Volleyball Announces Nine New Faces for Next Season
Drew Gwerder
ARCATA, Calif. -- Nine incoming student-athletes have signed and will join the Cal Poly Humboldt women's volleyball team in 2023, announced head coach
Angela Spoja.
Mackenzie Gilchrist, Kyra Slavik and Avary Spoja will join the team this Spring.
Awelina Fakalata, Shanaley Iakopo, Aurora Nannette Meneghetti, Hollis Downing, Neriah Taulualelei-Malele, and Tatyana Tause-Paulino are set to join the team at the beginning of the Fall semester.
Mackenzie Gilchrist will join Cal Poly Humboldt as a junior in the Fall. Gilchrist has previously played at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington and Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. Originally from Woodland, Washington, she has been a Prep Volleyball Player to watch, on the American Volleyball Coaches Association Phenom watch list her sophomore year, and won the State Sportsmanship Award in 2018 and 2019. Gilchrist will play libero for the Lumberjacks and intends to major in environmental engineering during her time at Cal Poly Humboldt.
"I chose Humboldt because of the positive team culture and winning mindset of both the girls and Coach Spoja," said Gilchrist. "I felt immediately at home on my visit and love the beautiful environment surrounding Humboldt county!"
Coach Spoja stated, "I'm really glad to have Mackenzie here for Spring Season. She has immediately made our gym more competitive. She is calm on the court while bringing a level of leadership and knowledge."
Kyra Slavik, a 5'11" setter, comes to Cal Poly Humboldt after transferring from the University of Wyoming. Slavik is a graduate student with two years of eligibility and has the intention of getting a Master's in Business Administration. Before Wyoming, Slavik spent her freshman season at Ohio University in 2019. She was 2018 AAU National Champion and tournament MVP. Slavik was also a three-year letter winner at Saint Charles East High School, where she was named to the Under Armour Players to Watch List and awarded All-Area honors as a junior and senior. As a senior in 2017, she switched to right side hitter due to team injuries and was named an All-Illinois selection on the way to leading her team to its first regional win since 2014 and an appearance in the sectional finals.
Slavik stated, "I am so excited to be at Humboldt for my two last seasons! The vision and growth the coaches have planned for this program is something I can't wait to be a part of. This team is special. I am so excited to grow and play alongside my teammates! Go Jacks!"
"Kyra runs a fast offense with intensity and consistency," said Spoja. "She brings knowledge and leadership to our team. We are very lucky to have her at Cal Poly Humboldt for Spring season as she gets more comfortable with our team and helps our hitters be more successful, as we plan to be more competitive in the Fall season."
Avary Spoja joins the Cal Poly Humboldt women's volleyball this Spring as a 6'2" freshman middle blocker. She is a transfer from Montana State Billings in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and will be a sophomore when season begins this Fall. A Boise, Idaho native, Spoja will pursue a degree in business during her time at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Coach Spoja commented, "Ava has outstanding size and quickness of the floor. She is immediately helping us in the Spring to be more competitive. We are excited for Ava's future as a Lumberjack!"
Awelina Fakalata, a 6'0" outside hitter, will join the Lumberjacks this fall as a junior. A transfer from American River College, Fakalata was named an All-American, First Team All-State, and First Team All-Region this past season. She had 505 kills with a 4.86 kills per set average, 382 digs with a 3.67 digs per set average, and 52 total blocks as a sophomore at American River.
"I am really excited to welcome Lina to the Lumberjack team," stated Spoja. "She is an aggressive attacker on the outside and in the back row, and adds solid defense and serve receive as a six rotation pin. We know she will accelerate our teams offense when she arrives in the fall."
Next up from American River College is Shanaley Iakopo. Iakopo is a pin hitter that will be a junior this Fall. She is a two-time Second Team All-Big 8 Conference player and made the All-State Tournament team in this past season.
Iakopo said, "Everyone at Humboldt was incredibly friendly, and I really enjoyed the school atmosphere as well as the players and coaching staff."
"Shanaley is intense," commented Spoja. "She plays with the purpose to win and makes everyone around her better. I love that she can play any pin and can also set. She will make an immediate impact on our court in the fall."
The final transfer from American River College is Aurora Meneghetti. She will join the 'Jacks this Fall as a 6'0" junior middle blocker. This past season at American River, Meneghetti was named a First Team All-Big 8 Conference player. In high school, she was MVP for the volleyball team in 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and offensive player of the year 2019-2020. Meneghetti was also awarded an All-League selection in 2019-2020 for high school. She plans to major in evironmental science during her time at Cal Poly Humboldt.
"I think the Arcata area is very beautiful and I have grown up camping near Humboldt since I was little," said Meneghetti. "I also think the campus is very pretty, has the major that I want, and when I met everyone in the program it really helped me
solidify my decision to go to Humboldt!"
Coach Spoja stated, "Aurora is a great teammate and has excellent leadership qualities. When I saw her play, I loved her ability to bring her team together and thought-we need this kid on our roster. She will help us on and off the court."
Hollis Downing is a 6'4" opposite that comes from Puyallup, Washington. Joining the 'Jacks this Fall as a freshman from Puyallup High School, Downing excels in the classroom and on the court. She has a 4.0 GPA, was an AP Scholar in 2021, and was an AP Scholar with Distinction in 2022.
"I'm coming to Humboldt to pursue a career in the medical field, while also continuing to play the sport I love," stated Downing. "I've always wanted to go to school in California, and I just love the feel of the town and how close it is to the water and the forest. I feel at home!"
"Hollis has excellent size on the right side," said Spoja. "She will be a force to reckon with in blocking and attacking. We are pleased that Hollis chose Cal Poly Humboldt as her home."
Cal Poly Humboldt women's volleyball will welcome Neriah Taulualelei-Malele this Fall as a freshman from Torrance, California. Neriah is a 6'0" pin hitter that earned many accolades during her time at Torrance High School. Her career honors consist of: First Team Del Rey League, First Team Pioneer League. Rookie of the year, Team MVP, and Honor Roll.
Taulualelei-Malele said, "I chose Humboldt for the family oriented culture, and the building for the future-it was important for me to be a part of that."
"Neriah is an excellent pin hitter, with a range of tools," commented Spoja. "She can literally play any position on the court as well as set. She is a great all around player and will help us in depth and knowledge of the game."
Tatyana Tauese-Paulino will join the team this Fall as a defensive specialist and libero. Tatyana is an incoming freshman originally from Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington. This past season, she was a First Team All-League player, an Honorable Mention for All-State, and the MaxPreps stat leader for digs in 2022. In 2021, Tauese-Paulino won the WIAA Sportsmanship Award, was a Second Team All-League player in the Spring, a First Team All-League selection in the Fall, a Second Team All-State member, team captian, and the MaxPreps stat leader for digs and aces.
Tauese-Paulino stated, "I chose to commit to Cal Poly Humboldt because of the tight- knit community and how genuine the people are. The volleyball team and coaching staff instantly felt like a family to me."
"Taty is a quick defender who reads the ball very well," said Spoja. "She is very fierce when she plays, and will bring the defense up a notch when she joins us in the fall."
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's volleyball please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms. For specific volleyball related information and camp updates for this summer, head to @humboldt_wvb on Instagram.
