Rice Volleyball Announces 2022 Signing Class
2/15/2022 1:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Four future Owls set to join team in fall
HOUSTON – Rice volleyball head coach Genny Volpe announced on Tuesday (Feb. 15) the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent who will be eligible to play for the Owls starting in the Fall of 2022. Joining the Owls next season will be Darby Harris (Wheaton, Ill.), Taylor Johnson (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Gaby Mansfield (Houston, Texas), and Lademi Ogunlana (Missouri City, Texas).
"Overall, this class is top-notch," Volpe said. "All of these players are not only extremely talented on the volleyball court, they are leaders in the classroom and beyond. I think that is what I'm most impressed with is their ability to shine in many ways, not just as athletes. They are leaders. This is an extremely exciting day for Rice Volleyball!"
Darby Harris (5'9" – Setter - Wheaton, Illinois - Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
Harris was a four-year starter at Wheaton Warrenville South High School where she earned conference Player of the Year honors for the Tigers and broke the program's all-time digs record. Harris earned all-conference accolades her senior and junior seasons and helped lead her team to the state championship in 2019.
Volpe on Harris: "Darby is such a special player that we are extremely excited to be adding to our team. She is a highly decorated setter who has won championships at the highest level in high school and club. Darby is also is known for her strong defensive abilities and quickness. She has trained at an elite level, and also brings a team-first mentality to Rice Volleyball. She is a complete, well-rounded player with a strong volleyball IQ that will no doubt add so much to our team."
Taylor Johnson (6'0" – OH - Scottsdale, Arizona - Horizon HS)
Johnson played for a Huskies program that went 119-25 over her four seasons and won the 2021 State 5A Championship and finished ranked No. 22 in the nation. In 318 career sets she totaled 813 kills with a .276 hitting percentage to go along with 140 blocks, 359 digs, and 81 service aces. Johnson was tabbed a Top-150 Class of 2022 by PrepVolleyball.com and was a two-time all-district first team selection. She also earned 2020 Northeast Valley All-Region Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Volpe on Johnson: "Taylor brings athleticism, quickness and versatility. She can play at either pin and hit a variety of attack speeds. Her quickness and arm speed allow her to be a threat at multiple positions. She is a very calm, competitive and poised player. She has also had a very successful high school career and knows what it takes to win. Taylor is going to be a great asset to our team and we are very much looking forward to her arrival."
Gaby Mansfield (5'4" - Libero/DS - Houston, Texas - Jersey Village HS)
Mansfield helped lead the Falcons to a pair of state championship appearances (2019 and 2021) as well as a regional title in 2020 while collecting a bevy of individual accolades. Mansfield was the District 15-6A Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons and was the 2021 VYPE Libero of the Year. She totaled 2,133 career digs, including 836 her sophomore season.
Volpe on Mansfield: "Gaby has been on our radar for years, as she was a constant at our summer camps when she was younger. She stood out early to us as an extremely talented and competitive defensive player. Gaby has the ability to make some of the most acrobatic defensive plays you will ever see in a volleyball match. Her desire to keep the ball off the floor is infectious as is her spirited celebrations. She's played on the big stage many times in her club career and will continue to add a winning mentality to the team."
Lademi Ogunlana (5'11" – MB – Missouri City, Texas – Elkins HS)
Ogunlana entered her senior season with a career .273 hitting percentage to go along with 563 kills and 220 blocks for the Elkins Knights. She earned multiple all-district honors and earned MVP accolades in 2020. She was also an Academic All-District selection and was the District 24-6A leader in both kills and blocks in 2019.
Volpe on Ogunlana: "Lademi has such a high ceiling and is extremely eager to learn. She brings quickness and athleticism to the middle position, and can run her offense in front of the setter as well as behind off one foot very well. Her lateral speed is key to blocking and her growth mindset makes her a very exciting addition to our team. We couldn't be more excited to bring Lademi to South Main."
-RiceOwls.com-
"Overall, this class is top-notch," Volpe said. "All of these players are not only extremely talented on the volleyball court, they are leaders in the classroom and beyond. I think that is what I'm most impressed with is their ability to shine in many ways, not just as athletes. They are leaders. This is an extremely exciting day for Rice Volleyball!"
Darby Harris (5'9" – Setter - Wheaton, Illinois - Wheaton Warrenville South HS)
Harris was a four-year starter at Wheaton Warrenville South High School where she earned conference Player of the Year honors for the Tigers and broke the program's all-time digs record. Harris earned all-conference accolades her senior and junior seasons and helped lead her team to the state championship in 2019.
Volpe on Harris: "Darby is such a special player that we are extremely excited to be adding to our team. She is a highly decorated setter who has won championships at the highest level in high school and club. Darby is also is known for her strong defensive abilities and quickness. She has trained at an elite level, and also brings a team-first mentality to Rice Volleyball. She is a complete, well-rounded player with a strong volleyball IQ that will no doubt add so much to our team."
Taylor Johnson (6'0" – OH - Scottsdale, Arizona - Horizon HS)
Johnson played for a Huskies program that went 119-25 over her four seasons and won the 2021 State 5A Championship and finished ranked No. 22 in the nation. In 318 career sets she totaled 813 kills with a .276 hitting percentage to go along with 140 blocks, 359 digs, and 81 service aces. Johnson was tabbed a Top-150 Class of 2022 by PrepVolleyball.com and was a two-time all-district first team selection. She also earned 2020 Northeast Valley All-Region Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Volpe on Johnson: "Taylor brings athleticism, quickness and versatility. She can play at either pin and hit a variety of attack speeds. Her quickness and arm speed allow her to be a threat at multiple positions. She is a very calm, competitive and poised player. She has also had a very successful high school career and knows what it takes to win. Taylor is going to be a great asset to our team and we are very much looking forward to her arrival."
Gaby Mansfield (5'4" - Libero/DS - Houston, Texas - Jersey Village HS)
Mansfield helped lead the Falcons to a pair of state championship appearances (2019 and 2021) as well as a regional title in 2020 while collecting a bevy of individual accolades. Mansfield was the District 15-6A Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons and was the 2021 VYPE Libero of the Year. She totaled 2,133 career digs, including 836 her sophomore season.
Volpe on Mansfield: "Gaby has been on our radar for years, as she was a constant at our summer camps when she was younger. She stood out early to us as an extremely talented and competitive defensive player. Gaby has the ability to make some of the most acrobatic defensive plays you will ever see in a volleyball match. Her desire to keep the ball off the floor is infectious as is her spirited celebrations. She's played on the big stage many times in her club career and will continue to add a winning mentality to the team."
Lademi Ogunlana (5'11" – MB – Missouri City, Texas – Elkins HS)
Ogunlana entered her senior season with a career .273 hitting percentage to go along with 563 kills and 220 blocks for the Elkins Knights. She earned multiple all-district honors and earned MVP accolades in 2020. She was also an Academic All-District selection and was the District 24-6A leader in both kills and blocks in 2019.
Volpe on Ogunlana: "Lademi has such a high ceiling and is extremely eager to learn. She brings quickness and athleticism to the middle position, and can run her offense in front of the setter as well as behind off one foot very well. Her lateral speed is key to blocking and her growth mindset makes her a very exciting addition to our team. We couldn't be more excited to bring Lademi to South Main."
-RiceOwls.com-
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