CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds volleyball program is excited to announce the addition of four talented athletes to its roster for the upcoming 2024 season. This singing class brings international flavor and attacking power to the lineup for the upcoming season.
Head Coach Kacey Nady said
"We are thrilled to welcome Marlee, Nalani, Vicky, and Gaby to the Southern Utah volleyball family. Each player brings a unique skill set and competitive spirit that will undoubtedly contribute to our success on and off the court."
Marlee Ervin, an outside hitter from Ogallala, Nebraska, has joined the Thunderbirds after a fantastic career at Ogallala High School and the Nebraska Juniors Club program.
Ervin is a multi-talented athlete who achieved great success in high school. During her four-year tenure, she played volleyball, basketball, tennis, and danced. Marlee was part of the volleyball team that won several tournaments and championships. She also received numerous honors, including Southwest Conference honors, Twin City all-tournament team honors, and Keith County Player of the Year. In addition, she was a valuable member of the basketball and tennis teams and was recognized for her leadership as dance team captain.
Nalani Muniz is a setter from San Diego, California, who went to The Bishops School and also played for Coast Volleyball Club.
Muniz has had an impressive career leading up to her signing with Southern Utah. During her junior year of high school, she was named to the La Jolla Classic All-Tournament team, Coastal League First Team, and Second-Team CIF San Diego. In her senior year, she continued to rack up accolades, including being named to the Westview Classic All-Tournament team, Coastal League Player of the Year, and First-Team CIF San Diego. Muniz was also the varsity captain during her senior year. Her impressive skills were not limited to high school, as she also captained her 18s club season team, which finished first at Red Rock Rave and had a top 10 finish at the Girls Junior National Championships. In addition to her athletic achievements, Muniz also started a business called Athletes of Faith in 2023 with her brother. Through the usage of clothing, they aim to spread and unite a community of driven athletes who derive their strength through faith.
Victoria Zibecchi originally comes from Villa Angela, Argentina, and is now at Southern Utah after attending Florida SouthWestern State College. Zibecchi helped lead the Buccaneers to back-to-back Junior College National Championships. Zibecchi's experience as an opposite hitter and her international perspective gives the team an extra edge in their offensive arsenal.
As a sophomore, Zibecchi started all 32 matches as an opposite and was able to average 3.10 kills per set while hitting .306. Her exceptional performance earned her the honor of being one of just five players in all of the NJCAA Division I to average over three kills per set and hit over .300. Zibecchi was also recognized as a First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection in the most competitive junior college conference in the country. She was even a member of the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament Team, where she finished with 53 kills and just two errors while hitting .455 in four matches, including a remarkable 15 kills and one error in their National Championship game win over their rival Miami Dade.
Gabriela Arias, an outside hitter from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, comes to SUU after her time at New Mexico Junior College. Arias brings both power and finesse to the Thunderbirds' attacking lineup for the 2024 campaign.
Arias had an impressive run during her time at NMJC, where she helped lead the team to become conference champions in her first year. Although they lost the final against New Mexico Military during regionals in Roswell, they returned stronger the following year. Arias was a key player in the team's historic qualification for nationals in Hutchinson, Kansas, where they had an amazing experience. During her time at NMJC, Arias received an all-conference honor and was even named the WCAC Offensive Player of the Week after helping NMJC upend No. 8-ranked Odessa College in four sets. Her outstanding performance of 27 kills on 59 attacks with just eight errors, 26 digs, 11 solo blocks, and three block assists in seven sets truly showcased her talent.
Follow Us
Stay up to date on the Thunderbird Volleyball program by following @SUUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Volleyball page on Facebook.
Donate
To help support Thunderbird athletics consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support click here.
