Volleyball Adds Transfer Kaia Mateo
1/8/2024 1:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball head coach Genny Volpe has announced the addition of transfer setter Kaia Mateo for the 2024 season.
"We are very excited to add Kaia to the team this spring," Volpe said. "Her playing experience in the Big Ten will be extremely valuable. But more than anything, Kaia is a dedicated and hard working player with a great deal of potential. With her work ethic and competitive drive, we believe she will thrive at Rice."
Mateo joins the Owls after spending her freshman year at Iowa, where she appeared in 31 matches and 100 total sets. Mateo averaged 4.28 assists per set and tallied 428 total assists, including a career-high 28 assists against Kent State. Defensively, Mateo added 188 digs and 35 blocks, while contributing 39 kills and 12 service aces on the offensive end. Mateo recorded two double-doubles on the season against Rutgers (26 assists, 12 digs) and Northwestern (13 assists, 10 digs).
A native of New York, New York, Mateo was a varsity starter all four seasons at Avenues: The World School in New York City, also twice serving as team captain. She was named a Press Volleyball Top Athlete and an AVCA Phenom in 2021. Mateo won the 2022 Capitol Hill 17 Open Best Setter Award and was a member of the UA Next All-America Camp. She was named the World School NYC Athlete of the Year, Offensive Athlete of the Year and Most Versatile Player as a junior. Additionally, she also earned the Aviator Award, Core Value Recognition and Tri-Season Athlete Award (volleyball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field). Mateo also holds school track and field records in the indoor 55 meters, 200 meters and 300 meters as well as the outdoor 100 meters and long jump.
Mateo was also a member of the Food and Hunger Advocacy Club and the Zero Waste Club, while volunteering at St. Clements Food Bank, Holy Apostles and City Meals on Wheels. She also created three bilingual children's books about ocean debris and plastic pollution.
