirez.
From Tipton, Iowa, Daniel is a setter that has had a decorated prep career playing for Adrenaline Volleyball Academy. Daniel is the only Iowa player to record 1,000-plus kills, digs and assists. She was named first-team all-state after her junior and senior seasons and second-team all-state after her sophomore season. After her junior season, Daniel was named 3A Player of the Year. On her club team, she was named to the USA National All-Tournament Team after the 2017 and 2018 tournament where the team finished fifth and second. Playing all over the court, Daniel did a little bit of everything finishing her senior year with 382 kills, 452 assists, 277 digs, 27 blocks and 46 aces.
"Sommer is an all-around athlete and volleyball player," Launiere said. "She truly is one of those athletes that can do it all. In high school, she set and hit while passing and playing great defense. She is a dynamic and fast player that understands the game and has the potential to play many positions for us. We're excited to begin working with her and training her in our system."
Olsen is a 6-3 middle blocker from Great Falls, Montana. She was named first team all-state after her junior and senior seasons and second-team all-state after her sophomore season. The middle blocker finished her career with 1,195 kills, 285 blocks, 380 digs and 101 aces at C.M. Russell High School and was named academic all-state all four seasons. Olsen played club at Great Falls Zootown.
"Allie is a tremendous athlete with great potential," Launiere said. "We like her work ethic, how physical she is at the net and her drive to learn. She is the type of player that we have recruited to Utah many times that have had success in our program. We can't wait to get her in our gym to further develop her skills and to help her develop as an athlete and person."
Ramirez is a libero from Pasadena, California. Still waiting to find out her senior accolades, she was named to the 2018 all-area second team by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and to the All-Del Rey League first team the last three seasons. Ramirez was named to the All-Del Rey League second team after her sophomore and freshman seasons. In addition to all of her high school awards, she was named the USAVB junior nationals 17 open "Supernova" in 2019 playing with San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club.
"Vanessa is a passionate volleyball player that takes pride in her defensive role," Launiere said. "She works hard and plays with great energy. She has played Libero for one of the top clubs in Southern California for a long time and comes to Utah with a vast amount of knowledge and experience. We're excited to have V in our program both as a volleyball and person."
Daniel will enroll at Utah this January and Olsen and Ramirez will enroll to be part of Utah's team beginning in the fall of 2020.
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