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The University of Utah Athletics
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Utah Volleyball Partners with Team IMPACT to Sign Ultimate Ute
8/20/2025 3:00 PM | Volleyball
Unique partnership brings top-rated “recruit” Briar Rose to Utes’ roster
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 23 Utah Volleyball team got a little better on Monday, Aug. 18, after signing top-rated nine-year-old "recruit" Briar Rose to fulfill a key position on the team as the Ultimate Ute for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Briar Rose, who is battling Wiedemann-Seiner Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder), will participate at Utah Volleyball practices, games, and other team events among other duties through the duration of her contract with the Utes.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
Once Team IMPACT brought Briar Rose to Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere's attention, it was clear she was the missing piece the team needed in their open Ultimate Ute position, and the coaching staff immediately got to work securing her commitment to the Utes.
"Having Briar Rose join our team is an honor for us," said Launiere. "She is a special person, and has brought so much joy already to our team. We look forward to her and her family being a part of our Utah Volleyball family, while forging meaningful relationships between Briar Rose and our team."
The Utes got a late steal with Briar Rose, who was described by Team IMPACT as a resilient, happy kid who loves puzzles, dancing, singing, sparkly dresses, Kit Kats, Pringles, and has a love for receiving mail and organizing it.
Most importantly, Briar Rose comes to Utah Volleyball as a seasoned "good sport" with a superior ability to cheer on her teammates through thick and thin, which will come in handy through the ups and downs of the season.
"It has been so fun getting to know Briar Rose," said Utah libero Iliana Linahan. "She has already made such an impact on us with her kindness and fiery energy. She'll be an extremely valuable addition to our team by keeping us smiling and staying connected. She will fill such a special role, and every single one of our players can't wait until the next time we see her! She's already been such a positive highlight of our 2025 season, and we can't wait to make more lifelong memories with her."
Briar Rose has already shown a tremendous work-ethic and dedication to her craft, coming well-prepared for her position as Ultimate Ute for Utah Volleyball with her own cheer ("bump, set, spike it, that's the way we like it!") that she is eager to teach Swoop, whom she is very excited to meet and work closely with over the next two years.
"It has been amazing to watch [Briar Rose] go and just fit with them," said Stacie, Briar Rose's mother. "She isn't shy with them- she loves them and she sees them, and just gives them a hug. She just wants to be with them, and they are ok with that. They are so kind to her."
UP NEXT
Utah, along with Briar Rose, will host fans for free at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Aug. 23 in their annual Red and White Match at 1 p.m. MT.
The Utes will then open non-conference play with the Utah Classic featuring No. 24 Dayton, Lafayette College, and Washington State from Aug. 29-31 at the Huntsman Center.
View full schedule here. | Check out Utah Volleyball's full 2025 roster here.
Season tickets are available here. | Single game tickets are available here.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Briar Rose, who is battling Wiedemann-Seiner Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder), will participate at Utah Volleyball practices, games, and other team events among other duties through the duration of her contract with the Utes.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
Once Team IMPACT brought Briar Rose to Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere's attention, it was clear she was the missing piece the team needed in their open Ultimate Ute position, and the coaching staff immediately got to work securing her commitment to the Utes.
"Having Briar Rose join our team is an honor for us," said Launiere. "She is a special person, and has brought so much joy already to our team. We look forward to her and her family being a part of our Utah Volleyball family, while forging meaningful relationships between Briar Rose and our team."
The Utes got a late steal with Briar Rose, who was described by Team IMPACT as a resilient, happy kid who loves puzzles, dancing, singing, sparkly dresses, Kit Kats, Pringles, and has a love for receiving mail and organizing it.
Most importantly, Briar Rose comes to Utah Volleyball as a seasoned "good sport" with a superior ability to cheer on her teammates through thick and thin, which will come in handy through the ups and downs of the season.
"It has been so fun getting to know Briar Rose," said Utah libero Iliana Linahan. "She has already made such an impact on us with her kindness and fiery energy. She'll be an extremely valuable addition to our team by keeping us smiling and staying connected. She will fill such a special role, and every single one of our players can't wait until the next time we see her! She's already been such a positive highlight of our 2025 season, and we can't wait to make more lifelong memories with her."
Briar Rose has already shown a tremendous work-ethic and dedication to her craft, coming well-prepared for her position as Ultimate Ute for Utah Volleyball with her own cheer ("bump, set, spike it, that's the way we like it!") that she is eager to teach Swoop, whom she is very excited to meet and work closely with over the next two years.
"It has been amazing to watch [Briar Rose] go and just fit with them," said Stacie, Briar Rose's mother. "She isn't shy with them- she loves them and she sees them, and just gives them a hug. She just wants to be with them, and they are ok with that. They are so kind to her."
UP NEXT
Utah, along with Briar Rose, will host fans for free at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Aug. 23 in their annual Red and White Match at 1 p.m. MT.
The Utes will then open non-conference play with the Utah Classic featuring No. 24 Dayton, Lafayette College, and Washington State from Aug. 29-31 at the Huntsman Center.
View full schedule here. | Check out Utah Volleyball's full 2025 roster here.
Season tickets are available here. | Single game tickets are available here.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Volleyball
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/ VolleyballESPN+ Feature | Utah Volleyball's Devyn Weist
Thursday, November 06
Utah Volleyball's Ultimate Ute, Briar Rose - ESPN+ Feature
Monday, October 20
Utah Volleyball's Neea-Maria Joki - ESPN+ Feature
Friday, October 10
Utah Volleyball's Emrie Moea'i - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 25